ShapeSearch
Find Similar Jobs, Leverage Data and Quote Smarter with ShapeSearch
Do a visual search for similar parts in your database to find and reuse prior costing and pricing data to speed up estimating and quoting.
Find Similar Parts in Seconds
Know you’ve made something like it before? ShapeSearch finds it for you fast and keeps your shop efficient.
Searches by shape and locates similar parts in your library.
See similar parts with percentage match, and view estimates instantlry
Do side-by-side comparison and visual overlays of similar parts
View and compare parts in different formats, and overlap the parts to highlight and identify differences between parts with hard to spot revision changes
Access and reuse previous job history and reuse
Eliminate wasted time hunting down and re-entering information, and ensure pricing consistency
ShapeSearch Is Just the Start
Connect similar part discovery with AI estimating, organized RFQs, team collaboration, and polished quotes—all in one streamlined system.
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.
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ShapeSearch
Search for Similar Parts With ShapeSearch
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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.
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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.
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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.
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CAPTURE TRIBAL KNOWLEDGE
Work Together, Share Knowledge, Quote Faster
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QUOTE FASTER
RFQs Move Fast — Now Your Quotes Can Too
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Modern Technology, Built for Machine Shops
Built by a Machine Shop that understands how shops really work
Fast and easy to implement and use, no steep learning curves
Affordable, no contracts, eliminates the need for additional software
ITAR compliant and registered, CMMC 2.0 ready, 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 support you in meeting Cybersecurity Standards for Machine Shop Estimating and Quoting Processes
Stop wasting time switching tools and hunting down job knowledge.
See how Machine Research helps your shop quote faster, smarter, and more profitably.
How do machine shops find similar parts they’ve quoted before?
Most shops manually search folders, emails, or ERP systems. ShapeSearch™ automatically analyzes CAD geometry and finds similar parts and past quotes in seconds.
Can AI search CAD files by shape?
Yes. ShapeSearch™ uses AI-powered geometry analysis to identify similar CNC parts based on shape and manufacturing characteristics — not just file names.
Why is finding similar parts important for quoting?
Reusing historical pricing and production data improves estimating accuracy, speeds up turnaround time, and protects profit margins.
Does ShapeSearch work with STEP and other CAD files?
Yes. ShapeSearch supports common 3D CAD formats used in CNC machining, including STEP files.
How is ShapeSearch different from basic file search?
Basic search tools look at file names or keywords. ShapeSearch analyzes the part geometry itself, allowing you to find similar parts even if the file name is completely different.
Is ShapeSearch built specifically for machine shops?
Yes. ShapeSearch is designed for CNC machining environments and integrates directly with Machine Research’s estimating system.