Simplifying Cost Estimates

You can estimate the cost of machined parts, relying on a selected template only for material selection.

To simplify the cost estimate, select the following machining options in the Costing Options dialog box, and calculate the cost of the removed material:

Use customizable volume feature recognition

When applied to the material to be removed from a machined part, specifies that volume features determine the amount of material to be removed.

Cost per volume removed

Lets you assign a fixed cost per unit volume of removed material, rather than calculate the cost based on tool sizes and removal rates.

Override template settings for offset-based finishing

Calculates the per-unit-volume cost of semifinishing and finishing, based on an offset distance value rather than on template data. The offset distance value is the operation offset distance from the machined surface.

To set up options for simplified cost estimates for a part:

  1. Click Costing tool_costing_tools.gif (Tools toolbar or the Evaluate tab on the CommandManager) or Tools > SOLIDWORKS Applications > Costing.
  2. In the Costing Task Pane, click Costing Options CostingOptions_up.png (upper left corner).
  3. Select the Template Overrides tab.
  4. Select the following:
    1. Under Removed material processing, select Use customizable volume feature recognition.
    2. Under Volume feature calculation, select Cost per volume removed and type cost values for Roughing, Semi-finishing, and Finishing.
    3. Under Finish processing, select Override template settings for offset-based finishing and type values for Semi-finishing and Finishing.
  5. Set other options and click OK twice.