What makes a die expensive
Die cost scales with cross-section size, complexity and the tolerance demands placed on the tool. Hollow sections need bridge or porthole dies with mandrels — more engineering, more steel, more cost. Thin walls and tight features demand more die maintenance over production life.
- Profile size and circumscribing circle
- Solid vs. hollow vs. semi-hollow sections
- Wall thickness and feature complexity
- Tolerance demands on the extruded profile
How suppliers charge for tooling
Common structures: a separate tooling charge with defined die ownership; amortization into piece price across a committed volume; or partial waiver against confirmed production orders. Each has different cash-flow and ownership implications — pick deliberately, not by default.
Die ownership and maintenance
Clarify who owns the die, where it is stored, how maintenance and repair are handled and who pays for replacement when die life ends. For multi-year programs these terms matter as much as the initial tooling price.
Planning tooling into your RFQ
Ask for tooling cost and lead time explicitly, along with sample and first-article timing. If the design is still flexible, invite DFM feedback before ordering tooling — small geometry changes can cut die cost and improve production consistency.