How to Quote Powder Coating and Finishing

Finishing is where quotes go wrong. A shop nails the machining or printing estimate, then tacks on a flat $75 for “powder coat” or “anodize” and ships the PO. Two weeks later the finisher sends an invoice for $220 because the parts needed...

How to Quote Reverse Engineering Jobs

Reverse engineering requests land in your inbox with a physical part and a simple ask: “Can you make this?” What follows is rarely simple. Between 3D scanning cleanup, CAD reconstruction decisions, and iterative inspection loops, these jobs consume more...

How to Quote Fixture Design and Build Time

You nailed the part geometry, picked the right material, and calculated cycle time down to the second. Then the customer asks, “Does this include the fixture?” If your answer is a guess, you’re leaving money on the table.Custom workholding — soft...

How to Quote Material Substitutions

Your customer sends an RFQ for a CNC part in 6061-T6 aluminum. Two hours later, they follow up: “Can you also price this in 7075? And what about 17-4 PH stainless?”Sound familiar? Material substitution requests are routine in digital manufacturing....

How to Quote Small Batch Runs

Small batch runs — typically 1 to 50 parts — are the bread and butter of many digital manufacturing shops. They’re also where quoting goes wrong. Price them like production runs and you’ll lose money on setup. Price them like prototypes and you’ll...