Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about CadVex
Explore 37 answers about CadVex Cloud and Desktop, STEP analysis, estimating, pricing, local processing, security, and support.
Getting started
What is CadVex, and how is it different from a standard quoting calculator?
CadVex is CNC machining quoting and manufacturing-analysis software for machine shops. It currently focuses on milling, turning, mill-turn, and multi-axis machining workflows.
It analyzes STEP geometry, recommends the likely process and setup requirements, prepares detailed manufacturing and costing assumptions, provides DFM feedback, and helps turn the result into a customer-ready quote.
Instead of starting from a blank costing form or a black-box total, the estimator starts from an explainable breakdown of stock, setups, programming, machining, finishing, quantity effects, shop assumptions, DFM considerations, and margin.
What file formats does CadVex support, and what can it extract from a drawing?
CadVex uses STEP files for 3D geometry and machining analysis.
Both products also read engineering drawings. CadVex Desktop (version 1.3 and later, October 2026) reads a PDF drawing on your computer: nothing is uploaded and no AI service is used. CadVex Cloud reads PDF and supported image drawings on CadVex’s servers through an external AI service (Anthropic). Drawing reading can identify information such as:
- Material
- Dimensional and feature tolerances (with their IT grade in Desktop)
- Threads
- Finishes, coatings and surface treatments
- Part number, name and revision (Cloud)
- Part-marking requirements
- Other manufacturing notes
The information read from the drawing is presented for review alongside the STEP analysis before it is used in the estimate.
Does CadVex automatically generate a quote or replace an experienced estimator?
CadVex prepares a detailed draft estimate from the part geometry, drawing requirements where available, shop rates, stock, machining assumptions, and costing rules.
It reduces repetitive analysis and helps identify machining and DFM considerations that may otherwise be missed, but the estimator still reviews the manufacturing assumptions, machine and tooling strategy, lead time, special processes, commercial terms, and final selling price.
CadVex automates the analysis without removing the shop’s final engineering and commercial judgment.
What is the difference between CadVex Cloud and CadVex Desktop, and which version should I choose?
CadVex Cloud runs in a supported browser and is designed for fast setup, browser access and online shop history. A shop can begin after account and shop setup. Both products read drawings: Desktop on your computer, Cloud on CadVex’s servers through an AI service.
CadVex Desktop is installed on a Windows PC or Apple Silicon Mac and runs STEP analysis locally with unlimited analysis and offline capability after activation, subject to periodic license validation. It is designed for shops that prefer local processing and tighter control over customer geometry.
Both products support the core estimating, DFM, RFQ, and quoting workflow and let the shop configure its own rates, materials, stock, assumptions, and quote template.
How can CadVex help a machine shop save money and win more jobs?
CadVex can reduce repetitive estimating effort by reusing shop, customer, and stock information, applying consistent shop assumptions, catching difficult geometry before underquoting, reducing missed machining operations, and identifying RFQs that consume significant effort without enough value.
Faster analysis can help a shop respond to more RFQs with professional, consistent quotes and clearer DFM communication. Quote outcomes and customer history also help the shop focus estimating and follow-up effort on the opportunities that matter most.
CadVex does not make quantified savings promises or guarantee a higher win rate.
Analysis & estimating
Can CadVex select stock from our existing stock library?
Yes. A shop can upload an Excel file containing its available materials, stock forms, stock sizes, dimensions, and other relevant information.
CadVex then matches the uploaded part to the nearest suitable item in that shop’s library and reuses the library for future quotations.
This produces more realistic material costs based on what the shop actually purchases or keeps in stock, rather than relying only on an ideal theoretical stock size.
How does CadVex calculate machining time, and can I review the calculation?
CadVex calculates a base machining-time estimate from the material removed from the selected stock, then adds feature-specific time for holes, grooves, pockets, slots, threads, special material-removal regions, and other detected features.
It also applies material-difficulty assumptions because different materials require different machining conditions.
A question-mark icon beside applicable estimate items shows the assumptions and calculation logic. The estimator can review the result and adjust relevant values when necessary.
Does CadVex calculate setups, programming, and setup time?
Yes. CadVex analyzes geometry, machining directions, accessibility, manufacturing process, and part complexity to recommend the likely setup count and estimate programming and setup time.
