When this applies
- You need exactly one part, or one plus a spare
- A prototype must be tested before committing to a run
- A production machining shop has quoted a high minimum
- The part is needed faster than a tooled route allows
Why one piece is not one-hundredth of a hundred
All the fixed effort — programming, fixturing, first-off inspection, material procurement — is amortised over one piece. Understanding this reframes the quote: you are buying engineering time with a part attached, and the honest way to reduce it is to simplify the part, not to push the price.
Design choices that move the price
A handful of details dominate single-piece cost. Loosening them where function allows often produces a materially cheaper part with identical performance.
- Number of setups — each re-fixture adds cost
- Deep pockets and small internal radii
- Tolerances tighter than function requires
- Specified surface finishes on non-critical faces
- Exotic material requiring a special order
Order the spare now
The second identical piece typically costs a fraction of the first because setup is already paid for. If the part is a replacement for something that failed, quoting two is almost always the better decision.
RFQ checklist
Include these in your request and suppliers can quote without a round of questions.
- A 3D model, or a dimensioned drawing, or a sample
- Material and any required certification
- Tolerances — and which features they apply to
- Surface finish and any coating
- Quantity of one, plus an optional second-piece price