Setup

Where it comes up

• Production machining, turning, and sawingCNC milling, turning, and production sawing from bar, plate, castings, and forgings, from prototype to production.
• Screw machine productsTurned pins, fittings, shafts, and bushings made from bar stock on multi-spindle and Swiss screw machines at volume.
• Metal stampingShort- to medium-run stampings: brackets, clips, shields, and plates cut and formed from sheet or coil in a press.

Related terms

MOQ

MOQ is minimum order quantity, the smallest run a supplier will accept for a part. It is set by setup time, material minimums such as a full coil or bag of resin, and finishing lot charges. Below the MOQ, the piece price rises steeply or the supplier declines the order.

Fixture

A fixture is a custom workholding device that locates and clamps a part in a repeatable position for machining, welding, assembly, or inspection. Good fixtures locate from the drawing's datums. Fixture cost is usually a one-time charge on the quote, separate from piece price.

Cycle time

Cycle time is the time needed to complete one full production cycle, such as one mold shot, one press stroke, or one machined part. It sets machine hours per part, so it is a primary input to piece price. In injection molding, cooling usually takes most of the cycle.