Estimate total CNC cycle time for milling, turning, and drilling operations. Add multiple operations, include rapids, tool changes, and setup time. Get parts per hour and cost per part for quoting and scheduling.
No operations added yet. Add operations above to build your cycle time estimate.
Setup & Overhead
min
#parts
$$/hr
Cycle Time Results
Total Cycle Time
—
per part
Cutting Time
—
active cutting only
Parts / Hour
—
incl. setup amort.
Time Breakdown
Cutting
Rapids
Setup
Cutting time
Non-cutting / Rapids
Setup (amortized)
Cycle Time / Part
—
minutes total
Cutting Time
—
min (active cut)
Non-Cutting Time
—
min (rapids, ATC)
Setup Amortized
—
min/part (batch)
Parts per Hour
—
incl. setup
Cost per Part
—
machine time only
Cutting Efficiency
—
% time in cut
Batch Total Time
—
for 10 parts
Per-Operation Breakdown
#
Operation
Type
Cut Time
Non-Cut
Total
% of Cycle
Add operations above then click Calculate
How CNC Cycle Time Is Calculated
Cycle time is the total time from the start of machining one part to the start of the next. It includes cutting time (tool in contact with material), non-cutting time (rapids, tool changes, dwell), and setup time amortized across the batch size. Accurate cycle time is the foundation of job quoting, capacity planning, and on-time delivery.
1 Milling Cycle Time
Milling time is simply the distance the tool must travel divided by the feed rate. Multiply by number of passes for roughing + finishing operations.
Turning time depends on the feed rate in inches per revolution (IPR) and spindle RPM, which together determine how fast the tool traverses the part length. More passes = more time linearly.
Drilling time per hole includes the plunge feed time for each peck cycle plus the rapid retract time between pecks. Multiple holes multiply the total time.
Setup time (fixturing, probing, first-part inspection) is a one-time cost amortized over the batch size. For small batches, setup can dominate cycle time per part. For large batches, it becomes negligible.
Setup Amortized per Part:
T_setup_part = Setup_min / Batch_size
Total Cycle Time per Part:
T_total = T_cutting + T_noncutting
+ T_setup_part
Parts per Hour:
PPH = 60 / T_total
Cost per Part (machine time):
CPP = (T_total / 60) × $/hr
The Setup Time Trap in Small-Batch CNC Work
A 15-minute setup on a batch of 5 parts adds 3 minutes to every part's effective cycle time — equivalent to running 50% slower. On a batch of 50 parts, the same setup adds only 18 seconds per part. This is why batch size decisions are as important as feed rate optimization for job profitability. When quoting small batches (under 10 pieces), setup should be quoted as a flat line item separate from per-part machining cost. When quoting production runs, amortize setup into the per-part rate and show the customer the cost break at larger quantities.
Frequently Asked Questions
This calculator gives a reasonable first-order estimate — typically within 20–30% of actual cycle time for straightforward parts. Factors that can make actual time longer than estimated include: spindle acceleration/deceleration time at corners; look-ahead limitations on older controls; actual feed rate override used by the operator; chip evacuation pauses; in-process gauging and probing cycles; and CNC control block processing speed for complex multi-axis moves. For complex 3D surface programs, the posted G-code file size and point density can limit actual feed rate to 50–60% of programmed rate on older controls. Use this calculator for initial quoting, then refine against actual machine data for repeat jobs.
Cutting efficiency — the percentage of cycle time where the tool is actively removing material — varies widely by part type. For simple prismatic parts with few features: 60–75% is achievable. For complex parts with many tool changes, repositions, and probing: 30–50% is typical. High-volume production cells with automated pallet changers and optimized toolpaths often achieve 70–80%. The non-cutting time (rapids, tool changes, dwell) represents pure overhead — minimizing it through better toolpath strategies, faster ATC machines, and consolidated tool changes directly improves throughput without touching the physics of the cut. If your cutting efficiency is under 40%, review your G-code for excessive repositioning moves and unnecessary tool changes.
For 3D surfacing, use your CAM software's built-in cycle time simulation — it's far more accurate than manual calculation because it accounts for all the toolpath geometry. Most CAM systems (Mastercam, Fusion 360, Hypermill) display estimated time in the toolpath parameters. If you need a manual estimate: calculate total toolpath length from the CAM system (or estimate from part size × number of passes × stepover ratio), then divide by the average programmed feed rate (apply a 70–80% efficiency factor for control processing). Add 20% for retracts and repositions. This gives a reasonable estimate, but the CAM simulation will always be more accurate for complex 3D work.
It depends on how inspection is done. In-process probing (Renishaw, m&h probing cycles run on the machine) is machine time and should be included as a non-cutting operation in the cycle time estimate. Off-machine CMM inspection or hand gauging is a separate operation and typically doesn't block the machine — it should be quoted separately as a QC labor charge. First-article inspection (FAI) time is usually a setup line item on the quote, not per-part cycle time. For production runs with periodic sampling (inspect every 10th part), add the inspection time divided by the sampling interval to the per-part cycle time to get an average effective rate.