How to Request a Quote for Welded and Machined Steel Parts
A checklist for buyers and engineers: what to send with an RFQ so a fabricator can quote quickly and accurately, which details change the price most, and the gaps that cause delays and surprises later.
- DrawingPDF + STEP or DXF
- MaterialGrade and certificate
- QuantityBatch and annual volume
- FinishPaint system or zinc
- DeliveryIncoterm and destination
A Complete RFQ Gets a Faster and Sharper Price
Every open question in a request for quotation becomes an assumption on the supplier’s side. Assumptions are priced cautiously: a missing coating spec becomes the most expensive system, an unclear tolerance becomes extra machining, an unknown quantity becomes a one-off price. The quote is slower to arrive and higher than it needs to be.
A complete RFQ removes those assumptions. The supplier can plan material, nesting, fixtures, machine time and finishing from the start, and the price you compare between suppliers reflects the same part. The checklist below is what we ask for at Nika Steelworks, and it works for any fabricator.
What to Send With Your Request
Drawings and 3D model
A dimensioned PDF drawing plus a STEP file for machined or complex parts, or DXF for flat cut parts. Assembly drawings should include part lists.
Material grade
The steel grade (for example S355J2, S235JR, C45, stainless 1.4301) and whether you need EN 10204 3.1 material certificates.
Quantities
The batch size you want priced, and if possible the annual volume and how you will call off. Ask for prices at two or three quantities.
Tolerances and critical features
General tolerances for the welded structure (ISO 13920) and for machined features (ISO 2768), plus the faces, bores and fits that really matter.
Welding requirements
Execution class to EN 1090 if the part is structural, weld sizes and symbols, and any required weld inspection or NDT (PT, MT, UT).
Surface treatment
Blast grade, paint system and dry film thickness to ISO 12944, RAL colour, or hot-dip galvanizing to EN ISO 1461. Mark faces that must be masked.
Inspection and documents
Dimensional report, first article inspection, NDT reports or third-party inspection if your customer or standard asks for it.
Packing and delivery
Destination address, preferred Incoterm, and any packing requirement such as crates, stillages or protected machined faces.
Which Details Change the Price Most
| Item | Why it changes the price | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Set-up, programming and fixtures are spread over the batch | Ask for prices at several quantities |
| Tolerances | Tighter tolerances mean more machining, set-ups and inspection | Apply tight tolerances only where the function needs them |
| Machining after welding | Large parts need heavy machines and careful set-up | Show datums and machining stock on the drawing |
| Coating system | Multi-coat or duplex systems add material and process steps | State the corrosivity class or the exact system |
| Material grade | Special grades may have minimum order quantities or longer lead times | Name acceptable alternatives if you have them |
| Documents and NDT | Certificates, reports and NDT add time and cost | List what you need up front, not after the order |
What Delays a Quote Most Often
No quantity or volume
A price for one piece and a price for 500 pieces per year are different quotes. Without a quantity, the supplier has to guess.
“Paint” as the only finish
Paint can mean a single primer coat or a three-coat ISO 12944 C4 system. The price difference is significant.
One tolerance for everything
Machining tolerances applied to a whole weldment make the part expensive and sometimes impossible to build.
What Happens After You Send the RFQ
We review the drawing before quoting: weld access, machining stock, material availability and anything that could make the part cheaper or more repeatable to build. If something is unclear, we ask rather than assume. You receive feasibility, lead time and a price, with any suggested changes listed separately so you can compare like for like.
Our standard delivery term is EXW from İzmir, with DAP to your plant possible on request. Read more about machining after welding and EN 1090 execution classes, or see our manufacturing services.
Questions About Requesting a Quote
Which file formats do you accept?
PDF drawings plus STEP, DXF or DWG files. A dimensioned PDF is the minimum; 3D models speed up quoting for machined and complex parts.
Can you quote from a sample or photos?
For replacement parts, yes: send photos with measured dimensions or a physical sample. For new parts, a drawing gives the most reliable price.
Should I ask for several quantities?
Yes. Prices at two or three quantities show how set-up cost spreads over the batch and help you choose the order size.
Which delivery terms do you offer?
EXW İzmir as standard, DAP to your plant on request. Tell us the destination and we include transport in the quote.
What if my drawing is not complete?
Send what you have. We will list the open points and suggest values, so the drawing can be finalised before the order.
Ready to send your RFQ?
Attach the drawing and the checklist items you already have. We reply with feasibility, lead time and a price.