What counts as a good tool pull?

A pull that yields an acceptable part without tool repair before the next cycle. Rejected parts and damaged tools add cost but are not good pulls carrying the tool cost.

Why does cost per part fall as pulls rise?

Maintenance and storage are fixed, so more pulls spread them thinner. At 1,200 pulls the fixed $3,200 adds $2.67 per part; at 600 pulls it adds $5.33.

Does the included share cut the fixed upkeep too?

No. The share scales the variable cost only and maintenance enters at full value. Edit the fixed figure when only part of the upkeep belongs to this job.

When is replacing a tool better than maintaining it?

When upkeep per pull passes the cost of a replacement spread over its life. Compare this cost per part with the same figure for a new tool before deciding.

Composites, Fiberglass & Advanced Materials calculator

Composite Tool Life Cost Calculator

Spread a tool's variable and fixed cost across the good pulls it will make, then read the cost per part. You need the pull plan, the cost per pull, the included share and the fixed upkeep.

What this calculator does

Tool life cost across good pulls and the cost per part, with the included share and fixed maintenance and storage.

Formula used

Variable tool cost = good tool pulls × cost per pull × included share ÷ 100
Total tool life cost = variable tool cost + maintenance and storage cost
Tool cost per part = total tool life cost ÷ good tool pulls

Inputs explained

Good Tool Pulls: Good pulls the tool plan expects over its life.
Cost per Pull: Variable cost each pull adds, from the tool budget.
Scope Included: Share of variable tool cost this job carries.
Maintenance and Storage Cost: Fixed upkeep and storage charged across the tool life.

How to use the result

Best suited to quoting tool cost per part, comparing maintenance-heavy and light tools.
Refurbishment, rework and end-of-life disposal are outside this cost. The included share scales the variable cost, not the fixed upkeep.

Current U.S. benchmarks

The producer price index for plastic resins and materials stands at 280.569 (BLS, Aug 2026), up 6.6% from a year earlier. Quotes priced off last quarter's material cost miss this move.
Steel mill PPI stands at 381.162 (BLS, Aug 2026), up 23.4% from a year earlier. New factory orders are up 8.5% year over year (Census).

Common questions

What counts as a good tool pull? A pull that yields an acceptable part without tool repair before the next cycle. Rejected parts and damaged tools add cost but are not good pulls carrying the tool cost.
Why does cost per part fall as pulls rise? Maintenance and storage are fixed, so more pulls spread them thinner. At 1,200 pulls the fixed $3,200 adds $2.67 per part; at 600 pulls it adds $5.33.
Does the included share cut the fixed upkeep too? No. The share scales the variable cost only and maintenance enters at full value. Edit the fixed figure when only part of the upkeep belongs to this job.
When is replacing a tool better than maintaining it? When upkeep per pull passes the cost of a replacement spread over its life. Compare this cost per part with the same figure for a new tool before deciding.

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Last reviewed 2026-10-01.