Lower Cost per Part
When looking at cost, it is important to understand the difference between operating cost and operating cost per part or per foot/meter.
So how do you determine what it actually costs to cut a part? Operating cost per foot or meter is the cost of everything required for cutting per hour divided by the total number of feet or meters that can be cut in an hour.
The costs that go into cutting include consumables, electricity, gases, labor and overhead.
Total number of feet or meters that can be cut an hour is determined by the cutting speed as shown in the Greater Productivity section.
The cost per part then is the total length of the cuts required to make the part multiplied by the cost per foot or meter.
Operating cost per foot (meter) x linear length of the part = Cost per part
Here are the basic calculations (see Learn more for detailed cost comparisons) that go into determining the cost of cutting a square part that measures 3 feet per side (.9 m) or 12 linear feet (3.66 m) from 1/2" (12 mm) mild steel using an HPR260 and oxyfuel.
| HPR260 Plasma | Oxyfuel | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating costs per hour | $44.65 | $33.80 |
| Number of linear feet (meters) that can be cut in an hour based on cut speed | 725 (221 m) | 100 (30.5 m) |
| Cost per foot (meter) | $0.06 ($0.20) | $0.34 ($1.11) |
| Cost per 12 foot (2.66 meter) part | $0.72 | $4.08 |
Plasma has a much lower cost per part because the faster cut speeds increase the number of parts that can be completed in a given time.
For handheld cutting, cost per job or task may be a better way to evaluate savings. The operating cost per hour multiplied by the length of time it takes to complete the job equals the cost of that job. For oxyfuel, remember to include preheat time and lengthy secondary operations in the time required.
- www.hypertherm.com
