Lasers, Optics & Photonics Manufacturing worked example
Laser Process Cost at 94% material utilization share: a worked example
What does the result look like when material utilization share reaches 94%? The full calculation is worked below with real intermediate numbers. Use this when quoting a laser cutting or welding job, comparing CO2 vs. fiber laser costs, or deciding whether to run a batch in-house or outsource to a laser job shop.
The inputs for this scenario
- Number of parts in batch: 200 parts (unchanged)
- Laser processing cost per part: 12 $ / part (unchanged)
- Material utilization share: 94 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 82)
- Fixed setup and programming cost: 350 $ (unchanged)
Working through the calculation
- Applying the documented formula (Variable laser cost = number of parts in batch x laser processing cost per part x material utilization share) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
- At this operating point the engine returns 2,606 $ for total laser process cost, the number this scenario is built around.
- At this operating point the engine returns 13.03 $ / piece for laser cost per part.
- At this operating point the engine returns 2,256 $ for variable laser cost.
- At this operating point the engine returns 350 $ for fixed setup and programming cost.
How this compares with the baseline
- Against the tool's baseline example, where material utilization share sits at 82% and the headline result is 2,318 $, this scenario comes in 12.42% above the baseline at 2,606 $.
- A figure at this level is achievable when material utilization share is genuinely sustained, not just peaked for a shift. It treats the material utilization share as a simple multiplier on per-part cost and does not separately model scrap value, machine depreciation, or assist-gas price swings.
Results at a glance
- Total laser process cost: 2,606 $ (headline result)
- Laser cost per part: 13.03 $ / piece
- Variable laser cost: 2,256 $
- Fixed setup and programming cost: 350 $
Run it with your numbers
- Every input above is editable in the live Laser Process Cost calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.
Last reviewed 2026-05-12.