QuotedPartAnswers · Updated 2026-10-30
What information do I need from a customer to quote a machined part?
Price one of your own parts: Drop a STEP model or PDF drawing — about 90 seconds, no account.
Your part priced in about 90 seconds, no account.
To price a machined part you need a drawing (and a 3D model if there is one), its revision, the material and grade, the quantity or quantities, the tolerances and finish, the delivery date and the paperwork required. Without any one of these, the shop is guessing, and the guess goes into the price. If a request is missing something, send back the questions below instead of quoting a wrong assumption.
See how QuotedPart connects to your workflow with its API, MCP server, autonomous quoting and shop-specific learning.
The minimum package
Each item changes the price. The right-hand column says how, so a buyer can see why the shop is asking.
| Item | What the shop needs | What it affects |
|---|---|---|
| Drawing, PDF | Dimensions, tolerances, notes, title block with revision | Tolerances drive time and inspection; notes drive finish and cert needs |
| 3D model, STEP | Matches the drawing's revision | Stock size, features, setups; the shop measures from it |
| Revision | The current one, stated in the request | Quoting a wrong revision means re-quoting or making the wrong part |
| Material | Alloy, temper or grade, form (bar, plate), specification | Cost per pound, cutting speed, cert requirements |
| Quantity | Order size, plus any follow-on quantities | Setup spread, run-time curve, material buy |
| Finish | Type, spec, color, which surfaces | Outside service, lot minimums, lead time |
| Delivery | Date needed, ship-to, any releases | Schedule, expedite, freight |
| Paperwork | Material certs, C of C, first article, inspection report | Inspection time and documentation |
| Special requirements | ITAR, CUI, customer specs, packaging | Where the files can be stored and who can see them |
Questions to send back
Paste what applies and keep it short. A list of two or three questions is answered; a list of fifteen is ignored.
"Thanks for the RFQ. To quote accurately, please confirm: (1) revision of the drawing, since the model and PDF differ in the title block; (2) material: the print says 6061, please confirm temper and whether a mill cert is needed; (3) quantity: is 25 the order or the first release; (4) finish: which anodize type and color; (5) the tolerance on the bore, which is shown as ±.0005 on the model and ±.005 on the print."
State your assumptions if they can't answer quickly: "If we don't hear back, we'll quote 6061-T6, clear Type II anodize, no certs, ±.005 general, and list these on the quote." That gets a response from many buyers and keeps your quote honest.
Red flags that mean ask before pricing
A model without a drawing for a part with tight tolerances. A drawing without a model for a complex surface. A tolerance that is much tighter than the rest of the print (check it, it may be a typo). A material callout that doesn't exist or that conflicts with the finish. A delivery date that doesn't fit any lead time. A request for a first article with no mention of the characteristics. A file with ITAR or CUI markings that you weren't told about.
A good estimator makes a short list of assumptions on every quote. The list protects both sides: it tells the buyer what's in the price, and tells you what to point to later.
If you are the buyer: send a PDF with the dimensions and tolerances, the STEP file, the revision, the material, a quantity you are likely to order and a second you may order later, the finish, the date and the paperwork. Say which dimensions matter. That one email gets a more accurate and often a lower quote.
Sources and limits
Claims are dated where they can change. Product calculations are examples from the stated inputs, not a promise about a customer's quote. Competitor wording is attributed to the source shown.
- The package and questions are a checklist from estimating practice; no statistic is claimed.
Questions
Can you quote from a model alone?
A simple part, with stated assumptions about tolerance and finish. Tight tolerances and notes live on the drawing.
Can you quote from a drawing alone?
Yes. The shop reads the stock and features from the print and lists its assumptions.
Price one of your own parts
Drop a PDF drawing or a STEP file. QuotedPart reads the print, measures the model and prices it in seconds, on default shop rates you can change.
Your STEP file or PDF drawingDrop a PDF drawing, a STEP file or both
Free. No account, no email. Priced at our default US rates until you set yours.
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