Welding & Fabrication worked example

Laser Cutting Cost with parts cut on the job of 600 parts: a worked example

Push parts cut on the job up to 600 parts and the picture changes. This example computes every intermediate figure at that operating point. Use it when quoting fiber or CO2 laser cutting jobs and you need to load machine hourly rate, assist gas (N2 or O2), and operator time into the per-part cost.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Parts cut on the job: 600 parts (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 240)
  • Per-part laser machine and assist gas cost: 1.25 $ / part (unchanged)
  • Nest and assist gas setup cost: 185 $ (unchanged)
  • Operator labor with burden: 320 $ (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Total laser cutting cost = parts cut on the job × per-part laser machine and assist gas cost + nest and assist gas setup cost + operator labor with burden) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 1,255 $ for total laser cutting cost, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 2.09 $ / piece for laser cutting cost per part.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 750 $ for per-part laser machine and assist gas cost.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 505 $ for setup and operator labor.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where parts cut on the job sits at 240 parts and the headline result is 805 $, this scenario comes in 55.9% above the baseline at 1,255 $.
  • It computes total laser cutting cost as parts times per-part machine and assist gas cost plus nest/setup cost plus burdened labor, then divides by parts for cost per piece. The value of this scenario is the size of the gap it exposes: that gap, priced out over a year, is the budget you can justify spending to close it.

Results at a glance

  • Total laser cutting cost: 1,255 $ (headline result)
  • Laser cutting cost per part: 2.09 $ / piece
  • Per-part laser machine and assist gas cost: 750 $
  • Setup and operator labor: 505 $

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Laser Cutting Cost calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.