Quote Tool — Help & FAQ

STEP files are sent to a secure analysis server only to extract volume and surface data. DXF and PDF files are processed entirely inside your browser and never leave your device. No files are stored permanently.

STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product model data) is the most common neutral 3D CAD format. Export it from Fusion 360, SolidWorks, CATIA, Inventor, FreeCAD, and virtually any other CAD system.

With a STEP file the tool shows a fully interactive 3D model and calculates precise volume, surface area, and bounding box dimensions using a server-side geometry engine.

DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) is AutoCAD's 2D drawing format supported by virtually every CAD program. Export a DXF from AutoCAD, SolidWorks (flat pattern), FreeCAD, or any 2D drawing tool.

The viewer renders all entities (lines, arcs, circles, polylines, splines) color-coded by layer. You can measure distances and angles, and see total entity count, total cut length, and layer information in the side panel.

Upload a PDF technical drawing or sketch to view and measure it directly in the browser. The PDF is rendered as a high-resolution image so you can zoom in and measure any dimension.

Because a PDF can have any scale or unit, use the Calibrate tool to set the real-world scale before taking measurements.

There are two ways:

1. Drag & drop — drag your file from Windows Explorer / Finder and drop it onto the dashed upload area.
2. Click to browse — click anywhere on the upload area to open a file picker, then select your file.

Accepted extensions: .step, .stp, .dxf, .pdf. While the file loads you will see a spinner; larger STEP files may take a few seconds.

To load a different file, click the Clear button in the file info bar at the top, then upload a new file.

• Make sure the file extension is exactly .step, .stp, .dxf, or .pdf — other formats are not supported.
• Very large or complex STEP files (50 MB+) can take longer to process or may time out.
• For DXF files, ensure the file was saved as DXF R12 or later from your CAD software.
• Try a different browser (Chrome or Edge recommended) if the file fails silently.

For 3D (STEP) files a View bar appears below the toolbar with preset buttons: Front, Back, Top, Bottom, Right, Left, and Iso (isometric). Click any button to instantly snap the camera to that standard view.

You can also use the keyboard shortcuts listed in the Hotkeys section.

This is the default mode. Click it (or press Esc) to return to orbit/pan/zoom navigation after using another tool. The button is highlighted blue when active.

Click the arrow next to the Measure button to choose a measurement type before clicking on the model. The currently selected mode is shown as the button label. Available modes are covered in the Measuring section below.

Available for DXF and PDF files. Lets you set the real-world scale by clicking two points of a known dimension on the drawing and typing the actual distance. See the Scale & Calibration section for a step-by-step guide.

Toggles the 3D model to semi-transparent so you can see internal geometry and measure features that would otherwise be hidden. Press X to toggle. Only available for STEP files.

Click Face View, then hover over the model — the face under your cursor highlights in blue. Click on it and the camera snaps perpendicular to that face. Great for measuring features on angled surfaces. Only available for STEP files.

Resets the camera zoom and position so the entire model fills the viewer. Press F for the same effect.

Expands the viewer to fill the full browser window, hiding the side panel. Click again (or press Esc) to collapse back to the normal layout. Useful for inspecting small details on large assemblies.

Deletes all measurement annotations from the viewer in one click. To delete a single measurement, right-click on its label in the viewer, or click the × button in the measurement list below the viewer.

1. Select a measurement type from the Measure dropdown.
2. Click the Measure button to activate the tool (cursor changes to a crosshair).
3. Click the first point on the model or drawing.
4. Click the second point (or third for angle measurements).
5. The result appears immediately as a labelled annotation on the viewer and in the list below.

Enable Snap to geometry (checkbox in the Measure dropdown) to automatically snap to endpoints, midpoints, and circle centres.

When Snap to geometry is enabled (default), the cursor automatically locks onto nearby geometric points as you move over the model — including endpoints of lines, midpoints of edges, and centres of circles and arcs. A small coloured dot appears to indicate the snap point type:

• Blue square — endpoint or vertex
• Green diamond — midpoint of an edge
• Orange circle — centre of a circle or arc

Uncheck the snap checkbox in the Measure dropdown to measure freehand without snapping.

Two ways to remove a single measurement:

• Right-click on the measurement label in the viewer.
• Click the × button next to the measurement in the list below the viewer.

To remove all measurements at once, click the Clear button in the toolbar or press Delete to remove the last one.

DXF files can be exported in different unit systems (mm, cm, inches) or at a reduced scale (e.g. 1:10). If the tool detects a unit automatically it shows it in the Drawing Properties panel, but you should verify it.

• Set the correct Drawing Units in the Drawing Scale panel (millimeters, centimeters, meters, or inches).
• If the drawing was exported at a scale other than 1:1, select the matching scale preset (e.g. 1:10) or type a custom ratio.
• Alternatively, use the Calibrate tool to set the scale visually — see below.

1. Click the Calibrate button in the toolbar.
2. Click on one end of a dimension you already know the true length of.
3. Click on the other end of that same dimension.
4. A distance input box appears. Type the real-world length (e.g. 100 for 100 mm) and press Apply or Enter.

All measurements taken afterwards will use this calibration factor. You can re-calibrate at any time — the new factor replaces the old one.

• Part Volume (cm³) — the exact internal volume of the finished solid part. This is used to calculate the net part mass.
• Surface Area (mm²) — the total outer surface area of the part. Useful for estimating coating, plating, or painting costs.
• Bounding Box (L × W × H mm) — the smallest axis-aligned box that fully contains the part. This is the default size for the raw stock block. Click the copy icon to copy the dimensions to your clipboard.
• Custom Stock (L × W × H mm) — the same box after you have added material allowance using the Stock Definition panel.

These values are calculated by a server-side geometry engine from the STEP file; they are not available for DXF or PDF uploads.

Stock is the raw block of material that is machined down to produce the finished part. When quoting CNC machining costs it is important to know both the weight of the finished part and the weight of the raw material consumed.

The tool automatically pre-fills the stock dimensions with the part's bounding box. You can then add a machining allowance and switch between rectangular bar stock or round bar (cylinder).

1. Choose Rectangle (flat bar / block) or Cylinder (round bar) using the toggle buttons.
2. The dimensions are pre-filled from the part's bounding box. Edit them manually, or use the +5 / +10 quick buttons to add 5 mm or 10 mm material allowance to all dimensions at once.
3. Click Reset to go back to the bounding box defaults.
4. Enable Preview stock model to overlay a transparent stock block on the 3D model and verify the fit visually.

The Stock Volume is shown live and is used to calculate Stock Mass in the Material & Weight panel.

Select a material from the Raw Material dropdown. The tool instantly calculates:

• Net Part Mass — mass of the finished part = Part Volume × Material Density
• Stock Mass — mass of the raw stock block = Stock Volume × Material Density
• Material Removal — percentage of material machined away = (1 − Part Volume / Stock Volume) × 100%

Mass is displayed in grams (g), kilograms (kg), or tonnes (t) automatically depending on the magnitude.

1. Make sure you have loaded a STEP file and the stock/material is configured correctly.
2. In the Material Cost Estimator box (inside the Material & Weight panel), enter your material price in the Price per kg field.
3. The estimated material cost is calculated instantly: Stock Mass (kg) × Price per kg.