ModTech International Conference - New face of TMCR Modern Technologies, Quality and Innovation - New face of TMCR 25-27 May 2011, Vadul lui Voda-Chisinau, Republic of Moldova 873 TECHNOLOGIES ASSESSMENT BASED ON PRODUCTION COSTS Cristian Pisarciuc 1 , Flavius Aurelian Sarbu 1 & Mihaela Voica 1 1 Transilvania University of Brasov, Department of Economic Engineering and Production Systems Corresponding author: Cristian Pisarciuc, pisarciuc.c@unitbv.ro Abstract: Unconventional technologies are well known for technological capabilities but also for diminished productivity compared to classic technologies or more exactly to cutting technologies. This article wants to present, for a concrete product, a way to evaluate electro discharge machining and conventional milling from economic point of view. Of course, this comparison could be made in real conditions but the intention is to establish this through simulation using CAD-CAM software. The main problem that production managers face is the one related to production costs. Because there are no exact procedures, they try to estimate those costs in order to fundament the end-user price. This is the main cause that in most of the cases costs are overestimated. In terms of profitability, this may sound good but it decreases the enterprise attractiveness on the market. Otherwise, is easy to understand what could cause underestimated costs. Key words: cutting technologies, electro discharge machining, milling, costs productivity 1. INTRODUCTION In many cases, in order to speed up the cost evaluation process, only conventional machining is considered because the technologist engineer could easily evaluate the process duration, hence the machining costs, by using well established formulas. From electro discharge machining point of view, this cost estimation is not following a known path since there are no procedures to do that. In this will came handy the new features introduced in nowadays CAD-CAM software. More exactly, those features that could estimate the machining time. Of course there is no one-to-one accuracy but at least will suggest some start point in cost based estimations and offering to electro discharge machining a chance to compete to other technologies. The analysed part is fixture used for clamping glass sheets or other kind of materials used in construction of decorative hand railing both for domestic or industrial use (figure 1). Designed for long term usage, railing components are made from high quality stainless steel and often producers offer a vast ways of customisations in railing form or/and shape of glass fixtures. One example is presented in upper corner of figure 1. Fig. 1. Hand railing example This component has a great contribution in the final railing cost. Therefore could be interesting for a small enterprise - SME to produce its own fixtures instead of buying them. The shape of the analysed fixture is presented in figure 2. Glass is fixed between left and right components (L and I) by using some rubber dumpers. The final position is reached with the help of two screws. Fig. 2. Railing glass fixture Railing glass fixture is an assembly composed from L component, two rubber supports, two screws and I component. The author's intention is not to present a new way of developing machining cost estimation but to