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Test parts for the instant quote

16 sheet-metal parts, from a 2 in bracket to a 48 in chassis rail, and 4 files with a design problem on purpose. Each bent part comes as the 3D model (STEP) and its flat pattern (DXF in inches, bend lines on layer BEND with the angle and direction noted next to each one). Each part also comes as a full shop drawing (17 × 11 in sheet, DXF and PDF) with the flat pattern drawn at a scale, the bent views and a title block, the way an engineer sends a part. Below them are 10 machined parts, each a STEP model with its PDF drawing. Drop any of them into the instant quote and compare what it reads with the facts here.

Download all (7.1 MB, zip)Open the instant quote README.md

Flat patterns use the shop's K-factor for each material: 0.42 for mild and galvanized steel, 0.44 for stainless, 0.45 for aluminum 6061-T6. Each bend adds θ · (r + K · t) to the flat blank, so the quote's flat size should match the one listed here within 0.01 in.

Every model also comes as IGES (millimeters), binary STL (millimeters) and GLB (meters, Y up, as glTF viewers expect). The instant quote reads STEP, IGES and DXF; STL, GLB and OBJ are meshes without exact thickness and bends, so they go with a quote request and the quote says so.

Parts

  1. L-bracket, 2 × 2 in

    The simplest bend: one 90° bend, inside radius about the thickness, two holes per leg.

    Material
    Mild steel, 16 ga (0.0598 in)
    Bends
    1: 90° up; inside radius 0.063 in
    Flat blank
    3.893 × 1.500 in
    Bent size
    2.00 × 1.50 × 2.00 in
    K-factor
    0.42
    Holes
    4 round
    Shop drawing of the l-bracket, 2 × 2 in: flat pattern, bent views and title block

    Shop drawing, flat pattern at 1:1

    The instant quote: Reads the flat pattern on the sheet: 3.89 × 1.50 in, 1 bend, $8.24 each at 10.

  2. Angle bracket with gusset bolt holes

    Heavier gauge (11 ga) and a larger inside radius (0.125 in); holes on the centre line for a bolted gusset plate.

    Material
    Mild steel, 11 ga (0.1196 in)
    Bends
    1: 90° up; inside radius 0.125 in
    Flat blank
    5.786 × 3.000 in
    Bent size
    3.00 × 3.00 × 3.00 in
    K-factor
    0.42
    Holes
    6 round
    Shop drawing of the angle bracket with gusset bolt holes: flat pattern, bent views and title block

    Shop drawing, flat pattern at 1:1

    The instant quote: Reads the flat pattern on the sheet: 5.79 × 3.00 in, 1 bend, $9.22 each at 10.

  3. Z-bracket

    Two bends in opposite directions (UP then DOWN): the unfold must turn each flange the right way.

    Material
    Mild steel, 14 ga (0.0747 in)
    Bends
    2: 90° up, 90° down; inside radius 0.078 in
    Flat blank
    3.733 × 2.000 in
    Bent size
    2.42 × 2.00 × 1.50 in
    K-factor
    0.42
    Holes
    4 round
    Shop drawing of the z-bracket: flat pattern, bent views and title block

    Shop drawing, flat pattern at 1:1

    The instant quote: Reads the flat pattern on the sheet: 3.73 × 2.00 in, 2 bends, $9.53 each at 10.

  4. U-channel, 12 in

    Two bends the same way, a 12 in long part; holes in the web and the legs.

    Material
    Mild steel, 11 ga (0.1196 in)
    Bends
    2: 90° up, 90° up; inside radius 0.125 in
    Flat blank
    4.572 × 12.000 in
    Bent size
    1.50 × 12.00 × 2.00 in
    K-factor
    0.42
    Holes
    7 round
    Shop drawing of the u-channel, 12 in: flat pattern, bent views and title block

    Shop drawing, flat pattern at 1:2

    The instant quote: Reads the flat pattern on the sheet: 12.00 × 4.57 in, 2 bends, $12.17 each at 10.

