QuotedPartComparisons · Updated 2026-10-30
Paperless Parts vs Machine Research
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.
Paperless Parts is the broader quoting operation: configurable estimating, 2D/3D viewing, nesting and named ERP integrations. Machine Research is the more focused learned estimator: it says its model uses your past jobs, provides ShapeSearch and includes ITAR secure storage. Neither publishes a simple per-seat price. Paperless Parts says price depends on modules, integrations, onboarding and contract length; Machine Research asks for a shop-specific quote and says there are no multi-year contracts. Choose based on whether the estimator needs a shared workflow or a model trained on local history.
See how QuotedPart connects to your workflow with its API, MCP server, autonomous quoting and shop-specific learning.
Same RFQ, different starting point
For a 6061 mounting plate, Paperless Parts starts with a structured RFQ and its geometric attributes, nesting and formulas. Machine Research starts with the CAD geometry and a prediction informed by similar jobs. The first workflow is easier to govern across several estimators; the second can be faster for a repeat family once the shop has enough completed jobs. Ask both vendors to quote the same part at quantities 1, 25 and 250, then show the setup, cycle and material assumptions behind each number.
Neither result should be accepted without an estimator's review. Paperless Parts can still depend on a shop's formula and catalog quality. Machine Research can still depend on the quality and consistency of the job history used to train it. A fast answer only saves money when the correction loop is shorter than the old spreadsheet.
| Question | Paperless Parts | Machine Research |
|---|---|---|
| Price | No blanket price or price range; priced by modules, integrations, onboarding and contract length, not by seats | Price not published; the pricing page is a form to request pricing |
| Input | 2D and 3D CAD files and PDFs, viewed without native CAD software | STEP, CATIA, Parasolid, SLDPRT and 10 more CAD types; CAD, PDF or drawing files uploaded individually or in batches; STEP, SLDASM, CATPRODUCT and NX assemblies |
| Estimate method | Detects 62+ geometric attributes in a 3D CAD model for pricing formulas | Machine learning trained on the shop's job data estimates programming, setup and run time from 3D geometry |
| Repeat parts | Unfolds and nests multiple part files on the same sheets to calculate material and labor | ShapeSearch finds geometrically similar past jobs with their costing and pricing |
| Security | ITAR registered, hosted on AWS US GovCloud, designed for manufacturers pursuing CMMC Level 2 | ITAR registered and hosted in AWS GovCloud (US); says it is FedRAMP Moderate authorization ready with an audit scheduled in October 2026 |
| ERP | Live ERP integrations named: Epicor (10/11/Kinetic), ECI (E2 Shop, JobBOSS, JobBOSS², M1), Fulcrum, Global Shop Solutions, Infor VISUAL/SyteLine, ProShop, Made2Manage, MIE Trak Pro | Integrates with QuickBooks, JobBOSS², ProShop ERP and Fulcrum |
Pick Paperless Parts when the team needs a system
Paperless Parts is stronger when RFQs arrive in many formats, several estimators share a queue, and the shop needs a repeatable process before the quote reaches its ERP. Its public integration list names Epicor, ECI systems, Fulcrum, Global Shop Solutions, ProShop, MIE Trak Pro and others. That breadth makes it the safer shortlist for a shop with an existing production system and a large quote package to standardize.
The trade-off is implementation. Ask who owns templates, materials, customer rules and revisions after launch. Put a real outside process and a revision into the demo so the handoff is more than a polished PDF.
Pick Machine Research when local history is the advantage
Machine Research is stronger when the shop has consistent historical jobs and wants the estimator to find a similar part instead of rebuilding a routing. Its security page says it is ITAR registered and hosted in AWS GovCloud, and it names QuickBooks, JobBOSS², ProShop and Fulcrum integrations. That combination is valuable to defense-oriented CNC shops that need a CAD-first workflow with a controlled hosting statement.
QuotedPart is a smaller third option: $199 per shop per month, explicit rate assumptions and an ITAR vault boundary. It is weaker than either product on learned geometry and broad integration coverage. Run five old jobs and one new family in both products. Choose the one whose prediction or formula your estimator can explain before the customer sees the price.
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.
- Paperless Parts: No blanket price or price range; priced by modules, integrations, onboarding and contract length, not by seats (their words: “Paperless Parts does not have a blanket price range.”) — source (checked 2026-11-04)
- Paperless Parts: 2D and 3D CAD files and PDFs, viewed without native CAD software (their words: “View PDFs & 3D CAD files without native CAD software.”) — source (checked 2026-10-30)
- Paperless Parts: Detects 62+ geometric attributes in a 3D CAD model for pricing formulas (their words: “Detect 62+ different geometric attributes in a 3D CAD model to better inform your pricing formulas.”) — source (checked 2026-10-30)
- Paperless Parts: Unfolds and nests multiple part files on the same sheets to calculate material and labor (their words: “Unfold and nest multiple part files on the same sheets to quickly calculate optimized material & labor costs.”) — source (checked 2026-11-04)
- Paperless Parts: ITAR registered, hosted on AWS US GovCloud, designed for manufacturers pursuing CMMC Level 2 (their words: “Hosted on AWS US GovCloud”) — source (checked 2026-11-04)
- Paperless Parts: Live ERP integrations named: Epicor (10/11/Kinetic), ECI (E2 Shop, JobBOSS, JobBOSS², M1), Fulcrum, Global Shop Solutions, Infor VISUAL/SyteLine, ProShop, Made2Manage, MIE Trak Pro (their words: “We currently have live integrations for the following ERP systems: Epicor (10/11/Kinetic), ECI (E2 Shop, JobBOSS, JobBOSS², M1), Fulcrum, Global Shop Solutions, Infor VISUAL / SyteLine, ProShop, Made2Manage, MIE Trak Pro.”) — source (checked 2026-11-04)
- Machine Research: Price not published; the pricing page is a form to request pricing (their words: “Fill out your information below and we will be in contact to provide pricing for your organization.”) — source (checked 2026-10-30)
- Machine Research: STEP, CATIA, Parasolid, SLDPRT and 10 more CAD types; CAD, PDF or drawing files uploaded individually or in batches; STEP, SLDASM, CATPRODUCT and NX assemblies (their words: “Supports STEP, CATIA, Parasolid, SLDPRT, and 10 more file types.”) — source (checked 2026-10-30)
- Machine Research: Machine learning trained on the shop's job data estimates programming, setup and run time from 3D geometry (their words: “Real machine learning — trained on your actual job data — analyzes 3D part geometry”) — source (checked 2026-10-30)
- Machine Research: ShapeSearch finds geometrically similar past jobs with their costing and pricing (their words: “Visually search your part library for geometrically similar jobs.”) — source (checked 2026-10-30)
- Machine Research: ITAR registered and hosted in AWS GovCloud (US); says it is FedRAMP Moderate authorization ready with an audit scheduled in October 2026 (their words: “Machine Research is ITAR registered, hosted in AWS GovCloud (US), and FedRAMP Moderate authorization ready”) — source (checked 2026-10-30)
- Machine Research: Integrates with QuickBooks, JobBOSS², ProShop ERP and Fulcrum (their words: “Machine Research integrates with QuickBooks, JobBOSS², ProShop ERP, and Fulcrum, with more integrations in development.”) — source (checked 2026-10-30)
- QuotedPart costs $199 per shop per month and offers an ITAR vault boundary without a certification claim. — source (checked 2026-10-30)
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