The estimator can review and modify these values to reflect the shop’s experience and production standards before generating the quote.
Does CadVex provide DFM feedback and account for difficult features?
Yes. CadVex identifies design-for-manufacturing concerns such as inaccessible geometry, deep holes or pockets, thin walls, small internal radii, additional setup requirements, difficult material-and-geometry combinations, tolerance or surface-finish issues, and other conditions that may increase machining risk, cost, or lead time.
CadVex can account for detected complexity and related cost drivers in the draft estimate. The shop can review the explanations and any additional time or cost before finalizing the quote.
Can CadVex use our shop rates and different rate profiles?
Yes. A shop can configure its own machine, labor, programming, setup, material, scrap, markup, efficiency, and other costing assumptions.
It can also save rate profiles for standard, short, or rush lead times, preferred-customer pricing, machine groups, and different production conditions, then select the appropriate profile while preparing a quote.
Can CadVex account for quantity pricing and efficiency factors?
Yes. CadVex separates fixed costs, such as programming and initial setup, from variable costs such as machining time, material, consumables, and per-part operations.
The shop can apply efficiency factors for repeated cycles, material use, programming cost per unit, setup impact, and production learning. The estimator remains in control of those assumptions and can see how unit price changes with quantity.
Can we adjust scrap value or material credits?
Yes.
CadVex allows the shop to adjust material scrap values and credits. This is useful when the remaining material has recoverable value or when the shop wants to apply its own scrap-rate assumptions.
Does CadVex show a price breakdown, and can the estimator modify it?
Yes. Depending on the part and shop configuration, the breakdown may include material and scrap credit, programming and setup, base and feature machining, DFM-related adjustments, fixed and variable costs, quantity-efficiency adjustments, markup, and final quoted price.
The estimator can review and adjust applicable inputs before generating the final customer quote, rather than receiving only a black-box total.
Quotes & shop workflow
Can we generate quotes using our own letterhead?
Yes. CadVex can generate customer-ready quote PDFs using the shop’s own company information, branding, and quote template.
Quote generation is not charged per quote.
Can CadVex email the quote directly to the customer?
Not currently.
CadVex generates a downloadable customer-ready quote PDF. The shop can then send it using its normal email workflow.
Can CadVex store customer information?
Yes.
Shops can store customer details in CadVex and reuse that information when another RFQ arrives from the same customer.
Can CadVex track quotes and customer performance?
Yes. CadVex records quote activity and statuses such as Draft, Sent, Pending, Won, and Lost.
It also provides visibility into overall win rate, customer-specific quote activity, won and lost outcomes, historical quoting activity, and customer-performance trends. This helps the shop track outstanding work and focus follow-up effort.
CadVex Cloud
What is CadVex Cloud?
CadVex Cloud is the browser-based version of CadVex.
It provides STEP analysis, detailed estimating, DFM feedback, RFQ and quote workflows, shop history, and drawing reading on CadVex’s servers, without installing the Desktop application.
Do I need to install anything to use CadVex Cloud?
No. CadVex Cloud runs through a supported web browser.
An internet connection is required for Cloud analysis and access to the online shop account.
How does the CadVex Cloud free evaluation work?
Each verified shop receives five successful Cloud analyses included for the lifetime of the shop.
- No card is required to start.
- Failed, canceled, rejected, unsupported, or timed-out analyses do not consume the allowance.
- Reopening an existing result or regenerating a quote does not consume another analysis.
After the five included analyses are used, the shop can set up usage billing to continue.
How does CadVex Cloud usage pricing work, and what happens after 300 analyses?
After the five included analyses, successful Cloud analyses use the price shown on the Pricing page. Failed analyses are not billed.
Analyses 1–100 in the billing period use that per-analysis price. Analyses 101–300 have no additional usage charge. New analyses are paused after 300 successful analyses until the next billing period.
Existing RFQs, analyses, results, and quotes remain accessible while new analysis is paused.
Is reopening an existing Cloud analysis charged again?
No.
Opening a saved result, reviewing it again, or regenerating a quote does not create another analysis charge.
Can several employees use CadVex Cloud?
Yes. Each Cloud shop account supports one administrator and up to three additional users.