  5. Hat channel, 24 in

    Four bends, UP, DOWN, DOWN, UP; galvanized 16 ga (0.0635 in, a different gauge table from mild steel).

    Material
    Galvanized steel, 16 ga (0.0635 in)
    Bends
    4: 90° up, 90° down, 90° down, 90° up; inside radius 0.063 in
    Flat blank
    4.552 × 24.000 in
    Bent size
    2.87 × 24.00 × 1.00 in
    K-factor
    0.42
    Holes
    8 round
    Shop drawing of the hat channel, 24 in: flat pattern, bent views and title block

    Shop drawing, flat pattern at 3:8

    The instant quote: Reads the flat pattern on the sheet: 24.00 × 4.55 in, 4 bends, $15.05 each at 10.

  6. Shelf bracket with slots

    Slots (obround cut-outs) on both legs: read as cut-outs, with their cut length and pierces.

    Material
    Mild steel, 14 ga (0.0747 in)
    Bends
    1: 90° up; inside radius 0.078 in
    Flat blank
    10.866 × 1.500 in
    Bent size
    5.00 × 1.50 × 6.00 in
    K-factor
    0.42
    Holes
    0 round, 4 slots and windows
    Shop drawing of the shelf bracket with slots: flat pattern, bent views and title block

    Shop drawing, flat pattern at 3:4

    The instant quote: Reads the flat pattern on the sheet: 10.87 × 1.50 in, 1 bend, $8.72 each at 10.

  7. Electrical enclosure tray

    A tray: base and four walls (four bends) with closed corners and rectangular corner reliefs; mounting holes, vent slots and a connector window in the walls.

    Material
    Mild steel, 16 ga (0.0598 in)
    Bends
    4: 90° up, 90° up, 90° up, 90° up; inside radius 0.063 in
    Flat blank
    10.786 × 8.786 in
    Bent size
    8.00 × 6.00 × 1.50 in
    K-factor
    0.42
    Holes
    4 round, 4 slots and windows
    Shop drawing of the electrical enclosure tray: flat pattern, bent views and title block

    Shop drawing, flat pattern at 1:2

    The instant quote: Reads the flat pattern on the sheet: 10.79 × 8.79 in, 4 bends, $13.95 each at 10.

  8. Enclosure lid

    Short walls (0.5 in) on four sides: the walls are close to the flange minimum; screw holes and vent slots in the top.

    Material
    Mild steel, 16 ga (0.0598 in)
    Bends
    4: 90° up, 90° up, 90° up, 90° up; inside radius 0.063 in
    Flat blank
    9.036 × 7.036 in
    Bent size
    8.25 × 6.25 × 0.50 in
    K-factor
    0.42
    Holes
    4 round, 3 slots and windows
    Shop drawing of the enclosure lid: flat pattern, bent views and title block

    Shop drawing, flat pattern at 1:2

    The instant quote: Reads the flat pattern on the sheet: 9.04 × 7.04 in, 4 bends, $13.30 each at 10.

  9. Mounting plate with countersinks

    Flat part, no bends, 3/16 in plate. The STEP has four 82° countersinks (cones): the reader must still see an even-thickness plate. The DXF has the through holes only.

    Material
    Mild steel, 3/16 in (0.1875 in)
    Bends
    None, flat
    Flat blank
    6.000 × 4.000 in
    Holes
    7 round
    Shop drawing of the mounting plate with countersinks: flat pattern, bent views and title block

    Shop drawing, flat pattern at 1:1

    The instant quote: Reads the flat pattern on the sheet: 6.00 × 4.00 in, 0 bends, $7.17 each at 10.

  10. Motor mount with slotted holes

    Motor mount: a 1.56 in pilot bore and four belt-tension slots on the NEMA 23 square, two adjustment slots in the base.

