If you’re sourcing CNC-machined ABS parts for prototypes, bienes de consumo, or industrial components, understanding the price structure is key to budgeting and avoiding overspending. The price of CNC machined ABS isn’t fixed—it ranges from 20 RMB/piece for simple parts a 1,000 RMB/piece for complex, high-precision components—shaped by material costs, machining complexity, tamaño por lotes, y más. This guide breaks down the core price drivers, proporciona referencias prácticas, shares cost-saving tips, and answers common questions to help you make informed decisions.
1. 6 Core Factors That Affect the Price of CNC Machined ABS
Every component of the price ties to tangible factors—from raw material costs to post-processing needs. Below is a detailed breakdown with real numbers to illustrate their impact:
(1) ABS Material Cost
Material cost forms the baseline of the total price. Standard ABS resin is affordable, but special grades (P.EJ., retraso de las llamas, aficionado a la comida) add to the cost:
ABS Grade Type | Gama de precios (RMB/kg) | Características clave | Aplicaciones típicas |
ABS estándar | 10 ~ 20 | Buena maquinabilidad, basic impact resistance | Prototipos generales, non-critical shells |
Abdominales con retraso de llama | 20 ~ 35 | Cumple con los estándares de seguridad contra incendios (P.EJ., UL94 V-0) | Recintos electrónicos (P.EJ., conchas de enrutador) |
Food-Grade ABS | 25 ~ 40 | No tóxico, compliant with FDA/GB 4806 | Food contact parts (P.EJ., small appliance interiors) |
High-Toughness ABS | 30 ~ 50 | Enhanced durability for repeated use | Partes funcionales (P.EJ., toy hinges, manijas de herramientas) |
Ejemplo: A 100g simple part made with standard ABS costs 1–2 RMB in material (10–20 RMB/kg × 0.1kg). The same part made with food-grade ABS would cost 2.5–4 RMB in material—2.5x more.
(2) Machining Cost (Equipo + Mano de obra)
Machining cost is the largest variable, combining equipment hourly rates and labor fees. It depends on the type of CNC machine and operator skill:
Equipment Hourly Rates
Tipo de máquina CNC | Hourly Rate (RMB/Hour) | Nivel de precisión | Mejor para |
Ordinary 3-Axis Machining Center | 60 ~ 150 | Medio | Piezas simples (P.EJ., plato plano, basic holes) |
High-Precision 3-Axis Machine | 150 ~ 300 | Alto | Piezas con tolerancias estrictas (± 0.05 mm) |
5-Axis Machining Center | 500 ~ 1,000 | Ultra-High | Complex curved parts (P.EJ., conchas personalizadas) |
Costos laborales
- Operator Salary: 50 ~ 100 RMB/hora (varies by region—coastal areas like Guangdong have lower rates due to competition).
- Programming Fee: 200 ~ 1,000 RMB for complex parts (P.EJ., multi-surface shells) that require custom G-code; simple parts often include programming in the hourly rate.
Ejemplo: A simple ABS part taking 1 hour on an ordinary 3-axis machine (80 RMB/hora) con un 60 RMB/hour operator costs 140 RMB in machining labor—far more than the material cost.
(3) Parte complejidad
Complexity directly increases machining time and skill requirements, pushing prices higher. Below is how complexity impacts per-piece costs:
Nivel de complejidad | Rasgos clave | Tiempo de mecanizado (Por pieza) | Gama de precios (RMB/Piece) |
Simple | Superficies planas, no curves, 1–2 holes | 0.5 ~ 1 hora | 20 ~ 50 |
Medio | Múltiples agujeros, simple curves, paredes delgadas (≥2mm) | 1 ~ 3 horas | 50 ~ 200 |
Alto | Complex curved surfaces, paredes delgadas (<2milímetros), porous structures | 3 ~ 8 horas | 200 ~ 1,000 |
Ejemplo: A simple 10cm×10cm ABS plate (10mm de grosor) acepta 0.5 hours to machine and costs 20–50 RMB. A curved ABS shell with 5 holes and thin walls takes 4 hours and costs 200–500 RMB—5–10x more.
(4) Tamaño por lotes
Batch size unlocks volume discounts, as fixed costs (programación, configuración, trial cuts) are spread across more parts. The larger the order, the lower the unit price:
Tamaño por lotes | Discount vs. Single Piece | Ejemplo: Simple ABS Part (Original Price: 50 RMB/Piece) | Unit Price (RMB/Piece) |
Single Piece/Small Batch (1–10) | 0% (No Discount) | 50 × 10 = 500 RMB (total) | 50 |
Medium Batch (11–100) | 10 ~ 30% | 50 × 50 × 0.8 = 2,000 RMB (total) | 40 |
Lote grande (>100) | 30 ~ 60% | 50 × 200 × 0.5 = 5,000 RMB (total) | 25 |
Punta de llave: Even small batch increases (P.EJ., de 5 a 20 piezas) can cut unit costs by 10–20%. Por ejemplo, 20 simple parts cost 40 RMB/piece instead of 50 RMB—saving 200 total de RMB.
(5) Requisitos de postprocesamiento
Basic CNC-machined ABS parts have a matte finish, but additional treatments add to the price. Common post-processing steps and their costs:
Paso postprocesado | Costo (RMB/Piece) | Objetivo |
Pulido | 10 ~ 30 | Superficie lisa (reduces roughness from Ra 1.6μm to Ra 0.8μm) |
Painting/Oil Spraying | 20 ~ 50 | Add color or protective coating |
Impresión de pantalla de seda | 15 ~ 40 | Add logos or text (P.EJ., control panel labels) |
Electro Excripción | 30 ~ 80 | Add metallic finish (P.EJ., chrome-like coating) |
Ejemplo: A basic ABS part costs 30 RMB. Adding polishing (20 RMB) and silk screen printing (25 RMB) raises the total to 75 RMB—2.5x more.
