Custom quotes

Last updated September 26, 2026

Most parts on OpusFab price instantly. Some do not fit the instant-quote model, and those are handled as custom quotes: you send a request from the platform and the sales team follows up by email with a price.

When you need a custom quote

Three common cases route a part out of the instant flow.

Quantities above 100

Instant quotes cover quantities from 1 to 100 units per part. Above 100, pricing depends on factors the instant engine does not assume: dedicated setups, volume material purchasing, and production scheduling across a longer run. Set the quantity above 100 and the part will offer a custom quote request instead of an instant price.

Assembly STEP files

The instant engine expects one part per STEP file. A file that contains multiple bodies or a full assembly in a single STEP cannot be priced as one item, because each body may need its own process, material, and finish. If you upload an assembly file, it routes to a custom quote. A faster alternative: export each component as its own STEP file and upload them together as a batch. See How to upload a part and Multi-part uploads and BOM import.

Unusual requirements

Requests outside the standard options also belong in a custom quote, for example:

  • A material or finish not listed in the quote editor
  • Tolerances tighter than the standard checkout tolerances (±0.05mm for CNC, ±0.5mm for SLA resin)
  • Secondary operations such as engraving, inserts, or assembly work
  • Inspection documentation, material certificates, or other compliance paperwork

If you are unsure whether your requirement is standard, try the instant quote first. The editor shows the full live list of processes, materials, and finishes, so anything selectable there prices instantly.

How to request a custom quote

  1. Upload your STEP file as usual, from the upload screen.
  2. Configure the part as far as the editor allows (process, material, finish, quantity). The more you set, the less the sales team has to ask.
  3. When the part falls outside instant-quote rules (quantity above 100, an assembly file, or an option you cannot select), use the request a custom quote option shown for that part on the upload or edit screen.
  4. Add a note describing what you need. See the checklist below.
  5. Submit the request.

What happens next

After you submit:

  1. The part briefly shows a Requested state.
  2. It then leaves your instant-quote list, so the rest of your batch stays clean and can be checked out on its own.
  3. The sales team reviews the file and your note, then follows up by email with questions or a price.

The email thread is where the custom quote lives from that point on. Replies come from a real person, so response time depends on the complexity of the request, but a well-described request usually moves much faster.

Meanwhile, the rest of your batch is unaffected. Parts that priced instantly can go straight through Checkout and payment while the custom quote is in progress.

What to include for a faster answer

Manual quoting takes time mostly because of missing information. Each clarification is another email round trip, so front-loading detail is the single best way to speed things up. Include:

  • Quantity and quantity breaks. For example: 250 now, pricing for 500 and 1000 appreciated.
  • Material and finish, with any specifics. For color finishes give the Pantone or RAL code (canonical form like “180 C”).
  • Tolerances that matter. If only one or two dimensions are critical, say which ones. Attach a 2D drawing if you have one, since 3D files carry no tolerance callouts.
  • The part’s job. What it does and how it is used often lets the team suggest a cheaper way to make it.
  • Target date, if you have one. A real deadline shapes the production plan.
  • Certification or documentation needs up front, since these affect both price and lead time.
  • For assembly files: whether you want the parts quoted individually, or made and delivered as an assembled unit.

A request that answers these questions in the first message typically skips several rounds of follow-up and comes back with a firm price sooner.