    Material
    Mild steel, 11 ga (0.1196 in)
    Bends
    1: 90° up; inside radius 0.125 in
    Flat blank
    6.036 × 3.000 in
    Bent size
    3.00 × 3.00 × 3.25 in
    K-factor
    0.42
    Holes
    1 round, 6 slots and windows
    Shop drawing of the motor mount with slotted holes: flat pattern, bent views and title block

    Shop drawing, flat pattern at 1:1

    The instant quote: Reads the flat pattern on the sheet: 6.04 × 3.00 in, 1 bend, $9.36 each at 10.

  11. Chassis rail, 48 in

    Long part (48 in): four bends over 48 in, the brake runs the long-part bend time; a hole every 6 in.

    Material
    Mild steel, 11 ga (0.1196 in)
    Bends
    4: 90° up, 90° up, 90° up, 90° up; inside radius 0.125 in
    Flat blank
    6.644 × 48.000 in
    Bent size
    3.00 × 48.00 × 1.50 in
    K-factor
    0.42
    Holes
    8 round, 4 slots and windows
    Shop drawing of the chassis rail, 48 in: flat pattern, bent views and title block

    Shop drawing, flat pattern at 3:16

    The instant quote: Reads the flat pattern on the sheet: 48.00 × 6.64 in, 4 bends, $27.17 each at 10.

  12. Plate bracket, 3/16 in, two bends

    Heavy plate (3/16 in, inside radius 0.1875 in) with two bends, 8 in wide; 1/2 in bolt holes.

    Material
    Mild steel, 3/16 in (0.1875 in)
    Bends
    2: 90° up, 90° up; inside radius 0.188 in
    Flat blank
    13.336 × 8.000 in
    Bent size
    4.00 × 8.00 × 6.00 in
    K-factor
    0.42
    Holes
    8 round
    Shop drawing of the plate bracket, 3/16 in, two bends: flat pattern, bent views and title block

    Shop drawing, flat pattern at 1:2

    The instant quote: Reads the flat pattern on the sheet: 13.34 × 8.00 in, 2 bends, $17.99 each at 10.

  13. Box with flanges and hardware holes

    Six bends: four walls with closed corners and corner reliefs, outward flanges on the long walls with holes sized for self-clinching nuts.

    Material
    Mild steel, 16 ga (0.0598 in)
    Bends
    6: 90° up, 90° down, 90° up, 90° down, 90° up, 90° up; inside radius 0.063 in
    Flat blank
    15.786 × 13.072 in
    Bent size
    10.00 × 7.38 × 3.00 in
    K-factor
    0.42
    Holes
    10 round
    Shop drawing of the box with flanges and hardware holes: flat pattern, bent views and title block

    Shop drawing, flat pattern at 1:4

    The instant quote: Reads the flat pattern on the sheet: 15.79 × 13.07 in, 6 bends, $18.67 each at 10.

  14. Bracket with a 45° bend

    A non-90° bend: one 45° bend (the flange turns 45°, 135° included). The bend allowance uses 45°.

    Material
    Mild steel, 14 ga (0.0747 in)
    Bends
    1: 45° up; inside radius 0.078 in
    Flat blank
    5.959 × 2.000 in
    Bent size
    4.97 × 2.00 × 2.53 in
    K-factor
    0.42
    Holes
    4 round
    Shop drawing of the bracket with a 45° bend: flat pattern, bent views and title block

    Shop drawing, flat pattern at 1:1

    The instant quote: Reads the flat pattern on the sheet: 5.96 × 2.00 in, 1 bend, $8.49 each at 10.

  15. Aluminum cover, 0.090 in

    Aluminum 0.090 in (stocked in 6061-T6 only): another material, its own K-factor (0.45) and the 6061 bend caution.

