I don't know if this is appropriate to ask this, if not I am sure it will get remove.
How much do you charge for machine time, and how do you figure out machine time when doing and estimate?
If I am running more than one of an item I will run the job on the machine without anything in it. That way I know the exact time that it will take to run and have a starting point. But many of my jobs are one of and people want a general idea of what it will cost and to give them a number I pretty much completely guess on the time it will take and some times I am WAY off and have to eat the difference (I will not charge more for a job than what I estimated it at, unless the customer makes changes).
How much do you charge for machine time, and how do you figure out machine time when doing and estimate?
If I am running more than one of an item I will run the job on the machine without anything in it. That way I know the exact time that it will take to run and have a starting point. But many of my jobs are one of and people want a general idea of what it will cost and to give them a number I pretty much completely guess on the time it will take and some times I am WAY off and have to eat the difference (I will not charge more for a job than what I estimated it at, unless the customer makes changes).