Quoting/Estimating
aPriori
Manufacturing simulation from 3D CAD for should-cost, DFM, cycle time and automated cost estimates, plus AI sourcing assistant.
- Pricing
- Contact
- Works with
- 3D CAD models; PLM integration
38 tools · 6 categories · independent
AI tools for machine shops, rated by a 30-year machinist
Quoting, CAM, ERP, inspection and shop automation tools, sorted for real job shops, not for software marketers.
Browse the tools Get the monthly letterWho's rating these?
I'm Rick James, a self-taught mechanical engineer with 30 years in machining and manufacturing and 20+ years in SolidWorks. I've quoted the jobs, programmed the parts and run the machines. ShopFloor AI is where I sort the AI hype from tools that actually earn their keep on a shop floor.
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Quoting/Estimating
Machine Research
AI/ML estimating and quoting for machine shops with RFQ import, ShapeSearch part library and ERP/QuickBooks integration.
- Pricing
- Contact
- Works with
- STEP/3D CAD viewer; QuickBooks & ERP integrations
Free trial / planDetails →
Quoting/Estimating
Paperless Parts
Quoting software that helps machine shops and fabricators estimate smarter and faster; catches missed operations; ERP integrations.
- Pricing
- Contact
Quoting/Estimating
SmartShopFloor
AI estimator and AI scheduler for job shops and metal fabricators (Australia-focused), with job costing and live shop data.
- Pricing
- Contact
- Works with
- SolidWorks; QuickBooks (listed integrations)
Quoting/Estimating
Toolpath
AI-powered DFM, quoting and CAM automation for machine shops, from RFQ to spindle.
- Pricing
- API: Free $0 (100 DFM/10 estimates/mo); Core $400/mo; Pro $1,500/mo (shop plans: Contact)
- Works with
- Autodesk Fusion CAM
Free trial / planDetails →
Quoting/Estimating
Werk24
AI feature extraction from technical drawings (dimensions, tolerances, materials) via API or Studio for faster quoting.
- Pricing
- API from €1.25/page pay-as-you-go or €590/mo; Studio from €0 (suppliers), plans from €99/mo
- Works with
- Technical drawings (PDF/image)
Free trial / planDetails →
CAM/Programming
Autodesk Fusion for Manufacturing
Integrated cloud CAD/CAM with automated CAM programming, whole-part strategies and Autodesk Assistant AI.
- Pricing
- Fusion $57/mo billed annually; Fusion for Manufacturing: see site
- Works with
- Native CAD/CAM (Fusion)
Free trial / planDetails →
CAM/Programming
CloudNC CAM Assist
AI that generates machining strategies and toolpaths inside your CAM and estimates cycle times; Quote Agent in development.
- Pricing
- Contact (Hobbyist/Small Shop/Job Shop tiers, 12-mo minimum)
- Works with
- Mastercam 2025-27; Autodesk Fusion; GibbsCAM; SolidCAM 2025 SP4+; Siemens NX
CAM/Programming
HCL CAMWorks
Feature-based CAM with automatic feature recognition and TechDB knowledge-based machining that reuses your best practices.
- Pricing
- Contact
- Works with
- SOLIDWORKS; Solid Edge; 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS
CAM/Programming
Mastercam
CNC programming software adding AI-enabled CAM intelligence and productivity tools.
- Pricing
- Contact
- Works with
- Mastercam (native)
CAM/Programming
SolidCAM
CAD-integrated CAM (iMachining) with an AI CAM offering for CNC shops.
- Pricing
- Contact
- Works with
- SOLIDWORKS; Autodesk Inventor; Solid Edge
ERP/Scheduling
Fulcrum
Cloud manufacturing ERP with 'Archie' built-in AI, AI uploader, BOM/routing builder, MCP & API.
- Pricing
- Contact
ERP/Scheduling
Global Shop Solutions
Quote-to-cash ERP for manufacturers with AI-integrated ERP features.
- Pricing
- Contact
ERP/Scheduling
JITbase
Production planning and scheduling driven by machine data to raise capacity and workforce efficiency.
- Pricing
- Contact
ERP/Scheduling
JobBOSS² (ECI)
Job shop ERP centralizing quoting, scheduling and inventory; part of ECI's AI strategy.
- Pricing
- Contact
- Works with
- QuickBooks
ERP/Scheduling
ProShop ERP
All-in-one ERP/MES/QMS for machine shops with 'Chip', an AI that learns how your shop runs.
- Pricing
- Contact
Quality/Inspection
DISCUS Software
Quality engineering tools for TDP, FAI/AS9102, PPAP and CMM with IDA AI that extracts data from drawings.
- Pricing
- Contact
Free trial / planDetails →
Quality/Inspection
Elementary
AI vision inspection system for automated quality control on production lines.