    Material
    Aluminum 6061-T6, 0.09 in
    Bends
    2: 90° up, 90° up; inside radius 0.090 in
    Flat blank
    6.190 × 3.000 in
    Bent size
    1.25 × 3.00 × 4.00 in
    K-factor
    0.45
    Holes
    4 round
    Shop drawing of the aluminum cover, 0.090 in: flat pattern, bent views and title block

    Shop drawing, flat pattern at 1:1

    The instant quote: Reads the flat pattern on the sheet: 6.19 × 3.00 in, 2 bends, $10.53 each at 10.

  16. Stainless guard, 14 ga

    Stainless 304, 14 ga (K 0.44): three bends, a 0.5 in return lip, a slot in the face.

    Material
    Stainless 304, 14 ga (0.0747 in)
    Bends
    3: 90° up, 90° down, 90° down; inside radius 0.078 in
    Flat blank
    6.106 × 4.000 in
    Bent size
    2.92 × 4.00 × 3.00 in
    K-factor
    0.44
    Holes
    2 round, 1 slots and windows
    Shop drawing of the stainless guard, 14 ga: flat pattern, bent views and title block

    Shop drawing, flat pattern at 1:1

    The instant quote: Reads the flat pattern on the sheet: 6.11 × 4.00 in, 3 bends, $12.47 each at 10.

Files with a problem on purpose

The quote should catch each of these and say why.

  1. Problem: holes too close to the bend

    Two 1/4 in holes whose edges sit 0.075 in from where the bend starts: they will stretch out of round.

    Material
    Mild steel, 14 ga (0.0747 in)
    Bends
    1: 90° up; inside radius 0.078 in
    Flat blank
    3.866 × 2.000 in
    The quote should
    Warn that the holes sit closer to the bend than 2.5 × t + t and may stretch
    Shop drawing of the holes too close to the bend: flat pattern, bent views and title block

    Shop drawing, flat pattern at 1:1

    The instant quote: Reads the flat pattern on the sheet: 3.87 × 2.00 in, 1 bend, $8.30 each at 10.

  2. Problem: flange too short

    An 11 ga flange 0.35 in tall (outside): on the flat it is 0.24 in past the bend line, under the 4 × t (0.48 in) the brake die needs.

    Material
    Mild steel, 11 ga (0.1196 in)
    Bends
    1: 90° up; inside radius 0.125 in
    Flat blank
    3.136 × 3.000 in
    The quote should
    Flag the flange as shorter than 4 × thickness, too short for the brake die
    Shop drawing of the flange too short: flat pattern, bent views and title block

    Shop drawing, flat pattern at 1:1

    The instant quote: Reads the flat pattern on the sheet: 3.14 × 3.00 in, 1 bend, $8.59 each at 10.

  3. Problem: open hem (180° bend)

    A 180° open hem (inside radius 0.03 in, half the thickness). Hems need their own tooling and are out of scope for the v1 instant price.

    Material
    Mild steel, 16 ga (0.0598 in)
    Bends
    1: 180° up; inside radius 0.030 in
    Flat blank
    3.673 × 4.000 in
    The quote should
    Send it to a manual quote and say it has a hem
    Shop drawing of the open hem (180° bend): flat pattern, bent views and title block

    Shop drawing, flat pattern at 1:1

    The instant quote: Goes to a manual quote. It has a hem (an edge folded back on itself, 180°). Hems need their own tooling and are not in the instant price.

  4. Problem: millimetre DXF with an open outline

    A 150 × 100 mm plate saved in millimetres ($INSUNITS = 4) whose outline stops 0.8 mm short of closing.

    Material
    Any, the file is a flat plate in millimeters
    Flat blank
    5.906 × 3.937 in
    The quote should
    Read it in millimeters (5.906 × 3.937 in) and flag the outline that does not close

Drawing sheets that are harder to read

Customers often send the whole drawing sheet. These two copies of the angle bracket's drawing move the flat pattern off its own layers, so the quote has to find it some other way, or hand the file to the shop.

