Calculate welding costs
This weld cost calculator provides a simple means of calculating the welding cost. The benefit is that the calculator makes it simple to determine how the weld cost changes with changes in material thickness. The calculator is intended for MIG/MAG welding and for a material thickness range of 3 mm to 16 mm. Calculations can be done for both butt welds and fillet welds. For fillet welds, the calculator will also give the recommended throat thickness.
Using the weld cost calculator
The calculation table is divided into two fields - input field (white) and result fields (orange). The simplest way to use the calculator is to change only the plate thickness, and to leave the figures for the arc time, filler material cost, gas price, operator cost and machine cost at the default values. This will give an indication of the amount by which the weld cost will change with changes in plate thickness.
For a more accurate calculation, enter your own costs in the input fields.
Throat thickness
The throat thickness given is based on a rule of thumb. This states that the throat thickness should be 0.7 x plate thickness (the thinnest plate in the welded joint). The throat thickness may possibly be reduced below the value calculated from the rule of thumb, provided that it can be verified by a strength calculation.