366 cubic inches of material. So a 10hp cut for 36 minutes. So it should cost $36.
Then of course, you need a machine, that is at least 61 x 24.. And not everybody has
that, so double the cost.. It should be $72.
Now I have to lift it??? Well shit, can't just pick it up like a tackle box.. So we
need a crane or a fork lift, and the floor space to get it to the machine. That's going
to take a while... So $172.
Now we have to figure out how to hold it.. Giant vises? Toe clamps? Another $100 to get it
held down.. So $272...
ETC.... ETC... Don't forget the tooling cost.. Shiny costs more than shitty..
Tolerances add cost, paperwork adds cost, there is always the "pain in ass" multiplier.
Your cost is not always tied to time and tooling, if nobody within 300 miles has a machine
that can do it, then they can charge whatever they want.. Its what the market will bear.
If you can ship 1700lbs 300 miles away and get it done for $250, would your total cost be
less.
I'd say $500 is a fair price.. That's some big heavy shit that requires some specialized
equipment.. Maybe not "specialized" but I would say only 1:20 shops even have a machine
big enough for it. I'd say only 1:50 would want to be bothered just facing off a chunk
of material.
From a shop.. I would say that is a fair price. If its from a material supplier that says
they can machine your blanks and are selling you a giant slab of steel, then I would say its
probably a bit high.. They should be set up for that.