  • angle-bracket-gusset-11ga-drawing-no-cut-layer.dxf

    The same shop drawing with the flat pattern on layer VISIBLE, like the bent views: no CUT or BEND layers, so the flat view must be found by its FLAT PATTERN label.

    The quote should
    Read from the flat view labelled FLAT PATTERN

    The instant quote: Reads the flat pattern on the sheet: 5.79 × 3.00 in, 1 bend, $9.22 each at 10.

  • angle-bracket-gusset-11ga-drawing-no-flat-label.dxf

    The flat pattern on layer VISIBLE and its FLAT PATTERN label renamed VIEW A: nothing on the sheet marks which view is the flat part.

    The quote should
    Send it to a manual quote: a full drawing sheet whose flat part cannot be picked out

    The instant quote: Goes to a manual quote. This file is a full drawing sheet, and the flat part could not be picked out of it with certainty. Upload the flat part on its own at full size, without the border and title block, or send this file with the quote request and the shop reads it.

Machined parts

10 parts for the machined-part quote, each as a STEP model and the PDF drawing a customer would send with it. Threads are in the model only as tap-drill holes (a 1/4-20 hole is 0.201 in); the drawing says which holes are tapped, the material, the tolerance and the finish. Drop the STEP and the PDF together.

Machined parts (1.1 MB, zip)
  1. Shop drawing of the block with two pockets: views, callouts and title block

    Block with two pockets

    Two pockets with 1/8 and 3/16 in corner radii and four 1/4-20 tapped holes, all from the top: one setup.

    Material
    ALUMINUM 6061-T6
    Size
    4.00 × 3.00 × 1.25 in
    Holes
    4 × Ø.201 in through
    Setups
    1
    On the drawing
    ±.005 in, 63 Ra, 4 × 1/4-20 UNC-2B, finish ANODIZE TYPE II BLACK PER MIL-A-8625
    The quote should give
    an instant price

    The instant quote: Instant price with the drawing's options: $299.93 for one, $50.34 each at 10, $24.12 each at 100 (confidence 100 / 100).

  2. Shop drawing of the flange with a bolt circle: views, callouts and title block

    Flange with a bolt circle

    Round flange with a hub, a 1 in bore and six holes on a 3.25 in bolt circle. Flat and round, so it is milled from plate (a shop may turn it instead).

    Material
    STEEL 1018 COLD DRAWN
    Size
    4.00 × 4.00 × 1.25 in
    Holes
    1 × Ø1.000 in through, 6 × Ø.266 in through
    Setups
    1
    On the drawing
    ±.005 in, 125 Ra, finish BLACK OXIDE PER MIL-DTL-13924 CLASS 1
    The quote should give
    an instant price

    The instant quote: Instant price with the drawing's options: $277.74 for one, $76.13 each at 10, $53.11 each at 100 (confidence 100 / 100).

  3. Shop drawing of the shaft with a keyway: views, callouts and title block

    Shaft with a keyway

    Stepped shaft, 1.000 and 0.750 in, 6 in long, with a 1/4 in keyway. A lathe part: the instant price covers milled parts, so it goes to the shop with the keyway noted.

    Material
    STEEL 1018 COLD DRAWN
    Size
    6.00 × 1.00 × 1.00 in
    Holes
    None
    Setups
    Not a 3-axis part; a lathe part
    On the drawing
    ±.001 in, 32 Ra, finish NONE, LIGHT OIL
    The quote should give
    priced by the shop

    The instant quote: Priced by the shop (confidence 16 / 100), with the reasons shown.

  4. Shop drawing of the bracket with tapped holes: views, callouts and title block

    Bracket with tapped holes

    Machined L bracket with a 1/4 in inside fillet and four 1/4-20 tapped holes, two down through the base and two through the upright: two setups.

