Drawing
Layers
Job
Parts
Program
Machine and job
Stock starts at the size of the cutting moves plus your allowance. Change it to the bar or block you will use.
Leave pierce time at 0 if your program already pauses for each pierce (G4).
3D part
Job
An estimate before anyone writes the CNC program: material removed, surface to finish, holes and setups. Once the program exists, price it in the G-code tab for a closer figure.
How it works
BHX Fab Quote prices manufacturing jobs from the files your customers send. Everything is worked out in this browser tab: files are never uploaded, and the app makes no network requests. Your shop settings are saved in this browser only. Use Export settings to keep a copy or move them to another computer.
Sheet cutting (DXF)
- Open the DXF. Lines on layers named like bend, dim, text or border are skipped; etch or mark layers are marked, not cut. Change any layer's role in the Layers table.
- Pick the material and set how many of each part.
- Price this job nests the parts on your sheet size (true shape: small parts can go inside the holes of big ones), works out the cut time with acceleration and slow-downs at corners, every pierce, the travel between parts, sheet handling and material.
The drawing check warns about duplicate lines (cut twice), lines that do not close, near-miss gaps, branching lines, and holes smaller than the material thickness.
CNC program (G-code)
Open the program your CAM made. The app follows every move, including arcs, helixes and drilling cycles (G81-G89, G73), and times it with your machine's rapid speeds, acceleration and tool-change time. It lists time per tool and warns about rapid moves below Z0 and programs bigger than your machine's travel. It also reads laser and plasma programs, counting cut length and pierces.
CNC from 3D (STEP/STL)
For a quote before the CNC program exists. From a STEP file the app finds holes (size, depth, direction), the smallest inside-corner radius, underside and side features, and angled faces, then estimates roughing, finishing, drilling, tool changes and setups. From STL, 3MF or OBJ it uses volume and surface area only.
Making the times match your machine
Every time is an estimate from your machine settings. Run one real job, compare its actual time with the app's, and enter the ratio as the calibration factor in Shop settings (for example, 1.15 if the job took 15% longer). Every later quote uses it.
Limits
- DXF: 2D only. Text, dimensions and hatches are not cut. Lead-ins, kerf compensation and common-line cutting are not modelled. Nesting keeps at least the part spacing you set and is not the tightest possible.
- G-code: macro programs (#variables, IF, WHILE), subprogram calls (M98) and lathe programs are not simulated; the app tells you when it finds them. Moves to machine home (G28, G53) are timed only for the Z retract.
- 3D estimate: based on volume removed and surface area at the material rates you set; it does not plan toolpaths. It finds holes and corner radii only from STEP, IGES or BREP files.
For AI agents
The same engine is available to AI agents as an MCP server and a plain web API. Details: bastionhelix.com/fabquote.
Support
Email support@bastionhelix.com. If a file is read wrongly, say so and, if you can, attach the file.