Calculate cutting-tool cost per machined part using tool price, usable cutting edges, tool life, cycle time and production quantity.
How do I calculate cutting tool cost per part? Divide the effective cost of the consumable tool by the number of parts it produces before replacement.
What is effective tool cost? It represents the portion of the purchase price consumed by the cutting edges used before the tool is replaced.
How do insert edges affect cost? If an insert has multiple usable edges, its purchase price can be distributed across the edges actually used.
What if only some insert edges are used? Enter the actual number of edges used before replacement. This prevents the calculator from assuming unused edges have zero cost.
How does tool life calculate parts per tool? Tool life in minutes is divided by cutting time per part in minutes.
Does rapid movement count as tool life? Normally tool-life calculations focus on cutting time and tool engagement rather than every second of machine cycle time.
Does this include tool-change labor? No. The basic calculation focuses on consumable tool cost. Tool-change machine and labor costs can be included separately in a broader machining-cost calculation.
Can I include sharpening or disposal costs? Yes. Enter those costs as additional replacement-related costs.
Why can actual tool cost be higher than the calculator? Unexpected tool breakage, premature wear, poor workholding, incorrect cutting parameters, runout and scrap can increase actual tool consumption.
Can this be used for milling tools? Yes. It can be used for end mills, drills, reamers, indexable cutters and other consumable cutting tools when suitable tool-life data is available.
Can this be used for turning inserts? Yes. Enter the insert price, usable edges and estimated parts produced per edge or insert.