    Material
    ALUMINUM 6061-T6
    Size
    3.00 × 2.00 × 2.38 in
    Holes
    4 × Ø.201 in through
    Setups
    2
    On the drawing
    ±.005 in, 125 Ra, 4 × 1/4-20 UNC-2B, finish ANODIZE TYPE II CLEAR PER MIL-A-8625
    The quote should give
    an instant price or an indicative price, confirmed by the shop

    The instant quote: Instant price with the drawing's options: $369.52 for one, $62.48 each at 10, $29.74 each at 100 (confidence 94 / 100).

  5. Shop drawing of the plate with pockets on both sides: views, callouts and title block

    Plate with pockets on both sides

    Pockets on the top and the bottom: the part is flipped, two setups. Tight tolerance (±.001) on the drawing.

    Material
    STAINLESS STEEL 304
    Size
    4.00 × 2.50 × 0.75 in
    Holes
    2 × Ø.159 in through
    Setups
    2
    On the drawing
    ±.001 in, 63 Ra, 2 × 10-32 UNF-2B, finish PASSIVATE PER ASTM A967
    The quote should give
    an instant price or an indicative price, confirmed by the shop

    The instant quote: Instant price with the drawing's options: $322.35 for one, $78.21 each at 10, $49.25 each at 100 (confidence 84 / 100).

  6. Shop drawing of the block with an undercut and an angled hole: views, callouts and title block

    Block with an undercut and an angled hole

    An O-ring groove inside a blind bore (an undercut no straight tool reaches) and a hole drilled at 30°: needs a 5-axis machine or special tools, so it goes to the shop.

    Material
    STAINLESS STEEL 304
    Size
    3.00 × 3.00 × 1.50 in
    Holes
    1 × Ø1.000 in blind, 1 in deep, 1 × Ø.250 in through
    Setups
    Not a 3-axis part; an undercut, an angled hole
    On the drawing
    ±.005 in, 63 Ra, finish PASSIVATE PER ASTM A967
    The quote should give
    priced by the shop

    The instant quote: Priced by the shop (confidence 40 / 100), with the reasons shown.

  7. Shop drawing of the thin-wall housing: views, callouts and title block

    Thin-wall housing

    A housing hollowed out to 0.040 in walls and a 0.060 in floor: thin walls chatter and need light cuts.

    Material
    ALUMINUM 6061-T6
    Size
    3.00 × 2.00 × 0.81 in
    Holes
    None
    Setups
    1; thin walls
    On the drawing
    ±.005 in, 125 Ra, finish ANODIZE TYPE II BLACK PER MIL-A-8625
    The quote should give
    an indicative price, confirmed by the shop

    The instant quote: Indicative price with the drawing's options: $280.18 for one, $41.46 each at 10, $16.45 each at 100 (confidence 75 / 100).

  8. Shop drawing of the block with a deep pocket: views, callouts and title block

    Block with a deep pocket

    A 2 in deep pocket with 3/16 in corner radii (a 3/8 in tool, 5.3 times its diameter deep) and four blind 1/4-20 holes.

    Material
    ALUMINUM 6061-T6
    Size
    2.50 × 2.50 × 3.00 in
    Holes
    4 × Ø.201 in blind, 0.75 in deep
    Setups
    1; a deep pocket
    On the drawing
    ±.005 in, 125 Ra, 4 × 1/4-20 UNC-2B, finish NONE
    The quote should give
    an indicative price, confirmed by the shop

    The instant quote: Indicative price with the drawing's options: $151.06 for one, $41.64 each at 10, $28.86 each at 100 (confidence 78 / 100).

  9. Shop drawing of the plate with many holes: views, callouts and title block

    Plate with many holes

    A 6 × 4 in acetal plate with a grid of 20 holes and four 8-32 tapped corner holes.

