QuotedPartComparisons · Updated 2026-10-30
Is there quoting software for CNC plasma cutting jobs?
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Yes, but a plasma quote needs more than a drawing upload. The number is driven by plate yield, cut length, pierces, lead-ins, consumables, setup, material handling, deburring and finish. DigiFabster publicly lists laser cutting, sheet metal, CNC and additive workflows with feature detection and a seven-day trial; other fabrication systems may cover plasma through a configurable work center. QuotedPart has no dedicated plasma work center today, so a plasma shop would need to add its own setup, pierce, cut-time and material assumptions rather than assume a laser model is equivalent.
See how QuotedPart connects to your workflow with its API, MCP server, autonomous quoting and shop-specific learning.
A plasma quote starts with the plate
For a 1/4-inch A572 bracket, price the full plate before pricing the part. Assume a 60 × 120-inch plate at $480, 12 parts nested with 78% yield, 380 inches of cut length per part, 24 pierces per part, and a 4-minute setup. If cut speed is 55 inches per minute, the cutting arc is 6.91 minutes per part. Add pierce time, unload and deburr minutes, and recover the setup across the lot. The plate remainder and nest are production decisions, not a generic material percentage.
A software demo should show the nest, cut length, pierce count and scrap remnant. If the product only returns a price from a perimeter, ask where lead-ins, kerf, consumables and handling enter the answer.
| Driver | Assumption | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Material | $480 plate ÷ 12 parts ÷ 78% yield = $51.28 each | Yield and remnant policy change material share. |
| Cut time | 380 in ÷ 55 in/min = 6.91 minutes | Speed depends on thickness and cut quality. |
| Pierces | 24 per part at 3 seconds = 1.2 minutes | Pierce count can dominate short profiles. |
| Setup | 4 hours at $85/hour ÷ 12 = $28.33 each | Program, load and first-piece approval are fixed work. |
| Secondary | Deburr, drill and powder coat entered separately | Plasma rarely finishes the part alone. |
What to ask a software vendor
Ask whether the product explicitly supports plasma or expects you to configure it as a laser or cutting work center. Confirm material thickness, cut quality, pierce delay, lead-in/out, consumable life, nesting yield, minimum charge and remnant inventory. Then ask how a revision changes the nest and whether the quote preserves the original material assumption. A strong product can expose the inputs even if it does not use the word plasma on its homepage.
DigiFabster is stronger for a web quote-to-order workflow and lists major CAD formats, feature detection and multiple technologies. A shop should still verify that its plasma machine, thickness range and outside processes fit the configured catalog.
Where QuotedPart fits
QuotedPart can hold the plasma arithmetic if the shop creates a work center with its own pierce, cut-speed, setup, handling and consumable assumptions. That is useful for a mixed shop whose estimator wants one branded quote across machining, fabrication and outside finish. It is not an automatic plasma geometry reader or nesting optimizer. The shop must validate the length, pierce count and yield from its CAM or nesting process.
For a plasma-first shop, choose a product that shows the nest and machine events. For a mixed shop, choose the workflow that keeps plasma assumptions visible alongside the rest of the quote. The important test is whether a 12-part quote can be explained when the customer changes plate thickness or quantity.
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.
- DigiFabster lists laser cutting, sheet metal, CNC and additive capabilities, major CAD formats, feature detection and a seven-day no-card trial. — source (checked 2026-10-30)
- QuotedPart has no dedicated plasma work center claim; plasma estimates require the shop's own work-center assumptions and validation. — source (checked 2026-10-30)
- The 12-piece plasma example is illustrative arithmetic from the stated plate, yield, cut-speed, pierce and setup assumptions.
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