I have just acquired an Optimat HPP 250. I have some big plans for it, but I've been getting requests for panel cutting by local cabinet makers. I'm not necessarily going to be using this for cabinet making, so it doesn't bother me to become their supplier for this. How much should I charge for this service? Per hour, per sq ft, contract to take percentage of their job? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciative.
Thanks!

If you are just cutting cabinet parts with no edgebanding, you should ask $40 a sheet.

Any good size kitchen should be 20+ sheets.

Mark

Thanks Mark!

Well,
Many years ago, I worked the evening shift, 10 hours, Schelling, my record was 210 sheets. According to your math, that would be $8400. Pretty good!
I did have one lift to load, and another to off load. The parts were large.

How many sheets can you run at a time on that machine? If you are running 3-4 sheets at a time, $40 seems high. If you have to run 1 sheet at a time, then it's close.

$40 a sheet with no machining? You're out your mf-ing mind.

Are they supplying the sheet stock or you? How much time is spent unloading there product and moving it to the saw then back out? If your cutting out of your stock that's next to the saw it would be different. I guess it comes down to what your operator needs to generate per hour $ money wise for the shop to make money.
Lets say at $30 a sheet it takes 2hrs to do 10 sheets from time guy pulls up out front, material is moved, parts are cut and back to front of shop for pickup. Does $300 cover the employee and all the overhead?

Since your handling the parts anyways you might as well edgeband them and charge for that too.

Can't imagine a shop that has a beam saw that can't bring a lift of plywood in with a forklift and set it right next to the machine.

Thanks everyone for the feedback
As far as logistics, the location of the machine will allow to easily set a skid of material next to machine and allow an empty skid to stack cut material. Normally I see the customer supplying their own material. I guess a big question I have, not being a cabinet maker, is what is the value of using a service like this? Normally, machine time is machine time when it comes to CNC machines, but this might be a bit different. What value would a cabinet maker put on using a service like this. Would he charge more for the cabinets, or is it a tool to build more in less time? What is that value?

My assumption is they don't have the machinery, or their machine is a choke point in their current production. So paying per job lets them go longer without paying for machinery or adding employees. Maybe even prevent them from having to add a shift on their current machinery.

This is a major part of my business. I cut parts for other shops on the CNC and also edgeband. I charge $30 a sheet to cut and label. I works very well and most of the shops I support are smaller shops who do not have or want to invest in equipment and additional employees to run equipment. They can't break down a sheet, dado, shelf pin holes etc. for $30 a sheet so it's also very profitable for them.
I supply the material. I use to let them supply it but it became a headache. Find out what they use, stock it, put a small % markup on it for you stocking it and then it's one last thing they need to worry about.

Chris -- Our per sheet price for CNC work involves a break point for sheets with over 25 parts, but is basically between $35 and $40. What most customers balk at is the programming/setup fees. One guy brings me a ready-to-run Mozaik file, while another brings a sketch on a napkin. The one with the napkin always crabs about getting charged for 2-4 hrs labor!

Cabinet makers who don't own a machine will balk if they think you are going to charge them anything for your services. I did wide belt sanding for $60.00 per hour, they complained it cost too much. Offered cut, banded and drilled cabinets, I furnished the materials, for $100.00 per foot. They were sure it should cost less. I was trying to be fair, guess not. Once did a 4,000 cut sheet project for $4.00 per sheet, wouldn't do that again.

Unless the guys coming to you for cutting are going to do it on a regular basis, where you can count on easy money. I'd pass. You'd be lucky if they wanted to pay $20.00 per sheet.