Tooling, Fixtures, Dies & Mold Economics worked example

Tool Tryout Cost at 65% billable share of tryout time: a worked example

Here is what the math looks like when conditions slip. We hold every other input steady and drop billable share of tryout time to 65%, then walk the calculation through step by step. Estimate the cost of running a tool through tryout, including press time, toolmaker adjustments and sample material before a die or mold is signed off.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Tryout press hours consumed: 16 hr (held at the documented default)
  • Press plus technician blended rate: 185 $/hr (held at the documented default)
  • Billable share of tryout time: 65 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 90)
  • Sample material & setup charge: 650 $ (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Tryout cost = tryout hours x press+tech rate x billable share% + sample/setup charge.
  • Total tool tryout cost works out to 2,574 $ at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Tool tryout cost per unit works out to 161 $ / piece at these inputs.
  • Variable tool tryout cost works out to 1,924 $ at these inputs.
  • Fixed tool tryout cost adder works out to 650 $ at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where billable share of tryout time sits at 90% and the headline result is 3,314 $, this scenario comes in 22.33% below the baseline at 2,574 $.
  • The practical read: the gap between this scenario and the baseline is entirely attributable to billable share of tryout time, so recovering it is worth quantifying in dollars before considering equipment or staffing changes. It assumes a single blended press-plus-technician rate and a clean billable split; multi-shift tryouts, engineering iteration loops, or scrapped attempts beyond the sample charge can push real cost above this estimate.

Results at a glance

  • Total tool tryout cost: 2,574 $ (headline result)
  • Tool tryout cost per unit: 161 $ / piece
  • Variable tool tryout cost: 1,924 $
  • Fixed tool tryout cost adder: 650 $

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Tool Tryout Cost calculator, set billable share of tryout time to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.