Cost estimating routine

Anonymous · ‎12-11-2001

Hello,
I have a sheetmetal factory here, and I'm wondering if I am the only one
dying to get there hands on this: A cost estimator that works from a solid
model. As I see it, the reason that we are all working with solids, is the
fact that in the model, we have all of the physical characteristics built
in. We know the weight, the surface area (sheet metal), the number of bends
(sheet metal) the number of holes, countersinks, and any other features of
the part that we design. It seems that we should be able to extrapolate this
information into an estimated cost, right? Could we not use this information
to run a small program for estimating cost? Raw materials could be estimated
by weight or extents of a flat pattern, Paint or powder coating could be
estimated by the total surface area, part complexity could be determined by
the number of each different bend, and the number each different punch made.
It's all in there. Is there anyone else out there that would like this, or
am I the only one in the world who would like to know how much a part costs?

Anonymous · ‎01-04-2002

your not the only one

But i guess that the old fashion methode of the expreience ( what we call in
french the "pifomètre") is the most common use.

but i guess the PDM and PLM product getting more and moe popular so we might
see new product cooming in to the market

"Mike Simms" a écrit dans le message de news:
40ED79864C1958F6A794310F2FC24D91@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Hello,
> I have a sheetmetal factory here, and I'm wondering if I am the only one
> dying to get there hands on this: A cost estimator that works from a solid
> model. As I see it, the reason that we are all working with solids, is the
> fact that in the model, we have all of the physical characteristics built
> in. We know the weight, the surface area (sheet metal), the number of
bends
> (sheet metal) the number of holes, countersinks, and any other features of
> the part that we design. It seems that we should be able to extrapolate
this
> information into an estimated cost, right? Could we not use this
information
> to run a small program for estimating cost? Raw materials could be
estimated
> by weight or extents of a flat pattern, Paint or powder coating could be
> estimated by the total surface area, part complexity could be determined
by
> the number of each different bend, and the number each different punch
made.
> It's all in there. Is there anyone else out there that would like this, or
> am I the only one in the world who would like to know how much a part
costs?
>
>

Anonymous · ‎02-14-2002

Hello,

My company is an Autodesk representative in France.

We have developped a software called CCOStat which is intended for
estimating price from technical parameters.
For examples if you have some experience from parts which are made the same
way, you can make a spreadsheet with for examples mass, number of bent,
length ... any parameters, when you have some data, the software calculate a
formula :

cost= c0 x (p1)^c1 x ... x (pn)^cn

and when estimating a new projet it gives an estimating cost with a minimum
and a maximum value for a given risk.

The method for estimating is from an expert who is working for C.N.E.S
(Ariane project (i.e. spatial launches))

CCO Stat is available in english, even if we are not very proficient in
english and there are only a few sold abroad

Alexandre DUBOIS
intech
www.intech.fr (in french)
adubois@intech.fr

"Mike Simms" a écrit dans le message news:
40ED79864C1958F6A794310F2FC24D91@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Hello,
> I have a sheetmetal factory here, and I'm wondering if I am the only one
> dying to get there hands on this: A cost estimator that works from a solid
> model. As I see it, the reason that we are all working with solids, is the
> fact that in the model, we have all of the physical characteristics built
> in. We know the weight, the surface area (sheet metal), the number of
bends
> (sheet metal) the number of holes, countersinks, and any other features of
> the part that we design. It seems that we should be able to extrapolate
this
> information into an estimated cost, right? Could we not use this
information
> to run a small program for estimating cost? Raw materials could be
estimated
> by weight or extents of a flat pattern, Paint or powder coating could be
> estimated by the total surface area, part complexity could be determined
by
> the number of each different bend, and the number each different punch
made.
> It's all in there. Is there anyone else out there that would like this, or
> am I the only one in the world who would like to know how much a part
costs?
>
>