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Costing Task Pane

You can set the input values for determining the cost of manufacturing a sheet metal, machined, or custom part from the Costing Task Pane on the right side of the SolidWorks software window.

To display this Task Pane:

  • In a part, click Costing tool_costing_tools.gif (Tools toolbar or the Evaluate tab on the CommandManager) or click Tools > Costing.

Template

Main template (Available for multibody parts.) Sets an existing template. The main template references two other templates, one for sheet metal bodies, and one for machined bodies.

The main template defines operations at the part level.
Sheet Metal template Sets an existing sheet metal template.
Machining template Sets an existing machining template.
Launch Template Editor Opens the Costing Template Editor for creating or editing Costing templates.

Material

Class Sets the class of material based on the material that was set for the part. This is automatically selected if the part has a material already applied.
Name Sets the material based on the material of the part. This is automatically selected if the part has a material already applied.
Set Material Sets the SolidWorks material properties of the part from your material Class and Name selections.
Thickness from template Displays the thickness value in the template that matches or is closest to the part thickness. If no thickness values in the template match the part thickness, the closest thickness value in the template is selected, and a warning icon CM_warning_exlamation_point.gif indicates that the thicknesses differ.
Material cost Displays the cost defined for the material at the selected thickness in the template. If you override Material cost, the text box appears in yellow and you can click Reset to Template Default.
Material (Available for multibody parts.)
Specific Material (Available for multibody parts.)

Body List (Multibody Parts)

Body list select_edges.png Lists the bodies in the multibody part. The type of body determines the Costing template that is referenced in the cost estimation. Costing automatically recognizes sheet metal bodies. You must assign the type of body for the other types of bodies in the part.
Type of body Determines the Costing template that is referenced in the cost estimation for each body type. Sheet metal bodies are automatically recognized. You must assign the type of body for the other types of bodies in the part. Select one of the following for the selected body:

Sheet Metal

Specifies a sheet metal body. Sheet metal parts are recognized automatically.

Machined

Specifies a machined body.

Custom

Specifies a custom cost for the selected body. Type the custom cost in Custom Cost. The Costing tool does not compute the cost of custom bodies.
Exclude Excludes the selected bodies from cost calculations.
Include Includes the selected bodies for cost calculations.
Begin Cost Estimation

After you assign the Type of body to each body in the part, the green message area indicates you can start the cost estimation.

Blank Size (Sheet Metal Parts)

Area to cost Sets an option to define the material usage. The area is displayed in the list. Select one of the following:

Bounding Box

Calculates the material based on the smallest rectangle in which the flat pattern can fit.

Flat Pattern Area

Calculates the minimum area required.

Custom Sheet Size

Sets a custom material size. This is helpful if you have a predetermined size of material in your shop.

Custom Area

Sets an area value.
Offset (Available for Bounding Box and Flat Pattern Area.) Increases the Area to cost equally in all directions. For example, if you set Area to cost to Bounding box and you set Offset to 0.5, then all four sides of the rectangle are offset by 0.5.
Dimension (Available for Custom Sheet Size.) Sets the material length and width.
Area (Available for Custom Area.) Sets the material area.
Final area Displays the total material area to use.
Preview in graphics area (Available for Bounding Box and Flat Pattern Area.) Displays a preview of the material used and how the offset affects the amount of material.
Costing_Bounding_Box.gif
Bounding Box
Costing_Flat_Pattern_Area.gif
Flat Pattern Area

Stock Body (Machined Parts)

Type
The stock body selection is critical. It determines the types of machining operations used to remove material from parts.
Select one of the following:

Block

Provides cost estimates based on manufacturing the part from a block of material. If you select Block, the software assumes that milling and drilling operations are used to create the finished part. The initial block dimensions are for the tightest fitting block around the model.

Plate

Provides cost estimates based on manufacturing the part from a stock plate of material. If you select Plate, the software assumes that a combination of 2D machining operations such as waterjet, laser, and plasma cutting, as well as milling and drilling operations are used to create the finished part. Through cuts and cuts that define the outside boundary of the part are cut using a 2D cutting method such as waterjet, laser, or plasma. Blind geometry, such as pockets, chamfers, or holes are cut using milling or drilling operations.

