You send a clean drawing, expect a quick quote, and wait days. It’s not because your part is difficult — it’s because the shop doesn’t have enough to price it confidently.
CNC shops need complete RFQ data: material grade, quantity, tolerances, surface finish, and delivery deadline. When any of these are missing, estimators pause your job to confirm details or run partial calculations — slowing quotes from hours to days.
Learn which missing details stall CNC quotes, why vague specs cause delays, and how Okdor turns partial drawings into accurate 24-hour quotes fast.
Table of Contents
Why “Here’s My Drawing” Gets You a 10-Day Quote (Not 24 Hours)?
Sending only a drawing slows your quote because it lacks the key data estimators need — material grade, quantity, tolerance, and delivery date. Without those, they can’t model setup time or cost, so your RFQ waits while someone emails for clarification instead of pricing.
In a typical job shop, three people touch every quote — a salesperson, a programmer, and a manager. Each stops when data is incomplete. That’s why even simple parts can take ten days: not complexity, but internal waiting. One buyer once sent a “standard aluminum bracket” with no grade or quantity — the quote stayed in “review” for five days until specs arrived.
Once full RFQ details are included, the quote moves directly into cost modeling — no guessing, no hand-offs. Complete packages routinely leave the queue within 24 hours for standard parts and 48 hours for complex multi-axis work.
Workflow Step | Typical Job Shop | Fast-Turn Process |
Initial Review | Waits for missing info | Auto-checks RFQ completeness |
Cost Modeling | Manual cycle-time estimate | Pre-classified by geometry |
Approval | Multi-level sign-off | Direct estimator authorization |
Quote Delivery | 5–10 days | 24–48 hours |
Sourcing Tip:
Don’t just say “Here’s my drawing.” Add material, quantity, tolerance block, and delivery need in your first message. Complete RFQs move through every stage without delay — and let you benchmark real supplier responsiveness the next time you quote.
The 4 Types of Missing Details That Stall Every CNC Quote
CNC quotes most often stall because four details are missing: material, tolerance, surface finish, and quantity. Each blank forces the estimator to pause or reroute your file for clarification, stretching a one-day quote into a week.
Every omission triggers risk. “Any aluminum” could mean 6061, 5052, or 7075 — each priced and machined differently. Without a tolerance block, cycle time can’t be estimated; without quantity, the shop can’t decide between prototype or production pricing. Even a vague “standard finish” note can hold a quote for days while the estimator confirms whether anodizing, bead-blast, or powder coat applies.
Our workflow flags these gaps instantly and requests clarification before scheduling. Once all four fields are confirmed, quoting compresses from days to hours because material, tooling, and cycle-time data align automatically. For reference, parts quoted with all four parameters arrive 60–70 % faster than incomplete RFQs.
Missing Detail | Impact on Quote | How to Fix Immediately |
Material | Stops cost modeling | Specify exact alloy or plastic grade |
Tolerance | Pauses machining-time estimate | Include general block or key-feature tolerances |
Finish | Delays secondary-process pricing | Name finish type (e.g., anodize Type II black) |
Quantity | Confuses setup selection | Indicate prototype or batch quantity |
Sourcing Tip:
Before uploading, verify those four essentials. Clear answers cut turnaround by more than half — and help you compare how fast each supplier actually responds when nothing is left to guess.
How Missing Tolerances Slow Down Every CNC Supplier?
Quotes stop the moment a drawing arrives without a tolerance block.
Estimators can’t calculate machining time, inspection setup, or risk without it — so your RFQ waits while they confirm what “precise” actually means.
Inside most job shops, uncertainty equals risk. A missing block forces them to guess between ±0.1 mm or ±0.01 mm, each changing cycle time and tooling choice. No estimator wants to under-price tight-tolerance work, so incomplete prints drop to the “pending clarification” pile.
When tolerances are defined — even just general and key-feature limits — the estimator can model toolpath precision and inspection instantly. Including clear tolerances cuts quote time by 30 – 40 %. We’ve processed over 400 tolerance-critical RFQs in under 48 hours once drawings arrived complete.
Tolerance Info | Supplier Reaction | Typical Quote Time |
Missing/unclear | Request clarification | 3–5 days |
General block only | Standard cycle estimate | 24–48 h |
Feature-specific | Full cost modeling | 24 h accurate quote |
Sourcing Tip:
Add a general tolerance block plus call-outs for critical features. It speeds quoting and reveals which suppliers truly understand your tolerance standards — a key factor when replacing unreliable shops.
(Even with perfect tolerances, missing alloy or finish details can still hold your quote — see next section.)
Why “Any Aluminum” and “Standard Finish” Still Take 5 Days to Quote?
“Any aluminum” or “standard finish” delay quotes because they hide real cost differences.
Each alloy and finish changes price, tool wear, and cycle time.
When an RFQ says “any aluminum,” the estimator must pick between 6061-T6, 5052, or 7075-T651 — each with different machinability and raw-stock cost. “Standard finish” creates similar confusion: machined, bead-blast, anodize, or powder-coat? Every unknown adds 2–3 days of back-and-forth while someone confirms details.
