The shopVOX Waste Calculator is a tool that helps businesses in the printing and signage industry calculate the amount of material waste generated during production. This waste calculator is a unique feature of the shopVOX software, an all-in-one solution for printing and sign-making businesses.
To use the calculator, all that is required is to input the size of the job and the type of materials. The calculator will then estimate the amount of material waste generated.
The Waste Calculator only operates with objects that are smaller than the material. If an object's width or height exceeds the material's dimensions, it won't be included in the calculation. Additionally, please note that custom formulas are not compatible with the Waste Calculator, as it uses its own calculation method.
How the Waste Calculator calculates waste
This is a simplified explanation of how the waste is calculated
Based on objects that can fit within the selected material width and height.
The total square foot of all the necessary material, including the waste, is calculated first
Then the total square foot of the print area is subtracted
We now have the total waste in square feet, which is charged at the waste rate
The price for the waste is added to the price of the print area charged at the normal rate
The final values are divided by the quantity ordered.
These values are what the per unit square foot and price per square foot are based on.
Let's explore how to activate the waste calculator feature in your materials.
Please Note: A material using the Waste Calculator feature must have all its parameters filled out. That includes Width, Height, Selling Units, Sell/Buy Ratio, Cost, Markup, Price, and the Calculate Wastage option checked.
Navigate to your material list and select a material to calculate waste. For this example, we will use 3M IJ8150.
Click the pencil to edit the material, show all fields, and expand all sections.
We will be focusing on this area marked in yellow.
Select the Fixed Side drop-down and choose Width.Both: Select both, if you want the Height and the Width to be part of the waste (ideal for sheet material) Height: Select Height if you only want the Height to be part of the waste Width: Select Width if you only want the Width to be part of the waste (Ideal for roll material)
The material in this example is 54" wide. The Calculator will determine how many objects can fit into the material width, and what is left over is waste.
Click the Calculate Wastage option to calculate the waste for this material.
Enter in a Wastage Markup. For this example, let's use 200%
The price for the waste material will be the cost 0.50 + (0.50*200% Markup) = $1.50 /Sqft
Add your material to one of your products, and let's test this out in a transaction.
Testing the Waste Calculator
Ensure that you have added the material with the Calculate Wastage setup as above to one of your products.
It's good practice to use simple test values such as 12" x 12" and select your material.
Click Pricing Breakdown, and let's examine the material.
The calculator generated an output of 4.5 Sqft, Cost: $0.50, and Price: $1.6111. Clicking the half-moon icon beside the material shows a representation of the calculation
The visual breakdown shows the total material required, print and waste areas.
Waste Calculator breakdown
-Total Material Required, including waste: 54"w x 12"h = 4.5 Sqft
-Printed Area: 12"x12" = 1 Sqft, charged at full price $2.00 / Sqft = $2.00
The Waste Calculator estimates the amount of waste for objects within the printable area of a selected material. When experimenting with it, start with simple numbers, and work your way up in complexity. It is a great tool to quickly account for any waste that you will incur during the printing process
Updated
by Tyler MacDonald
The price for the waste material will be the cost 0.50 + (0.50*200% Markup) = $1.50 /Sqft
