AI-Powered Estimating Tuned to Your Shop
Use machine learning to make accurate estimates within seconds. The system learns from your shop's data, becoming increasingly accurate over time and adjusting for changes in how you run jobs.
Your Parts. Your Data. Smarter Estimates.
Does your shop ever quote by gut feel, use spreadsheets or software that still depends on static rules, or simplistic formulas?
In today's market where turnaround speed can decide who wins the job, every minute counts and you need a modern solution that lets you estimate and quote with speed, clarity and confidence.
Here's what happens with our AI-Powered Estimating:
Computational Geometry
Along with reading the geometry of a part, our proprietary AI software considers removed volume, surface area, and holes that drive programming, setup, and run time.
Estimates Like Your Best Machinist
It remembers your past jobs and finds patterns in seconds that a human might miss. You get consistent, confident estimates fast — even for complex geometry.
Gets Smarter Over Time
Out of the gate, you start with a default model. Over time, the system tunes its estimates to your real run data. The more data you enter, the more accurate and valuable it becomes. Get a jump on model training by uploading prior data.
Never Forgets, Never Quits, and Never Needs Training
Machine Research keeps your quoting process running smoothly, even when key staff are out or move on. Your tribal knowledge stays in the system, not just in someone’s head. So anyone on your team can pick up a job, quote with confidence, and keep the business moving.
Security of AI
Machine Research uses machine learning, which is a subset of AI that does not require a massive model like ChatGPT. We build the models in-house and never send your data to an external AI.
Unlike Other Estimating Software, This is Real AI — Not Marketing Talk
Most quoting tools rely on static rules, equations, or “best guess” formulas.
That’s not AI. That’s guesswork wrapped in a nice interface.
Machine Research uses a proprietary geometric engine to truly analyze part features and build models based on real machining data.
- Learns and improves with your shop’s data
- Produces consistent, data-driven estimates instantly
- Implemented and serving your business in weeks
- No long training or multi-year contract required
MACHINE RESEARCH:
Learns from your real jobs and actuals
Instant, consistent estimates anyone can use
Quick setup, no multi-year contracts
OTHER ESTIMATING SOFTWARE:
Relies on preset rules and formulas
Complex, expensive, and hard to maintain
Months of onboarding and locked-in commitments
Give Your Shop the Speed and Consistency Today’s Buyers Expect
No steep learning curve. No heavy setup. No waiting around for the one person who “knows how to quote.”
How does AI estimating actually work for a machine shop?
Machine Research analyzes the geometry inside your CAD file — things like holes, pockets, surfaces, and material volume — using a proprietary geometric engine.
It connects those part features to real machining outcomes such as programming time, setup time, and run time.
The system is trained using historical job data so it can recognize patterns and generate consistent time predictions for similar parts.
Is this real machine learning or just rules and formulas?
Unlike rule-based estimating systems that rely on preset formulas (like material removal rate × volume), Machine Research uses machine learning models trained on real job outcomes.
That means it can recognize complex feature combinations and relationships that simple equations miss — resulting in higher accuracy estimates.
Does the AI replace my estimator?
No. It works alongside your team.
AI handles the pattern recognition and baseline time predictions instantly, allowing experienced estimators to focus on unusual tolerances, special processes, or risk factors that require human judgment.
Does the system learn from our shop’s data?
Yes. The model is trained using your shop’s real job data so estimates reflect how your machines, tooling, materials, and processes actually perform.
As new production data becomes available, the model can be refined to improve accuracy over time.
What makes Machine Research different from other AI quoting tools?
Many quoting tools rely on fixed templates or surface-level geometry calculations.
Machine Research uses a proprietary geometric engine combined with machine learning models trained on real machining data — allowing it to better understand the relationship between part features and actual shop time.
What are the limitations of AI estimating?
AI performs best on parts similar to those it has been trained on.
Highly unique features, extreme tolerances, or uncommon processes still benefit from human review — which is why Machine Research is designed to support, not replace, experienced estimators.
Stop Piecing Together Tools. Start Quoting as a System.
Machine Research connects CAD analysis, historical job search, automated RFQs, AI estimating, collaboration, and quoting into one secure workflow.
3D CAD Viewer
Upload CAD, PDFs, or Drawing Files, Individually or in Batches
Supported File Types: CATIA, X_T, SLDPRT, CATPART, STEP, X_B, SAT, SAB, IPT, PRT, PAR, JT, IGS.
