By Pro Steel Solutions, plasma cutting in Ash, Kent. Updated
What the price is made of
Each part is priced from the machine time to cut it and the material it uses. Machine time depends on the length of the cut, the number of pierces (every hole and cut-out starts with one) and the thickness, because thicker plate cuts more slowly. Material is charged on the weight of the part or on the sheet area used when parts are packed tightly, whichever is lower, plus a small allowance for scrap.
Our prices are checked against current UK market prices for the same parts. There is no setup fee, and the minimum order is £15.80 ex VAT.
Why quantity lowers the price each
Loading a sheet and setting up a job takes the same time for one part or a hundred, and more parts nest together with less waste. So the price per part falls as quantity rises. The Nesting Studio shows the price at several quantities, so you can see where the breaks are.
Ways to pay less
Combine parts of the same material and thickness in one order, so they share sheets. Use a standard thickness from stock. Avoid holes smaller than the plate thickness, which need drilling. Round internal corners slightly instead of sharp ones. Order a few spares in one run rather than a second order later.
Collect from our Ash workshop to save the delivery charge, or combine deliveries.
Getting a price
Upload a drawing or build a part in the Nesting Studio for an instant estimate, then request a quotation. The workshop checks every job and the free quotation comes back within 48 hours. Prices exclude VAT.
Questions
Is there a setup or programming charge?
No. The price covers cutting and material, with a minimum order of £15.80 ex VAT.
Why is a thin part with many holes dearer than a thick plain one?
Every hole adds a pierce and more cut length, and machine time is a large part of the price.
Related tools and guides
- Cut time and cost Machine time from cut length, pierces and thickness, and what that cutting costs.
- Sheet yield calculator How many parts fit on a sheet, how many sheets you need and the offcut left over.
- Plate weight calculator Weight of rectangles, discs, rings and triangles in any material we cut.
- Plasma vs laser vs waterjet cutting: which to choose
- How to prepare drawings for plasma cutting
- Plasma cutting tolerances and minimum hole sizes