The administrator manages shop settings, rates, stock, and user access. Additional users can analyze parts and prepare quotes but cannot change protected shop settings.
The shop’s five included analyses and subsequent Cloud usage are shared across the team.
CadVex Desktop
What is CadVex Desktop?
CadVex Desktop is the locally installed version of CadVex for Windows and Mac (Apple Silicon).
STEP analysis and drawing reading run on the local machine, giving shops the same core estimating, DFM, RFQ, and quoting workflow with local CAD processing, local drawing reading (version 1.3 and later) and unlimited analysis.
Does CadVex Desktop upload my STEP files, and is it suitable for controlled workflows?
STEP analysis and drawing reading in CadVex Desktop run locally on your computer; drawings are not uploaded and no AI service is used. The product is designed for security-sensitive, NDA-controlled, and ITAR-controlled workflows where keeping CAD processing and customer geometry inside the shop environment is preferred.
CadVex does not represent this as an ITAR certification or compliance certification. CadVex Cloud is intended for standard commercial manufacturing workflows unless CadVex has specifically confirmed otherwise for the customer’s requirements.
Can CadVex Desktop be used offline, and does it need an internet connection?
Yes. After activation, analysis can continue offline within the supported entitlement period.
CadVex Desktop periodically reconnects for license validation, so it is offline-capable rather than permanently disconnected.
Is CadVex Desktop unlimited?
Yes. CadVex Desktop provides unlimited local part analysis.
There is no per-analysis usage charge for Desktop analysis.
What operating system does CadVex Desktop support?
CadVex Desktop supports Windows 11 (64-bit, Intel or AMD x64) and macOS 13.4 or later on Apple Silicon (M1 or later). Intel Macs are not supported. At least 8 GB RAM is recommended. Allow 4 GB of free space on Windows or 1.5 GB on Mac. Internet is required for sign-in, activation and periodic license validation.
Does CadVex Desktop use AI to analyze STEP files?
No. STEP geometry analysis in CadVex Desktop uses CadVex’s local geometry-analysis engine rather than an AI model.
Pricing & licensing
How much does CadVex Cloud cost?
CadVex Cloud starts with five successful analyses included for the lifetime of the shop.
After that, each successful analysis is charged as usage. Check out the Pricing page for current prices.
How much does CadVex Desktop cost?
CadVex Desktop is available as Monthly, Annual, or Perpetual licensing after the 30-day evaluation.
Check out the Pricing page for current license prices.
All paid Desktop licenses include unlimited analysis. Monthly and Annual licenses require an active subscription for continued licensed use, and shop data is not converted into a Cloud subscription automatically if that subscription ends.
What is included with a perpetual Desktop license?
A perpetual CadVex Desktop license allows continued use of the licensed version without a recurring subscription.
Includes all updates and support for 24 months. After that, your perpetual license remains yours forever, but new updates and support are no longer included.
Are taxes included in the displayed prices?
No. Public prices are shown pre-tax.
Applicable taxes may be added during checkout depending on the customer’s location and tax status.
Security & privacy
How are files uploaded to CadVex Cloud protected and accessed?
CadVex Cloud protects uploaded files in transit and at rest and isolates shop data from other customer accounts. Uploaded files are not routinely exposed through normal administrative views.
STEP-file analysis uses CadVex’s geometry-analysis system. Cloud drawing reading uses an external AI service (Anthropic): the attached drawing is transmitted to it. CadVex Desktop reads drawings on your computer and transmits nothing.
Access to file contents is restricted to authorized processing and exceptional support or security circumstances governed by CadVex policies. See the Privacy Policy for current processing and retention details.
Does CadVex use customer files to train AI models?
CadVex does not use customer STEP files or drawings to train CadVex models.
CadVex Cloud uses an external AI service (Anthropic) to read drawings; CadVex Desktop reads them on your computer with no AI service. Current provider processing and retention details are described in the Privacy Policy.
Refunds & support
Does CadVex offer a refund guarantee?
Yes. Eligible paid CadVex usage and purchases are covered by the CadVex refund policy.
If CadVex does not deliver value for your shop, review the Refund Policy for eligibility and request details.
How do I contact CadVex support?
Email [email protected] for product, account, billing, or technical support.
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