Two inserts at the same price can have completely different economics once you account for edge count and tool life. This calculator turns insert price, edge count, tool life and cycle time into the numbers that actually decide part cost: cost per edge, tool cost per part, and an annual tooling-cost projection. Brand-neutral, runs entirely in your browser, nothing is sent anywhere.
Tooling economics only. Does not model machine hourly rate, scrap, rework or changeover time — see the FAQ below.
No hidden assumptions. These are the four steps, in order.
Unit price and cost per part often disagree, sometimes sharply. A pricier insert with more edges and longer tool life can easily beat a cheaper one once you divide through. Cost per edge and cost per part are what belong in a sourcing decision, not the number on the quote.
Cost per cutting edge is the insert price divided by the number of usable edges on that insert. A square insert with four edges at €8 costs €2 per edge, a triangle with three edges at the same price costs €2,67 per edge. It is the fair way to compare inserts of different shapes and prices, instead of comparing sticker price alone.
Divide the tool life per edge (in minutes) by the cutting time per part to get parts per edge, then divide the cost per edge by parts per edge. Tool cost per part = (insert price ÷ edges per insert) ÷ (tool life per edge ÷ cutting time per part). This is the number that actually drives your part cost, not the insert's unit price.
Because unit price ignores edge count and tool life. A cheaper insert with fewer edges or shorter tool life can produce fewer parts per edge, so its real cost per part is higher than a pricier insert that lasts longer and cuts faster. Cost per edge and cost per part are the numbers to compare, not the price tag.
Use your actual annual spindle-on time for that machine or operation, not a generic default. A single eight-hour shift, five days a week, roughly 48 weeks a year, is close to 1,900–2,000 hours; two shifts roughly doubles it. If you do not know the real figure, your production or scheduling data will have it, and using the real number is what turns this from a rough estimate into a decision-grade one.
No. This calculator isolates tooling economics only: cost per edge, cost per part, and an annual tooling-cost projection from insert price, edge count, tool life and cycle time. It does not model machine hourly rate, scrap, rework, or changeover time, which belong in a full part-cost model.
This calculator runs on whatever tool life and cycle time you type in. Your real production data, actual tool life by operation, actual scrap and changeover, actual machine rate, will move these numbers, sometimes significantly.