- Pricing
- Contact
Quality/Inspection
High QA
Quality and metrology workflow from design through inspection (ballooning, FAI) via Inspection Manager / 360 CORE.
- Pricing
- Contact
Quality/Inspection
Instrumental
AI manufacturing acceleration platform that finds defects and improves yield (electronics focus).
- Pricing
- Contact
Quality/Inspection
Lumafield
Industrial CT scanning plus AI that gives manufacturers visibility inside parts to catch defects.
- Pricing
- Contact
Quality/Inspection
Overview.ai
Deep-learning vision inspection on edge cameras; train models in hours with few images, no cloud dependency.
- Pricing
- Contact
Shop Automation/Workflows
Amper (ECI)
IoT sensor-based production monitoring tracking machine uptime and downtime in real time.
- Pricing
- Contact
Shop Automation/Workflows
CADDi
AI data platform that analyzes and connects drawings and manufacturing data across departments for sourcing and reuse.
- Pricing
- Contact
- Works with
- Drawings / manufacturing data
Shop Automation/Workflows
Datanomix
No-operator-input production monitoring with real-time insights, using AI to flag issues while there is time to act.
- Pricing
- Contact
Shop Automation/Workflows
MachineMetrics
AI-powered manufacturing operations platform connecting every machine, with 'Max AI' and machine monitoring.
- Pricing
- Contact
Shop Automation/Workflows
Make
Visual no-code automation for AI and agentic workflows across 1,000+ apps. Affiliate: 35% for 12 mo.
- Pricing
- Free plan (1,000 credits/mo); paid plans on site
Free trial / planDetails →
Shop Automation/Workflows
n8n
Workflow automation with AI agents and integrations; self-hostable; good for RFQ intake, quote follow-up and status emails. Affiliate: 30% for 12 mo.
- Pricing
- Starter €20/mo, Pro €50/mo, Business €667/mo (billed annually); free self-hosted Community Edition
Free trial / planDetails →
Shop Automation/Workflows
Shoplogix
Connects to any shop-floor machine to surface bottlenecks, with an AI assistant for manufacturing.
- Pricing
- Contact
Shop Automation/Workflows
Tulip
Composable AI-native frontline operations platform for production tracking, quality and traceability apps.
- Pricing
- Entry tier $100/mo per interface; Professional $250/mo per interface (billed annually)
Shop Automation/Workflows
Vention
Cloud platform to design, automate, order and deploy manufacturing equipment and robot cells, with physical AI.
- Pricing
- Contact
- Works with
- Browser-based machine design
Shop Automation/Workflows
Zapier
AI workflow and agent automation across 9,000+ apps.
- Pricing
- Free $0; Professional from $19.99/mo; Team from $69/mo
Free trial / planDetails →
AI CAD
Adam
AI mechanical engineer / CAD copilot to create and edit models and prepare drawings with existing CAD tools.
- Pricing
- Free; Pro, Max, Team (per seat), Enterprise (prices on site)
- Works with
- Works with existing CAD tools (per site)
Free trial / planDetails →
AI CAD
Backflip
AI copilot that 'CADs like a human' to speed CAD and 3D modeling; from the Markforged founders.
- Pricing
- Builder $20/mo; Pro $50/mo; Business $380/mo (credit-based)
- Works with
- Fusion; Onshape; STEP
AI CAD
Leo AI
Engineering-grade AI copilot for mechanical engineers: verified technical answers, part search, concept 3D models.
- Pricing
- Contact
- Works with
- SOLIDWORKS; Onshape; Siemens NX; Fusion (per site)
AI CAD
MecAgent
AI CAD copilot that models parts, generates drawings and runs automations/macros inside SolidWorks.
- Pricing
- Free $0; Starter $125/mo ($84 yearly); Advanced+ $625/mo/seat ($417 yearly); Enterprise: Contact
- Works with
- SOLIDWORKS; Autodesk Inventor
Free trial / planDetails →
AI CAD
Prompt2CAD
Turns plain-language briefs into editable CAD for parts and products.
- Pricing
- Contact
- Works with
- STEP, DXF, STL, 3MF export
AI CAD
Zoo
AI-native CAD (Zoo Design Studio + Zookeeper agent) with editable B-rep geometry, code and API.
- Pricing
- Free plan; metered AI/API usage (see site)
- Works with
- STEP, glTF, OBJ, STL export (per TexoCAD test)
Free trial / planDetails →
Coming soon
CAD Arena: monthly AI CAD tests
Same real-world parts, run through every AI CAD tool each month and graded by a 20-year SolidWorks user: dimensional accuracy, editable feature tree, and “would a machinist accept this?” Downloadable STEP results.
Coming soon
Shop workflow recipes (n8n / Make)
Copy-and-import automations for job shops: RFQ email → quote draft, quote follow-up reminders, order-status emails to customers, and shop-floor alerts.