Pricing guide · CNC machining

How to quote CNC machining jobs

A CNC machining quote adds up material, machine time, setup and finishing, then applies your margin and quantity breaks. The inputs below are the ones that move the price most. SeekMake applies them automatically to every uploaded file.

A CNC quote starts with stock: the bar or plate size the part is cut from, not just the finished volume. Then come machining time per operation, setups, deburring and any finish or heat treatment. Small batches are driven by setup and programming, larger runs by cycle time, which is why quantity breaks matter so much in machining.

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Free planFree setup callYour logo, your domain
yourshop.com/instant-quote
SeekMake instant quote widget: a part being analysed and priced, with material options and a cart
Key factsLast updated
Built for
Job shops, milling and turning
Customers upload
STEP and STL
Price follows
Your rates, setup and margins
Formula
(Material + time + setup + finish) × margin
Biggest drivers
Material and machine time
Automate with
Your rates in SeekMake
The problem

Where hand quotes go wrong

Common mistakesmargin leaks

  • Setup forgotten on small batches
  • Finishing priced as an afterthought
  • Old material prices
  • No quantity breaks, so big orders are lost

A consistent methodsame rules every time

  • Setup spread over quantity
  • Finishes priced per option
  • Material prices updated in one place
  • Quantity breaks built in
Demo

See SeekMake in action

Watch a customer upload files, get prices and check out, then see the order arrive in the shop’s dashboard.

SeekMake demo video: upload files, see prices and check out
How it works

A simple quoting formula

Price = (material + machine time × rate + setup ÷ quantity + finishing) × (1 + margin). SeekMake applies this kind of rule set to every file automatically.

  • 01
    Collect the inputsMaterial, size, features and quantity from the file.
  • 02
    Apply your ratesMachine rate, setup, finishes and margin.
  • 03
    Check and sendReview unusual parts; standard parts go out instantly.
yourshop.com/cart
Cart with priced parts, checkout and sales dashboard
Fully customizable

A quote widget that looks and works like your website

Choose what customers fill in and what they can pick, then style it to match your site. Your customers never see the SeekMake name.

  • Input fields
  • Options customers can pick
  • Post-processing
  • Finishes
  • Certifications
  • Colours
  • Layout
  • Design and fonts
100% white labelYour logo, your colours and your domain on the widget, the customer portal, emails, quotes and invoices.
ColourLayoutCorners
Your shopbracket_v3.step
Ready to price4/4
  • Tool access
  • Wall thickness
  • Hole sizes
  • Undercuts
Material
Aluminium 6061
Finish
Anodized, black
Tolerance
±0.05 mm
Thread inserts
2 × M6
Certification
Material certificate 3.1
Quantity: 50
€1,240.00
Ships in 7 working days
Add to cart
Request manual quote
Example widget. Prices are illustrative.
Your pricing rules

Price CNC machining the way your estimator does

These are the inputs you control. Example values are for illustration only.

MaterialMaterial and stockAluminium 6061, steel, brass, plastics, priced per kg or per bar
TimeMachine timeCalculated from the part's geometry and your hourly rate per machine
SetupSetup per jobA fixed charge spread over the quantity ordered
ToleranceTolerance classFor example ±0.1 mm standard or ±0.05 mm precision, with its own surcharge
FinishSurface finishAnodizing, bead blasting, powder coating, each with its price
QtyQuantity breaksLower unit prices as quantity goes up
Customer portal

Customers track every quote and order themselves

Each customer gets a portal on your domain with their quotes, orders, invoices and messages, so they stop emailing you for status updates.

  • 01
    Quotes saved automaticallyEvery upload becomes a quote the customer can reopen, edit and order later.
  • 02
    Order status and chatProduction status and a message thread on each order.
  • 03
    Invoices and receiptsDocuments generated from the order, in your branding.
portal.yourshop.com/quotes
Customer portal listing quotes and their status
Grow your sales

Features that help you win more orders

Instant prices bring the requests in. These features turn more of them into paid orders.

Automatic follow-ups

Customers who didn’t order get reminder emails on the schedule you choose.

See who viewed the quote

Know when a customer opens a quote, so you follow up at the right moment.

Customer portal

Customers reopen quotes, reorder and track production without emailing you.

File repair

Broken meshes are fixed automatically, so fewer quotes stall on a bad file.

Email to quote

Forward an RFQ email and a draft quote is created for you to review.

Discounts and coupons

Offers for new customers, repeat buyers or large orders.

And more: order tracking, analytics, custom emails and online payments.

Not sure it fits your shop?Book a discovery call. We look at your process, your pricing and your website together.
Comparison

Quoting by hand vs with SeekMake

ComparisonBy handSeekMake
InputsMeasured manuallyRead from the file
RatesRemembered or looked upStored once
TimeMinutes per quoteSeconds
ErrorsForgotten setup or finishSame rules every time
Customer responseHours or daysInstant
Time saved

What instant quoting saves your shop

Hours saved per month
40 h
Cost saved per month
€1,819

Assumes about 1 minute to review each automatic quote and 4.33 weeks per month. Change the sliders to match your shop.

Back office

Everything after the order, in the same place

Order page with production status and customer chat

Orders and customer chat

Each order carries its files, price breakdown, delivery date and a thread with the customer.

Production board with jobs grouped by status

Production board

Jobs move from quote to production to shipping, grouped by status and machine.

Printable work order instructions

Work orders

Printable instructions with part, material, quantity and inspection fields.

Analytics with revenue, orders and visitors

Reports

Revenue, orders, quote-to-order rate and visitors in one view.

CustomersDiscounts and couponsShipping rulesMachinesMaterialsCustom emailsJob queuePayments: card, PayPal, bank transfer
Integrations

Works with the tools you already use

Integrations: Google Drive, QuickBooks, Trello, Google Sheets, WordPress, Shopify
FAQ

Questions shops ask before switching

What is the biggest cost driver?

Usually material and machine time. Setup matters most on small batches.

How do I set quantity breaks?

Spread setup over the batch and lower the unit price at the quantities your customers order most.

Can I automate this?

Yes. Enter your rates in SeekMake and every uploaded file is priced with the same rules.

Should programming time be in the quote?

Usually yes, as part of setup, because CAM programming is a one-off cost per part number. It is one reason first orders cost more per part than repeats.

How do I account for material removed as chips?

Price material from the stock size you will cut, not the finished part volume, since the material removed is still paid for.

Which files can customers upload?

STEP and STL files. The part is checked and measured automatically when it is uploaded.

How much does SeekMake cost?

There is a free plan to start. Paid plans add more features, lower fees on online orders and priority support.

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