I work in production and know that comparing mass produced to custom is almost always a increase in price even when providing the material. If the Material is expensive many will estimate labor price as a function of the material cost, like 1x, 2x, or 3x the material cost. But, if the material is cheap, then they typically go by estimated time often in cost ranges of $50 to $200+ an hour.
Given your material runs $108.15 for a 3" x 48" x 0.187", which I would estimate would make 3 blanks with ample margin for error. By material cost I would estimate $72 or $108 per blank with the material supplied and work from a pro. If it is by hour of labor, I would estimate, I’m uneducated on the market, a professional could likely produce a one off blank in 3 or 4 hours labor, and billing by labor that would be $150 per on the low end and possibly $300 per on the higher end. But, I’m considering custom non-standard shapes. If your sticking with standard shapes and a professional that already has tooling setup, that could drop to as low as $30 to $60 with material supplied given the market pricing.
My two cents from estimating production of different items. Thanks for sharing your project, it sounds like a cool one. I hope I shed some light on estimating costs to help you with your project. I also hope a pro pops in confirms or corrects my thought process. I developed my ideas for experience and am always wanting to learn more.