The stock plate size is determined by the largest surface area of the part. When you select Plate, the plate Size and Thickness from template are displayed. If no thickness values in the template match the part thickness, the closest thickness value in the template is selected, and a warning icon CM_warning_exlamation_point.gif indicates that the thicknesses differ.

Cylinder

Provides cost estimates based on manufacturing the part from a stock cylinder of material. If you select Cylinder, the software assumes that a combination of turning, milling, and drilling operations are used to create the finished part. Cylindrical regions are cut using turning operations whereas other geometry such as pockets, chamfers, or holes are cut using milling or drilling operations. The cylindrical stock uses the tightest fitting diameter to surround the model.
Input specific size (Applies to Block and Cylinder stock bodies.) For Block, this sets the X, Y, and Z block dimensions to add stock to the tightest fitting stock faces. For Cylinder, this sets the D (diameter) and L (length) of the cylinder.
Position (Applies to Block and Cylinder stock bodies when Input specific size is selected and when you add stock to the tightest fitting stock face.) Sets the offset values (for Block: -X, -Y, -Z and +X, +Y, +Z, for Cylinder: -L, +L, D). It does not affect the overall stock dimensions. For example, if you change a block X from 100mm to 120mm, then the -X and +X values are set to 10mm and are editable. For a cylinder, D defines the diameter of the stock material and L defines the overall length.
Additional stock on (Applies to Block and Cylinder stock bodies and when Input specific size is cleared.) For Block, this sets the block offset values (-X, -Y, -Z and +X, +Y, +Z). It does not affect the overall block dimensions. For Cylinder, this sets the offset values -L, +L, D.

You can also drag the handles in the graphics area to set the stock size.
Preview stock Shows a preview of the stock body in the graphics area.

Quantity

Total number of parts Quantity of parts to be manufactured.
Lot size Quantity of parts to be manufactured per run.

Shop Rate (Machined Parts)

Shop rate Sets a cost per hour to determine the cost of all manufacturing operations regardless of what machine is used. This value overrides all costs related to machines and labor in the machining template.
Use Shop Rate if all you have is a shop rate for manufacturing processes. For example, a manufacturing vendor may tell you that their shop rate is $100/hour instead of telling you their rates for individual processes, such as milling and drilling. You can also set the Shop Rate as a default value in the machining template.

Markup/Discount

Cost adjustment Adjusts the material cost or the total cost using a percentage factor. A negative value creates a discount, and a positive value creates a markup. For example, you can increase the cost by 15% of the material cost which gets added to the total cost. The 15% will reduce the cost with a negative percentage. Select one of the following:

% of Total Cost

Increases the cost of manufacturing based on a percentage of the total cost.

% of Material Cost

Increases the cost of manufacturing based on a percentage of the material cost.
Use this option if you get a discount on material or the total cost of a manufactured part. If you are a manufacturer, use this option to set your profit margin over your actual costs.

Estimated Cost Per Part

  Cost Displays the total estimated cost of manufacturing the part. The cost is constantly updated based on any changes you make.
  Comparison Displays a bar chart for the Current and Previous costs or the Current and Baseline costs. If changes to the part decrease the cost, the Current bar is green and the % difference green_down_arrow.gif is negative. If changes to the part increase the cost, the Current bar is red and the % difference red_up_arrow.gif is positive.

Click Set Baseline PM_unlock.gif to set a baseline cost for comparison. If you change the design later on, the cost is compared to the baseline cost. When you set a baseline cost, any changes to the part are considered Current and the difference is displayed. While the baseline price is set, the part is rotated, flattened, and refolded because the software is capturing images for the Costing report.
  Breakdown Displays the cost and percentage distributions for the major contributors of the total cost:

Material

Cost of the material based on the weight of the material used.

Manufacturing

Total processing cost, including cuts, bends, forming tools, and additional operations.

Markup or Discount

Adjustment specified in Markup/Discount.
Costing-Create Report Generate Report Creates a report of the Costing data in Microsoft Word. If you already generated a report, you can click Update Report Costing_Update_Report.gif.
Costing-Send Report.gif Send Report Sends a report of the Costing data using your default email application.

Contents

  • Setting Model Materials

    You can set the model material for a part from the material you select in the Costing Task Pane.



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