Blog
Field notes on estimating and quoting for metal fabricators and machine shops: how to price parts, read drawings, win more RFQs and use AI without losing control of the number.
Featured articles
Estimating
How to Calculate Your Shop Rate (With Worked Example)
A shop rate built from overhead, labor, machine cost, real billable hours and margin, worked through for a 25-person fab shop with separate rates for the laser, press brake, weld cell, CNC mill and assembly.
11 min read
Estimating
Sheet Metal Fabrication Cost: What Drives the Price (Worked Example)
What actually sets the price of a sheet metal part, how to measure each cost driver from the 2D drawing, and a 14-gauge bracket costed line by line at three quantities.
11 min read
Quoting
The Job Shop Quoting Process: From RFQ to Sent Quote
A step-by-step quoting process for drawing-driven job shops, from logging the RFQ pack to following up on the sent quote, with a bid/no-bid checklist and a quote template you can copy.
11 min read
All posts
RSSEstimating
How to Calculate Your Shop Rate (With Worked Example)
A shop rate built from overhead, labor, machine cost, real billable hours and margin, worked through for a 25-person fab shop with separate rates for the laser, press brake, weld cell, CNC mill and assembly.
11 min read
Estimating
How to Estimate Tube Bending and Wire Forming Jobs (Beyond the Tube Bending Calculator)
Most tube bending calculators stop at centerline radius and developed length. This guide takes the same drawing all the way to cycle time, setup, secondary operations and a price per quantity break.
12 min read
Estimating
How to Price Welding Jobs: Welding Cost per Inch, Hour and Joint
Wire and gas are a small slice of a weld's cost. This method prices the whole welding operation, from the weld symbols on the drawing to fit-up, grinding, inspection and your shop rate, with a worked bracket assembly.
12 min read
Estimating
Sheet Metal Fabrication Cost: What Drives the Price (Worked Example)
What actually sets the price of a sheet metal part, how to measure each cost driver from the 2D drawing, and a 14-gauge bracket costed line by line at three quantities.
11 min read
Quoting
The Job Shop Quoting Process: From RFQ to Sent Quote
A step-by-step quoting process for drawing-driven job shops, from logging the RFQ pack to following up on the sent quote, with a bid/no-bid checklist and a quote template you can copy.
11 min read
Engineering
What Is a Routing in Manufacturing? Job Shop Examples
A routing is the operation sequence a part follows through the shop. Here are two real job-shop routings, a sheet metal bracket and a CNC machined part, with work centers, times and the cost math at 10 and 100 pieces.
10 min read
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