    Material
    ACETAL HOMOPOLYMER, DELRIN 150 BLACK
    Size
    6.00 × 4.00 × 0.25 in
    Holes
    20 × Ø.1875 in through, 4 × Ø.136 in through
    Setups
    1
    On the drawing
    ±.005 in, 63 Ra, 4 × 8-32 UNC-2B, finish NONE
    The quote should give
    an instant price

    The instant quote: Instant price with the drawing's options: $136.15 for one, $27.10 each at 10, $15.24 each at 100 (confidence 100 / 100).

  10. Shop drawing of the spacer: views, callouts and title block

    Spacer

    The simplest part: a brass bar with two 6-32 tapped holes.

    Material
    BRASS 360 HALF HARD
    Size
    2.00 × 1.00 × 0.50 in
    Holes
    2 × Ø.1065 in through
    Setups
    1
    On the drawing
    ±.005 in, 125 Ra, 2 × 6-32 UNC-2B, finish NONE
    The quote should give
    an instant price

    The instant quote: Instant price with the drawing's options: $123.07 for one, $19.66 each at 10, $9.01 each at 100 (confidence 100 / 100).

Complex parts

What a powder-coat or fabrication customer sends: welded tube frames, a railing, a gate, a car wheel, a cast cover, a bolted assembly and a big rack, all at full size, plus a broken mesh and an OBJ without normals on purpose. Welded parts are one solid; assemblies keep each part as its own solid. Surface area is every face of the model, inside of tubes and bores included.

Complex parts (11.7 MB, zip) README.md
  1. Welded cart frame, 36 × 24 × 30 in, 3D view

    Welded cart frame, 36 × 24 × 30 in

    A welded square-tube weldment as one solid: 1 in tube, 16 ga wall, open tube ends, caster plates. Hollow tubes have an inside surface that powder does not reach.

    Size
    36.0 × 24.0 × 30.0 in
    914 × 610 × 762 mm
    Surface area
    2,810 in²
    1.813 m²
    Volume
    97.7 in³
    1,602 cm³
    Solids
    1

    The instant quote: Goes to a manual quote. Its walls meet at sharp corners instead of formed bends, as in a welded tube frame or sheet metal drawn without bend radii, so it does not unfold into one flat blank. A bent sheet part drawn with a bend radius (any CAD sheet-metal tool does this) gets an instant price; anything else the shop reads by hand.

  2. Railing section, 6 ft, with balusters, 3D view

    Railing section, 6 ft, with balusters

    Posts, rails and fifteen 1/2 in square balusters at code spacing, fused into one long, thin solid.

    Size
    74.0 × 4.0 × 42.1 in
    1880 × 102 × 1070 mm
    Surface area
    3,941 in²
    2.542 m²
    Volume
    281.6 in³
    4,614 cm³
    Solids
    1

    The instant quote: Goes to a manual quote. It is not one even thickness all over, the way bent sheet is (it has pockets, steps or bosses), so it reads as a machined, cast or welded part.

  3. Garden gate panel, 36 × 48 in, 3D view

    Garden gate panel, 36 × 48 in

    Tube frame, a diagonal brace trimmed to the opening, eight pickets, hinge and latch tabs, one solid.

    Size
    39.0 × 1.5 × 48.0 in
    991 × 38 × 1219 mm
    Surface area
    4,369 in²
    2.819 m²
    Volume
    164.0 in³
    2,687 cm³
    Solids
    1

    The instant quote: Goes to a manual quote. It is not one even thickness all over, the way bent sheet is (it has pockets, steps or bosses), so it reads as a machined, cast or welded part.

  4. Car wheel, 18 × 8 in, five spokes, 3D view

    Car wheel, 18 × 8 in, five spokes

    A revolved barrel (bead seats, humps, drop centre, flanges) with a five-spoke face, centre bore, lug holes on a 114.3 mm circle and a valve hole. Curved surfaces everywhere.

