Can I enter planned output?

Yes, for a forecast, but label it as expected accepted output and update it after production. Actual job cost uses accepted forgings from the covered interval.

Should repair be included twice if the supplier rate covers it?

No, enter each expense once. Omit a separate repair charge already included in the die purchase or service invoice.

Does a shared die require 100% allocation?

Only if this program bears the entire purchase and repair expense. Otherwise enter the documented share and keep separate setup costs outside that split.

Why is the unit cost blank at zero accepted output?

A positive accepted count is needed to assign a cost per forging. The program’s purchase, repair and setup expenses still apply.

Foundry & Forging calculator

Forge Die Cost per Part Calculator

Calculate tooling expense from invoices rather than an already amortized unit rate. Enter purchase, repair, program allocation, setup and accepted forging count.

What this calculator does

Allocate die purchase, repair and setup invoices over accepted forgings.

Formula used

Tooling invoices = purchase cost + repair cost
Allocated tooling = tooling invoices × allocation ÷ 100
Program cost = allocated tooling + separate setup cost
Die cost per accepted forging = program cost ÷ accepted forgings

Inputs explained

Die Purchase Cost: Purchase invoice for the die set covered by this program.
Die Repair Cost: Recorded repair expense for the same production coverage.
Tooling Cost Allocation: Documented program share of purchase and repair costs.
Separate Die Setup Cost: Setup and tryout expense outside purchase and repair invoices.
Accepted Forgings: Accepted output covered by this tooling cost assignment.

How to use the result

Best suited to forging quote tooling Review, completed program reconciliation.
The result is a cost assignment, not a prediction of die life. Future repairs require separately supported estimates.

Current U.S. benchmarks

The producer price index for steel mill products stands at 381.162 (BLS, Aug 2026), up 23.4% from a year earlier. Quotes priced off last quarter's material cost miss this move.
The U.S. has 3,569 primary metal manufacturing establishments employing about 354,911 workers (Census County Business Patterns, 2023).

Common questions

Can I enter planned output? Yes, for a forecast, but label it as expected accepted output and update it after production. Actual job cost uses accepted forgings from the covered interval.
Should repair be included twice if the supplier rate covers it? No, enter each expense once. Omit a separate repair charge already included in the die purchase or service invoice.
Does a shared die require 100% allocation? Only if this program bears the entire purchase and repair expense. Otherwise enter the documented share and keep separate setup costs outside that split.
Why is the unit cost blank at zero accepted output? A positive accepted count is needed to assign a cost per forging. The program’s purchase, repair and setup expenses still apply.

Last reviewed 2026-10-06.