How much does a laser cutter program cost for a school or university?

Question

Accepted Answer

A machine’s purchase price is only part of what it costs to own.

A machine’s purchase price is only part of what it costs to own. Schools and universities must also budget for delivery and installation, exhaust or engineered filtration, electrical and room work, fire and safety review, computers and software, training, approved stock, filters and consumables, scheduled service, repairs, waste handling, and staff time for file review and supervision. The advertised machine price is the tip; the rest of the program cost sits below the waterline An iceberg picture. A small tip above a dashed waterline is labeled advertised machine price. Below the line, thirteen equal-size blocks list what else the program cost includes: delivery and installation, exhaust or filtration, electrical and room work, fire and safety review, computers and software, training, approved stock, filters and consumables, scheduled service, repairs, waste handling, staff time and supervision, and downtime and contingency. A panel at right says a lower purchase price can mean a higher program cost when service is frequent, filters are expensive, room changes are large, or staffing is unsustainable, and adds: model at least a few years, get written estimates for the actual room and operating model. Advertised machine price Also in the program cost Delivery, installation Exhaust or filtration Electrical, room work Fire and safety review Computers and software Training Approved stock Filters, consumables Scheduled service Repairs Waste handling Staff time, supervision Downtime and contingency Lower purchase price can mean higher program cost when: service is frequent filters are expensive room changes are large staffing unsustainable Model a few years. Get written estimates for the actual room and operating model. Conceptual: the blocks are equal on purpose and are not proportional, so their size says nothing about what any item costs. Your own numbers come from written estimates for your room and your operating model, over at least a few years. Model at least a few years of one-time, annual, and usage-based costs, then obtain written estimates for the actual room and operating model. Include downtime and contingency funding. A lower purchase price can still mean a higher total cost once maintenance, repair and replacement are counted, so compare machines on the whole cost, including filters, service, room changes and staffing.

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