Hourly rates

[newtoid1986]

Hi guys,
Just wondering what the average machine shop hourly rate is? For example would a 5 axis VMC would it be higher? We are thinking of getting one.
At the moment we charge £40/ hr for our 3 axis VMC.
Thanks in advance.

[JAZZCNC]

I know of someone charging £100hr running large 5 Axis Index machine and it's pretty much running 24/7. Thou at £260,000 it needs to be.!!

[gavztheouch]

£25/hr for a thermwood 3 axis router. I usually price per sheet and it works out less than £25/hr by the time im finished.

Repairing bad drawings, making invoices, lenghty setup procedures, buying and researching tools for specific jobs all seem to take more time than actually cutting the job which can be frustrating.

[newtoid1986]

Thanks guys, I imagine buying a 5 axis Hurco which start at about 80k means we can put our hourly rate up on that machine as it is capable of more complex parts.
I don't know how you operate on 25/hr- once you subtract corporation tax, business rates, rent, energy, a wage it must be difficult.
I know of a company that are charging only £19 for a complex aluminium component, in a batch of 20, 5 ops! They must be very quick but their lead times are 4-5 weeks.

[m_c]

Wood CNC tends to be cheaper than anything metal.
My mate gets plywood profile cut, and I was surprised at just how little it costs him.