Cycle time: Cycle time is the time a machine takes to make one part, or one load of parts, from start to finish, not counting the setup before the run.
In machining, cycle time is cutting time plus everything else the machine does for each part: tool changes, rapid moves, probing, and loading and unloading. In injection moulding it is the time from one shot to the next. In 3D printing the equivalent is build time per part or per build.
What it means for the price
Cycle time multiplied by the machine hour rate is the core of a per-part price. Setup cost is added once per batch and spread across the quantity, while cycle time is paid on every part. That is why cycle time matters most at high quantities and setup matters most for one-offs. Saving seconds per part is worth a lot on a run of thousands and almost nothing on five parts.
Example: at €60 per hour, a 6-minute cycle costs €6 per part. A run of 1,000 parts pays €6,000 in machine time, while a 3-hour setup adds €180 once. The figures are an example.
Common confusions
Cycle time is not lead time, the calendar time until delivery, which includes the queue before the job and everything after it. Nor is it the same as spindle time, which counts only cutting. Read how CNC setup time affects price.
Go deeper: Set-up time in CNC: the hidden cost in small batches