You are requesting a quote for custom sheet processing and want to know which factors determine the price. Here you see which variables we weigh in — no fixed rates, but transparency about the structure.
1. Material choice + material cost
The base price starts with your material: acrylic, ACM, HPL, plywood or a specific variant. Materials differ in purchase price per m², thickness and colour. An ACM panel with decorative finish is more expensive than a standard acrylic sheet of comparable thickness.
The price depends on material choice, sheet usage, dimensions, machine time, finishing, quantities and planning. Send a drawing or sketch; Milplex checks the technical route first and then responds with a price direction or quote.
2. Set-up + machine time per process
Every CNC or laser job requires set-up: checking the file, placing material, calibrating the machine. For 1 piece, set-up is relatively expensive per part; at 50 pieces, that cost drops dramatically per unit. This explains why small runs are more expensive than larger volumes.
Example: 1× CNC routing job (set-up 30 min + 5 min cutting) vs 20× the same geometry (set-up 30 min + 20×5 min cutting). Per-piece price typically drops 60–75%.
3. Complexity: number and type of operations
A straight cut is cheap. Combining with engraving, bending, polishing or assembly into an end product — each step counts separately. Tolerance requirements (±0.1 mm vs ±0.5 mm) steer the machine choice and cutting speed and thereby the time.
Example: Acrylic display stand laser-cut = 1 step. The same but with finished edges + glued base = 3 steps, often 2–3× as expensive per piece.
4. Run size
The more you order at once, the lower the per-piece price. Set-up is spread across all units, material remainders are used efficiently, machine flow is more constant.
Example: Exhibition stand panel 1 piece vs 10 pieces vs 100 pieces — typical per-piece price ratio roughly 100% / 55% / 35%.
5. Rush + lead time
Standard lead time is 1–2 weeks. Rush within 24–48 hours is possible, but means we shift other production or work overtime. Rush surcharge is typically 15–30% on top of the regular price.
Example: Trade-show presentation with deadline tomorrow afternoon — express delivery possible, but at premium for evening shift + priority over other client orders.
What we therefore always ask in a quote request
- Material + thickness (or let us advise based on application)
- Size + quantity (1 piece or series?)
- Operations (cutting only, or also engraving / bending / finishing?)
- File (DXF, DWG, PDF, STEP — or a sketch / photo as starting point)
- Deadline (regular or rush)
With this info we can send a concrete quote within 1 business day — no fiddling with unknown variables afterwards.
