Metal3D.ai is built for qualified custom metal part RFQs, not blind instant pricing. Customers upload CAD files, drawings, quantities, materials, finishing requirements, tolerances, destination country, and project notes. The internal team then reviews the request before preparing a quote.
Why RFQ Review Matters
Custom metal parts often depend on details that are not obvious from a single CAD file. Tight tolerances, surface finish, threaded features, material substitutions, inspection reports, post-machining, and shipping assumptions can all change price and lead time.
The first version of Metal3D.ai uses AI-assisted intake to summarize RFQs and flag missing information, while keeping engineering and quoting decisions under human review.
Step 1: Upload CAD and Requirements
The RFQ form accepts common CAD and drawing formats including STEP, STP, STL, 3MF, IGES, OBJ, DWG, DXF, PDF, and ZIP packages. A complete request should include:
- Part name and process
- Material, quantity, finish, and tolerance
- Destination country and target lead time
- 2D drawings for custom tolerances or inspection needs
- Notes about end use, assembly interfaces, and critical dimensions
Step 2: AI-Assisted Intake
After submission, the system stores the RFQ, uploaded files, part records, and compliance review record. It also generates a structured intake summary with missing information, DFM risks, follow-up questions, and a customer email draft.
Step 3: Engineer-Reviewed Quote
The internal team reviews the RFQ, prepares line items, lead time, customer notes, shipping amount, and payment terms. When the quote is ready, the customer receives a quote email and can review the quote from the dashboard.
Step 4: Payment, Production, and Shipping
After quote acceptance and payment, the manufacturing order moves through engineering review, factory assignment, production, quality inspection, shipment, and delivery. Customers receive status and shipment updates as the order progresses.
This workflow keeps the early product commercially realistic: faster than email-only quoting, but controlled enough for complex manufacturing work.