Assemble The Quote Packet
A laser cutting quote should be a packet, not a number. The estimator needs the revision PDF, supplier invoice, CAM export, machine log, reviewer signoff, and release date before the final price leaves the desk.
The quote packet is the release record: it keeps the revision, evidence, assumptions, and reviewer in one place.
Packet Artifacts
Keep the packet in the same order every time so another estimator can review it without guessing.
| Artifact | What to capture | Why it belongs in the packet |
|---|---|---|
| Revision PDF | Part number, revision, units, release state, and date. | Keeps the quote tied to the exact drawing being sold. |
| Supplier invoice | Sheet grade, thickness, supplier, price basis, and invoice date. | Prevents a stale sheet price from drifting into the quote. |
| CAM export | Cut length, pierce count, nest yield, and any shared-cut note. | Makes the geometry and nesting assumption visible before pricing. |
| Machine log | Setup minutes, actual run time, alarm notes, and first-article check. | Shows whether the time model matches shop reality. |
| Reviewer signoff | Reviewer name, approval date, and release window. | Records the commercial decision, not only the math. |
One packet should show the revision, source records, machine evidence, and release decision in the same chain.
Source To Field
Use the source record to fill the field, not the other way around.
| Source record | Packet field | Failure if missing |
|---|---|---|
| Revision PDF | Scope, revision, and release state | The quote can drift to the wrong part or revision. |
| Supplier invoice | Sheet cost and price basis | Material cost becomes a guess instead of a traceable number. |
| CAM export | Cut length, pierce count, and nesting yield | The time model has no geometry anchor. |
| Machine log | Setup and actual run time | The packet cannot explain where the cycle time came from. |
| Reviewer signoff | Release authority and validity window | The quote is hard to defend after it leaves the desk. |
Build The Packet
Use this sequence:
- Lock the revision PDF and scope note.
- Attach the supplier invoice or approved stock basis.
- Pull CAM export fields for cut length, pierce count, and nest yield.
- Add machine log or timed sample cut for the time model.
- Carry the shop rate, overhead, and margin from the quoting policy.
- Save reviewer signoff and release date with the packet.
Quote packet = revision PDF + supplier invoice + CAM export + machine log + reviewer signoff + release date
What To Leave Visible
Do not hide the parts that make the quote hard to defend later:
- setup treatment;
- yield or scrap policy;
- overhead allocation method;
- validity window;
- material source and date;
- reviewer and approval date.
If one of those lines changes, the packet should change with it. That keeps the estimator honest about which input moved the price.
When The Packet Is Complete
The packet is ready when another estimator can read it and answer four questions:
- What drawing was quoted?
- Which source record set the material basis?
- Which numbers are fixed by shop policy?
- Which numbers still need review before release?
If any of those answers are unclear, keep the quote internal and return to the calculator.
Source Boundary
LaserCalc Pro can organize the packet and run the formulas, but it cannot certify customer scope, pricing policy, or contract language. Use the packet as a review record, then verify the commercial terms with the customer or the shop's decision owner.
Next Step
Carry the same packet into the laser cutting price per part guide, the scrap allowance and yield policy, and the full laser cutting calculator.