First real job. I'd like y'all's advice on pricing.

[swallace84]

Hi there,
Hope y'all are well. I wandered into a new LED light store in my town. When the owner learned I had a cnc, he was interested in setting up a little side business making acrylic neon flex led signs. Here's an example.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1189955...ign-room-decor

Since I had never machined plastic before, I told him that I would make him a sign that says 'Custom Neon Signs' for his store. I just charged the cost of the materials. All I do is make the file, etch where the neon flex needs to go with my diamond drag bit, and cut out the sign. He does all the neon flex work, soldering, etc in his shop.

A sheet of acrylic around here is $211. I need to drive about 25 minutes one way to get it. The cutting doesn't take very long and I'm getting faster at the vector work.

Our first job just came in. It's a quarter of a sheet. So material cost is $52.75. I'm thinking for me to get the material from Regal Plastics is $50, so let's say it's $100 for the material.

For making the file and cutting it out, I'm thinking another $200, so $300 all together.

Do y'all think this all sounds reasonable? I really appreciate your insight. I'm just a hobbyist.

many thanks and all the best

[Ken Suer]

Cool project

[gtgmarine]

Hmmm.... "etch with my diamond drag bit...".
I work with acrylic sheet goods almost exclusively but I have never heard of using a drag bit. Please share your finished project details.

Thanks,
Pete

[DVE2000]

I'm a hobbyist too, but I know you want at least 100% markup on material. And there's your time. At a minimum, $300 seems like a reasonable price to me. Work is work, whether it's a hobby or not. And don't forget you'll be paying taxes on the profit you make too. You can write off expenses like bits software and stuff, but you can't write off more than you make in profit.

[swallace84]

Many thanks y'all. I really appreciate your input. I ended up saying $400. This article was helpful too.

https://mellowpine.com/cnc/how-to-pr...c-router-work/

Gtgmarine, there's a good video of etching with a diamond drag bit here that starts at 5:30

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpdtxEyLlzo

This isn't exactly what I'm doing, but it's a good demonstration of the bit. I'm just etching the centerline of where neon LED flex needs to be glued-- just making a guide for the other guy to do the LED stuff.

thanks again y'all!

[gtgmarine]

Thanks Stuart, I appreciate the youtube link. I may need to give that bit a try!

[Xray]

Hmmm.... "etch with my diamond drag bit...".
I work with acrylic sheet goods almost exclusively but I have never heard of using a drag bit. Please share your finished project details.

Thanks,
Pete

I've done alot of plexi/drag work, here is one example posted here https://www.camheads.org/forum/the-w...edge-lit-mayan

Once dialed in they are capable of amazing detail, and its nice to run the machine without router noise. Drag bits are fairly cheap and last forever, can also etch other materials with them