    Size
    19.4 × 19.4 × 8.6 in
    492 × 492 × 218 mm
    Surface area
    1,481 in²
    0.956 m²
    Volume
    194.9 in³
    3,194 cm³
    Solids
    1

    The instant quote: Goes to a manual quote. Most of its surface is curved (round tube, a casting or a turned part), not flat sheet with bends, so it reads as a welded, cast or machined part.

  5. Motorcycle-style cradle frame, round tube, 3D view

    Motorcycle-style cradle frame, round tube

    Round tubes swept along bent paths (straight runs and 3 in radius bends), crossing and fused: the hardest kind of weldment for a mesh or a sheet-metal reader.

    Size
    59.9 × 10.3 × 30.1 in
    1522 × 260 × 764 mm
    Surface area
    2,325 in²
    1.500 m²
    Volume
    111.6 in³
    1,828 cm³
    Solids
    1

    The instant quote: Goes to a manual quote. Most of its surface is curved (round tube, a casting or a turned part), not flat sheet with bends, so it reads as a welded, cast or machined part.

  6. Perforated panel, 24 × 12 in, 16 ga, 3D view

    Perforated panel, 24 × 12 in, 16 ga

    A flat sheet with hundreds of round holes: many pierces for the laser time, a dense STEP, and the same part as a DXF.

    Size
    24.0 × 12.0 × 0.1 in
    610 × 305 × 2 mm
    Surface area
    515 in²
    0.332 m²
    Volume
    14.3 in³
    235 cm³
    Solids
    1

    The instant quote: priced (STEP, sheet metal): flat 12.00 × 24.00 in, 0 bends, $29.30 each at 10; no problems

  7. Bolted bracket assembly, 13 bodies, 3D view

    Bolted bracket assembly, 13 bodies

    Several separate solids in one STEP (bracket, bolts, washers, nuts), each named, as a CAD assembly exports.

    Size
    6.0 × 4.0 × 5.0 in
    152 × 102 × 127 mm
    Surface area
    129 in²
    0.084 m²
    Volume
    14.0 in³
    229 cm³
    Solids
    13

    The instant quote: Goes to a manual quote. The file holds 13 separate bodies, so it is an assembly. Each part needs its own file, or the shop quotes the assembly by hand.

  8. Cast valve cover with fins and bosses, 3D view

    Cast valve cover with fins and bosses

    A cast-looking shell: fillets, cooling fins, bolt bosses, filler neck. Even wall but no bends, so it is not sheet metal.

    Size
    17.4 × 7.4 × 3.2 in
    443 × 189 × 81 mm
    Surface area
    471 in²
    0.304 m²
    Volume
    47.4 in³
    777 cm³
    Solids
    1

    The instant quote: Read as a machined part and priced from the shop's machining rates: $896.03 each at 10.

  9. Pallet rack, 2 bays, big STEP, 3D view

    Pallet rack, 2 bays, big STEP

    A large assembly STEP (slotted uprights, braces, beams, wire decks, every part its own solid) to test size limits and conversion time.

    Size
    201.0 × 44.9 × 144.0 in
    5105 × 1141 × 3658 mm
    Surface area
    47,180 in²
    30.439 m²
    Volume
    1,834.2 in³
    30,057 cm³
    Solids
    55

    The instant quote: Goes to a manual quote. The file holds 55 separate bodies, so it is an assembly. Each part needs its own file, or the shop quotes the assembly by hand.

  10. Broken mesh (STL) on purpose, 3D view

    Broken mesh (STL) on purpose

    The bracket of the assembly as an STL with 248 triangles removed (three holes), 46 flipped, 40 duplicated, 10 of zero area and one non-manifold fin: not watertight, inconsistent winding.

    Size
    6.0 × 4.0 × 4.0 in
    152 × 102 × 102 mm
    Surface area
    108 in²
    0.069 m²
    Volume
    None: the mesh is not closed
    Solids
    Mesh only

    The instant quote: Not read by the instant quote: a mesh goes with a quote request, and the quote says why.