(6) Regional Differences
Prices vary by region due to labor and competition levels:
- Áreas costeras (Guangdong, Zhejiang): Lower prices (10–20% cheaper than inland) due to high competition and mature supply chains. Por ejemplo, a medium-complexity part costs 50–180 RMB vs. 60–220 RMB inland.
- Central/Western Regions: Slightly higher prices, but may offer faster delivery for local clients.
2. Practical Price Reference Table for CNC Machined ABS
To quickly gauge reasonable prices, below is a table of common ABS part types, their prices, and key notes:
Tipo de parte | Gama de precios (RMB/Piece) | Factores clave | Casos de uso típicos |
Simple Flat Plate (P.EJ., 10cm×10cm×10mm) | 20 ~ 50 | ABS estándar, 3-mecanizado del eje, no post-processing | Prototyping bases, spacers |
Medium-Complexity Shell (curvo + 3–5 holes) | 50 ~ 200 | Standard/flame-retardant ABS, 3-mecanizado del eje, optional polishing | Caparazones de dispositivos electrónicos, carcasas de juguete |
High-Precision Curved Part (paredes delgadas + tolerancias apretadas) | 200 ~ 1,000 | High-toughness ABS, 5-mecanizado del eje, cuadro | Componentes industriales, high-end appliance parts |
Large-Batch Simple Parts (>100 piezas) | 10 ~ 50 | Bulk ABS, optimized machining paths, no post-processing | Mass-produced spacers, basic brackets |
3. 4 Proven Tips to Reduce the Price of CNC Machined ABS
You don’t have to compromise on quality to lower costs. Prueba estas estrategias:
(1) Optimize Part Design
- Simplify geometry: Remove unnecessary curves or thin walls (P.EJ., use straight edges instead of complex arcs) to cut machining time by 20–40%.
- Reduce part count: Merge multiple small parts into one (P.EJ., a 2-piece bracket becomes 1 pedazo) to eliminate assembly and reduce clamping time.
(2) Choose the Right Batch Size
- Combine orders: Si lo necesitas 30 parts over 3 meses, order all 30 at once to qualify for a 10–30% discount instead of 10 piezas mensuales.
- Negotiate “future batch” discounts: Ask suppliers for a lower rate if you commit to reordering (P.EJ., 5% off if you buy 50+ parts within 6 meses).
(3) Select Cost-Effective Post-Processing
- Skip unnecessary steps: For internal, non-visible parts, skip polishing or painting—save 10–50 RMB/piece.
- Use batch post-processing: Group parts for painting or silk screening to get volume discounts (P.EJ., 15 RMB/piece instead of 25 RMB for 50+ regiones).
(4) Work with Coastal Suppliers
Suppliers in Guangdong (P.EJ., Dongguan, Shénzhen) or Zhejiang offer lower prices due to competition and efficient supply chains. Por ejemplo, a medium-complexity part costs 50–180 RMB vs. 60–220 RMB from inland suppliers—saving 10–20%.
4. Key Precautions When Quoting CNC Machined ABS
To avoid unexpected costs, keep these in mind:
- Proofing Costs: Lotes pequeños (1–5 piezas) often have higher unit prices (20–50% more) due to setup and trial cuts. Confirm proofing fees upfront.
- Requisitos de tolerancia: Tolerancias más estrictas (P.EJ., ±0.05mm vs. ± 0.1 mm) add 10–30% to the price—only specify tight tolerances if necessary.
- El tiempo de entrega: Órdenes de apuro (P.EJ., 3-day turnaround vs. 7 días) may add a 20–50% premium. Plan ahead to avoid rush fees.
Yigu Technology’s Perspective on CNC Machined ABS Pricing
En la tecnología yigu, creemos design optimization and batch strategy are the biggest cost-saving levers for CNC machined ABS. Many clients overspend by overcomplicating designs (P.EJ., adding unnecessary curves) or ordering small batches frequently. Our team helps simplify designs—for example, a curved shell with 8 holes becomes a simpler shape with 4 agujeros, Cortar el tiempo de mecanizado por 30%. We also assist with batch planning: combinatorio 3 clients’ 20-piece orders into a 60-piece batch to unlock a 25% descuento. For special grades, we source cost-effective flame-retardant or food-grade ABS from trusted suppliers, saving 10–15% on material costs. Our goal is to deliver high-quality CNC machined ABS parts at the lowest possible price, equilibrar el rendimiento y el presupuesto.
Preguntas frecuentes
- Why does a 5-axis machined ABS part cost so much more than a 3-axis part?
5-axis machines offer ultra-high precision (± 0.02 mm) and can machine complex curved surfaces in one setup—eliminating the need for multiple clampings. Sin embargo, they’re more expensive to purchase (10–20x cost of 3-axis machines) y mantener, leading to higher hourly rates (500–1,000 RMB/hour vs. 60–150 RMB/hour for 3-axis). This translates to 2–5x higher part prices.
- How much does flame-retardant ABS add to the total price compared to standard ABS?
Flame-retardant ABS costs 20–35 RMB/kg vs. 10–20 RMB/kg for standard ABS—2x more in material cost. For a 100g part, this adds 1–1.5 RMB to the material cost. If the part requires machining, the total price increases by 5–15% (P.EJ., 50 RMB standard part becomes 55–58 RMB).
- Can I get a discount if I provide my own ABS material?
Yes—most suppliers offer a 5–15% discount if you supply the ABS resin. Por ejemplo, a 100 RMB part becomes 85–95 RMB. Sin embargo, ensure your material is suitable for CNC machining (P.EJ., no impurities) to avoid machining defects that require rework (which could erase the discount).