Once the alloy and finish are specified, modeling locks in immediately. A clear note like “6061-T6 + Type II clear anodize” can turn a 5-day quote into 1 day. Over the past quarter, 92 % of our same-day quotes included exact alloy and finish data — none required follow-up.
Sourcing Tip:
Write the exact alloy and finish on every RFQ line. It prevents the “awaiting confirmation” stall and quickly separates disciplined suppliers from shops still quoting by guesswork.
(Even with the right alloy and finish, leaving quantity or deadline blank still freezes scheduling — see below.)
Supplier missed your quote deadline?
Upload your drawing for a 24-hour second-opinion quote and see how fast a complete RFQ really moves.
Why Shops Can’t Quote Without Your Quantity and Deadline?
Quantity and delivery date decide how a shop prices and schedules your part.
Without them, estimators can’t plan setup, tooling amortization, or production priority — so your quote stays idle.
A “TBD qty” forces the estimator to choose between prototype and production assumptions; each changes cost per part. Likewise, no deadline means no urgency tag in the quoting queue. One buyer recently uploaded a five-part assembly with “quantity TBC” — the quote stayed untouched for four days until timing was confirmed.
When both numbers are defined, quoting and scheduling align immediately. Clear input like “10 pcs needed in 7 days” routinely triggers a same-day quote and realistic delivery options.
Info Provided | Supplier Action | Typical Delay |
None | RFQ paused for clarification | +3–5 days |
Quantity only | Setup cost modeled, no priority | +2 days |
Quantity + deadline | Full planning possible | 24–48 h quote |
Sourcing Tip:
State both quantity and required delivery every time. It exposes which suppliers can genuinely prioritize fast-turn work versus those limited to standard queues.
In our workflow, complete RFQs cut turnaround by 60–70 %, and half move from submission to quote within 24 hours.
Why Vague GD&T or “To Be Confirmed” Notes Cause Quote Rejections?
Vague GD&T or “TBC” notes stop quoting because they signal unfinished engineering decisions.
Estimators can’t model tooling paths or inspection steps when positional or flatness tolerances aren’t final.
Most job shops treat “TBC” as a red flag for cost risk. A floating call-out or incomplete datum means potential rework later, so they hold or quietly decline the RFQ. It’s rarely rejection of your design — it’s self-protection from unknown inspection time.
When GD&T is clearly defined, even provisionally, quoting becomes predictable. The estimator can lock fixture setup and inspection cost instantly. Across 250 GD&T-critical prints last quarter, complete drawings received full quotes in ≤ 48 hours.
Sourcing Tip:
Replace every “TBC” with a realistic temporary tolerance (e.g., ±0.1 mm). It keeps your RFQ moving and immediately reveals which suppliers truly understand GD&T instead of avoiding it.
If your current vendor keeps asking you to “finalize drawings before quote,” you’re not slow — they are. Reliable partners quote defined geometry fast and adjust later.
Fast quoting isn’t luck; it’s process discipline built on technical confidence.
Why Some Shops Quote in 24 Hours While Others Take 2 Weeks?
Two suppliers with identical machines can differ by ten days in quote speed.
The difference isn’t capacity — it’s quoting infrastructure and workload management.
Manual job shops quote between production tasks. Each estimator juggles live jobs and new RFQs, so incomplete or low-margin work drifts to the bottom. In contrast, structured shops run a parallel estimator pipeline with cost libraries and automated intake — every new RFQ gets triaged by complexity, not guesswork.
Our internal data shows a median RFQ turnaround of 19 hours over the last quarter for complete packages. That’s not a one-off rush; it’s what happens when quoting is a defined process, not an interruption.
Supplier Type | Typical Behavior | Quote Speed |
Manual job shop | Reviews between production | 7–14 days |
Hybrid process | Partial templates + follow-ups | 3–5 days |
Dedicated estimator system | Automated intake + parallel review | 24–48 h |
Sourcing Tip:
Ask potential suppliers who actually prepares quotes and when. Consistent 24-hour replies mean structured systems, not idle capacity.
If your current shop still hasn’t replied after a week, that’s your red flag to test a faster alternative.
Reliable quoting feels organized — because it is.
How to Tell If a Shop Can Actually Quote Fast (Before You Upload)?
You can spot fast-quoting suppliers by how they handle your first email.
Shops that quote quickly ask precise questions up front; slow ones simply say “send the file.”
Look for three predictors of real quoting speed:
- Pre-quote checklist request — They immediately ask for material, tolerance, finish, and delivery date.
- Response time — Follow-up within 24 hours means a managed queue.
- Transparent capacity — They tell you their lead-time limits before you ask.
Shops that check these boxes quote 5× faster on average. In our own tracking, 82 % of RFQs meeting all three signals received complete quotes within 48 hours.
Sourcing Tip:
Send a small trial RFQ first and watch how the shop responds. The ones who clarify early are the ones who’ll communicate reliably later.
If your current supplier can’t meet that basic responsiveness, it’s time to benchmark another.
