Ok, maybe I have a black out, but I cannot figure out why the karma costs for binding foci are different in the first bonding table and the accompanied text in MITS on page 45?

For example:
Centering focus text: 3x force // first bonding table: Centering 5x force
Anchoring focus text: 1x resp. 3x force // first bonding table: Anchoring 2x force resp. 5x force

Anchoring and Centering foci were both "new" in MITS, and not listed in the SR3 rulebook. So the values given in the text is if you buy them from a talislegger or loot them from the mages you geeked first during play. That's the "standard" bonding cost.

The first bonding costs are different - but they're different for all of the foci types, which are all given in the first bonding cost table on P45.

so - if you're first bonding as an item is being made, use P45 table.
If you're bonding an item made a while ago (that had been first bonded by someone else) - then use the values in the text, which tie in with the ones in the main rulebook.

And, while on the subject of first bonding costs - I have updated my SR3 crunch calculator as we actually got some downtime in my Smuggler game, and the mage made 2 foci - so I added an extra page to do the maths on the talismongering > refining > radicals > design > enchanting process to make it easier to work. The link in the other post should let you get the updated copy

Thanks you for the response and the update!

Also, there are things that can reduce the first Bonding cost to next to nothing.

I just had a thought for the Cash to Karma and Karma to Cash issue. The Magic guy could offer cash to other team members to have them use some of their karma to pay for the first bonding.