What an Invar part costs and why
An Invar quote usually lands well above the same part in stainless. Most of the gap comes from five places: nickel-based material, slower cutting with faster tool wear, one or more furnace steps, inspection at 20 °C and the certificates a program asks for. None of it is padding, and some of it you can change on the drawing.
The guides in this section walk through each line of a quote, show how quantity changes the unit price and give the drawing and RFQ choices that bring a number down without giving up the stability you are paying for.
6 guides in this section.
- Sep 26, 2026
How Invar 36 is priced per kilogram and how to buy it smarter
What sets the Invar cost per kg: 36 % nickel and the LME price, mill or distributor, bar, plate or sheet, yield and the material share of a part price.
- Sep 26, 2026
Invar Lead Time Planning for Semiconductor Fab Tool Programs
How to stack Invar material, machining, stress relief and inspection lead time against a multi-tool semiconductor fab build schedule and ramp volume, with a worked example.
- Sep 21, 2026
Minimum Order Quantities and Scrap Rates on Small Invar Batches
Why small Invar orders carry a minimum order consideration and a higher effective scrap allowance than larger runs, and how to plan a small batch around it.
- Sep 21, 2026
Invar 36 vs 304 Stainless: When the Extra Cost Is Worth It
How much more an Invar 36 part costs than the same part in 304 stainless, and a practical way to decide whether your application actually needs the difference.
- Sep 26, 2026
Why Invar 36 Parts Are Costly and How Shops Price Them
Where Invar machining cost comes from: material, slow cutting, stress relief, inspection at 20 °C and certs, with a worked quote breakdown and ways to cut it.
- Sep 20, 2026
Prototype vs Production Invar Machining: What Changes
How a single Invar prototype and a production run differ in cost per part, tooling, lead time and inspection, and how to plan an RFQ around which stage you are in.
Other sections: Process, Materials, Choosing a Supplier.