Fast quoting starts before the upload — you can recognize it in the first reply.
Why Good Shops Ask More Questions (and Bad Shops Quote Fast)?
Fast, silent quotes are usually wrong quotes.
When a supplier never asks follow-up questions, they’re not efficient — they’re guessing, or inflating price to cover risk.
Accurate quoting starts with clarification. Skilled estimators ask about surface finish, functional fits, or quantity priorities before committing to numbers. Each question reduces guesswork and prevents downstream corrections. The slow-to-ask supplier isn’t indecisive — they’re protecting accuracy and your lead time.
Projects that began with pre-quote Q&A averaged 15 % lower final cost variance and needed zero post-order spec changes. That extra one-day dialogue saves weeks of revision later.
Sourcing Tip:
Treat detailed pre-quote questions as a mark of competence. Shops that clarify early quote what they can truly deliver.
If your current vendor quotes instantly but keeps missing spec, that speed is costing you more than time.
Good shops ask first because they plan to finish once.
Can You Speed Up a Quote That’s Already Stuck?
Yes — most stalled quotes restart the moment missing data is supplied.
“Silent” RFQs are rarely ignored; they’re frozen while estimators wait for tolerances, quantities, or finish confirmation.
Step 1: resend all four essentials — material, tolerance, finish, and quantity — plus a delivery date.
Step 2: confirm drawing format (STEP / IGES / PDF) and revision level. That short reply often re-activates a quote within hours.
Across our tracked RFQs, 70 % of stalled quotes were re-issued the same day once missing info arrived. If a shop still doesn’t respond after that, the problem isn’t your data — it’s their workflow.
Issue Detected | Fix You Provide | Typical Response Time |
Missing tolerance or finish | Send updated drawing / note spec | 4–8 h |
No quantity or deadline | Add clear numbers | 6–12 h |
No follow-up after resend | Forward to alternate supplier | Immediate comparison |
Sourcing Tip:
Before chasing, resend your RFQ in a single, complete email. If no response within 24 h, forward the same package elsewhere — you’ll quickly see who actually manages an estimator queue.
You can’t control their workload, but you can control the clarity that unblocks it.
What a Complete RFQ Package Looks Like (Checklist for Same-Day Quotes)?
A same-day quote only happens when every parameter needed for cost modeling is in the RFQ.
Once all inputs are present, quoting moves directly to pricing — no back-and-forth, no waiting for confirmation.
A complete package includes:
- 3D model + 2D drawing with tolerance block
- Material & surface finish specified
- Quantity and required delivery date
- Revision level and part name
- Functional notes (thread depth, critical surfaces)
- Contact and shipping location
RFQs meeting these six points consistently produce 24-hour quotes and 98 % on-time delivery forecasts.
Our system supports tolerances to ±0.01 mm and part envelopes up to 1 m × 1 m × 0.5 m, giving engineers a realistic reference for precision-to-speed capability.
RFQ Element | Why It Matters | Result When Included |
Material & Finish | Defines tooling + post-process | Accurate first quote |
Tolerance Block | Sets machining precision | Prevents re-quotes |
Quantity & Deadline | Determines setup plan | 24–48 h response |
3D + 2D Data | Enables cost + inspection modeling | Complete pricing |
Revision & Contact | Confirms traceability | Clear communication |
Sourcing Tip:
Use this checklist before your next submission. Suppliers that quote within 24 hours when given full data are the ones ready for reliable production support.
When you control the information, you control the timeline — not your supplier.
Conclusion
Slow quotes usually point to supplier disorganization, not complex parts. Okdor’s dedicated estimating system turns complete RFQs into accurate, same-day responses. Upload your rejected or delayed drawings now — our engineers will review manufacturability and send a verified quote within 24 hours so your project moves forward immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. When drawings include material, finish, quantity, and tolerance, our estimators can model cost immediately. We maintain pre-qualified tooling data for over 300 alloys and plastics, enabling same-day quotes for most RFQs and 48-hour quotes for multi-axis or assembly work. Upload complete data to receive yours within one business day.
You can forward the same package directly to us. We’ll re-evaluate manufacturability, identify missing details if any, and issue a full quote within 24 hours. Many engineers use this as a benchmark to measure supplier responsiveness before switching vendors.
Yes. We’ll analyze the geometry, flag unclear callouts, and recommend provisional tolerances so quoting can proceed. Once you confirm values, pricing is finalized. This approach lets you keep momentum instead of waiting weeks for other shops to “review later.”
Every RFQ enters our estimator queue automatically and receives a confirmation email within 2 hours. You’ll then get a progress update or quote summary within 24 hours. No silent inbox — every submission stays tracked until you approve or close it.
Yes. Our pricing model supports both. You’ll receive prototype and production options in one quote, showing cost breakpoints by quantity. This helps you plan early builds and full production without re-quoting later.
We can still generate a preliminary quote from the 3D file and advise what minimal 2D information (tolerance block, surface notes) is needed for accuracy. Once you supply that, we finalize pricing — typically within one business day of file completion.
