What to check first
Run through these basics before upload.
- DXF, STEP, and STP are the core supported file types.
- Flat and formed parts use different rule sets inside the same flow.
- Review is part of the intended capability boundary, not a bug.
Resources
Tolerances and capabilities behind the online quote scope.
This page helps technical buyers understand what the public quote system is meant to do well and where it intentionally defers to human review.
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 CAD model is automatically a fit for instant quoting.
- Treating capability pages like a substitute for the real limits in the quote engine.
- Ignoring bend length, tonnage, or thickness support until after upload.
What a better file changes
A cleaner file makes the result easier to trust.
- Supports engineers researching feasibility before upload.
- Explains technical scope and capability clearly.
- Creates a bridge between technical specs, prep guides, and service 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 quote engine uses capability rules to decide whether a part stays instant or moves to review.
- Flat and formed parts are checked differently.
- The goal is to keep fast jobs instant while sending edge cases to a safer review path.
When review is normal
Review is the correct answer when the file or part is outside the safe instant-quote envelope.
- Unsupported thicknesses.
- Parts outside the flat blank or brake limits.
- Geometry that cannot be priced confidently from the file alone.
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.
Is the online system meant to replace every fabrication quote workflow?
No. It is designed to quote a meaningful set of flat and formed sheet-metal parts online and escalate the rest cleanly.
Why are these technical limits listed?
Because buyers want to know the limits up front before they upload a part or request a quote.
Can the same site handle both simple and technical buyers?
Yes. The quote UI can stay simple while support pages explain rules and capabilities in more detail.
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.