Because two costs do not shrink with quantity: the one-time development of the device, and the setup charge for each production run. In a batch of 5 to 20, the size most of Anvol's projects are, both are shared across very few units. Here is how that looked in three devices Anvol's engineers in Shenzhen built and delivered. All amounts are in US dollars.
| Delivered project | Units | Per unit | Development per unit | Development share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24-channel logic analyzer | 15 | $20 | about $53 ($800 / 15) | 73% of $1,100 |
| Lidar line-following car | 10 | $150 | $500 ($5,000 / 10) | 77% of $6,500 |
| Swing-arm tracked robot | 4 | $5,000 | $2,500 ($10,000 / 4) | 33% of $30,000 |
Development is usually the biggest line
For the two smaller devices, development was about three quarters of the total. Spread over the batch, it added more to each logic analyzer than the analyzer itself cost. Only for the robot, where each unit was expensive to build, did the units outweigh the development.
Where the price per unit goes
In batches this size, Anvol's engineers see the unit cost split roughly 40% parts, 40% circuit board and board assembly, 15% enclosure and 5% final assembly and testing. That is their rule of thumb, not a quote. Board assembly is the expensive line because each run has a fixed machine setup charge, paid again on every small run, however few boards it makes.
What brings the number down?
More units per run, so the setup charge and the development are shared more widely. And less to develop: a device built from existing boards and modules needs less engineering than one designed from scratch. Anvol says which parts of your idea drive the cost when it works out the number.
Why not show the price at 1,000 units?
None of these three were made at that volume, so there is no real number to show, and the small-batch price per unit should not be stretched to it. A larger order is priced for that quantity.
How do I get a number for mine?
Describe it to Anvol in a few sentences; a sketch, a photo of something close or a parts list helps, and so does the quantity you have in mind. Anvol asks what it needs to know, and its engineers cost it from real parts and supplier quotes. Getting a cost is free. A first round can be a single sample; a 30% deposit starts it, and the balance is due after you approve the physical sample.
A cost is not a guaranteed final price or delivery date, and nothing is charged or started without your approval. All three delivered projects · How Anvol works.
Reviewed October 4, 2026. Talk to Anvol