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE
ShapeSearch
Search for Similar Parts With ShapeSearch
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE
SECURE RFQ MANAGEMENT
Capture Every Opportunity, Faster
Automatically bring every customer request from your website or email into one secure, organized place—no more lost files or manual re-entry.
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE
PART LIBRARY SOFTWARE
Organize Job Files in One Secure Place
Every part, drawing, file, quote, communication and revision stored in one ITAR/CMMC-compliant system—never hunt down or lose track again.
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE
AI ESTIMATING FOR MACHINE SHOPS
From 3D Model to Estimate—In a Split Second
Powered by AI and machine learning, Machine Research scans CAD models to generate instant time estimates and costs for programming, setup, and production times.
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE
CAPTURE TRIBAL KNOWLEDGE
Work Together, Share Knowledge, Quote Faster
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE
QUOTE FASTER
RFQs Move Fast — Now Your Quotes Can Too
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE
We bring speed, organization, and security to your quoting process — without the complexity or cost of traditional systems.
Here’s what that means for your shop:
Quote Faster, Win More
Turn RFQs around in minutes — not days. Our built-in AI learns from your past work to help you cost and price consistently, with total confidence.
GET STARTED
Stay Organized and Secure
Every file, drawing, and quote lives in one place — protected by ITAR/CMMC-ready security. No more juggling email attachments or digging through shared drives.
GET A DEMO
Easy to Use, Quick to Deploy
You’ll be up and running in days, not months. No training “university” or multi-year contracts required — just a clean, intuitive system built for how shops need to work.
TAKE A PRODUCT TOURReal AI, Real Results
While others call equations “AI,” our system actually learns from your past jobs, pricing patterns, and geometry data to help you estimate faster and smarter with every quote.
TAKE A PRODUCT TOUR
Capture and Protect Job Knowledge
Every quote, decision, and data point builds a smarter system — so when key people move on or retire, their knowledge stays with your shop, not in their heads.
SEE HOW
Integrates with How You Work
Integrations with ERPs and QuickBooks keeps your quoting and production in sync — your data stays accurate everywhere, without extra work.
SEE HOWWhy Machine Research?
Modern Technology, Built by a Machine Shop for Machine Shops
Built by a Machine Shop that understands how CNC shops work
Fast and easy to implement and use, no steep learning curves
Affordable, no contracts, eliminates the need for additional software
CMMC 2.0 Level 2 Compliant & ITAR registered, hosted in AWS GovCloud
What Our Customers Have to Say
We’ve had a great experience with Machine Research. The ability to read STEP models directly saves us a significant amount of time and improves accuracy right from the start. It’s become a valuable tool for verifying run times and generating quick, reliable quotes. It has streamlined our front-end process and helps us respond to customers faster with more confidence.
"Machine Research has transformed our quoting process by replacing manual guesswork with automated, data-driven CAD analysis. This shift has slashed our response times by 60% while ensuring every bid is perfectly aligned with our true manufacturing costs."
"Since we've started using Machine Research, the impact on our business has been a game changer. We’re winning more jobs, all because we can quote faster and more accurately. Our business has grown, and it’s because of the software."
"Machine Research has been an invaluable, ITAR-compliant tool—helping us quote faster, stay organized and win more work.”
"Not only have we significantly decreased our turn times on estimating jobs and generating quotes with Machine Research, but we’ve increased our accuracy rates, we’re far more organized and confident in our pricing, and we send quotes that look professional within minutes."
“We needed a way to generate accurate quotes and stay organized without the complexity or high cost of traditional systems. Machine Research made quoting accessible from day one - it’s easy to use, the team listens, and filled a critical gap as we built our shop from the ground up.”
“What used to take 30 minutes now takes about 10. Building the quote is straightforward and easy.”
“Before Machine Research, quoting lived in our owner’s head and in endless Excel sheets. Now it’s organized, consistent, and our quotes look sharp and professional.”
Security You Can Trust
Machine Research is CMMC 2.0 Level 2 Compliant & ITAR Registered
Learn how we will help you meet Cybersecurity Standards for Machine Shop Estimating and Quoting Processes
GET STARTED TODAY
- Request a full access trial
- See AI-Powered part analysis technology
- Create and send unlimited quotes
- No credit card required
