What to check first
Run through these basics before upload.
- The quote flow surfaces an estimated ship date.
- Customers can continue with pickup or delivery during checkout.
- Review-request orders still retain shipping and schedule context.
Resources
Lead times and shipping in the online quote flow.
This page helps buyers understand what they can learn about timing before they commit to an order.
Practical
Written around real quote behavior
Upload-ready
Built to reduce quote friction
Ohio and the Midwest
Primary market context
Before Upload
What to get right before the file goes in.
These are the prep decisions that usually make the difference between a clean quote and a frustrating one.
What usually goes wrong
Most upload trouble starts with a mismatch between the file and the real part.
- Assuming every part ships on the same schedule regardless of process time.
- Ignoring that formed parts can carry extra process time compared with flat parts.
- Waiting until checkout to think about pickup versus delivery.
What a better file changes
A cleaner file makes the result easier to trust.
- Supports high-intent search around lead times and delivery.
- Gives production-oriented buyers more confidence to convert.
- Creates a strong internal link target from service and location pages.
How The Tool Responds
What the quote system will do with the file.
The site is not just storing the file. It is classifying the part, building preview logic, and deciding whether the row deserves an instant number.
What the system is looking for
The quote tool is trying to route the part into the right manufacturing path.
- The site estimates ship timing from the process time in the quote rows.
- Pickup and delivery are both supported during checkout.
- Review-only orders can still move forward as quote requests instead of stalling out.
When review is normal
Review is the correct answer when the file or part is outside the safe instant-quote envelope.
- Parts that need manual review before lead time can be trusted.
- Large or complex formed parts that need estimator confirmation.
- Orders where shipping method or part handling needs special attention.
How to keep the next step obvious
The easiest way to avoid friction is to upload a file that matches the real part state.
- Use a flat file for flat parts.
- Use formed STEP for bent parts.
- Let quantity, material, and thickness changes happen in the quote table instead of in the CAD file.
FAQ
Questions buyers ask before they upload.
Does the quote tool show an estimated ship date?
Yes. The order summary includes an estimated ship date once parts are in the quote flow.
Can customers choose pickup instead of shipping?
Yes. Pickup is supported in the checkout path alongside delivery.
Do review-only orders still retain shipping details?
Yes. Review-request orders can still carry shipping method and address details through the workflow.
Related Pages
Keep exploring the quote workflow.
Ready To Upload
Move from research into the live quote tool.
Once the file is ready, upload DXF, STEP, or STP and continue through the guided quote flow.