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What is Costimator?
Costimator® is cost estimating, quoting and process planning software from MTI Systems, built for manufacturers. It helps machine shops and fabricators turn part requirements into cycle times, costs and quotes—either from a 3D CAD model or from manual inputs when no model exists. Its core value is consistency: instead of each estimator quoting from personal experience, Costimator uses pre-loaded, industry-validated cost models (cycle time calculators) so similar jobs get similar numbers.
Who it's for and what it does
- Machining estimators — estimate machined parts with or without a 3D model, using built-in speed/feed data, machine capabilities and tool change times to build cycle times.
- Sheet metal fabricators — quote fabricated parts using hundreds of cost models covering operations like laser cutting and welding.
- Should-cost and process planning teams — use the same cost logic to check supplier quotes or plan how a part should be made.
- Shops integrating with business systems — the page notes manufacturing data libraries and ERP integration, which matters if quotes need to flow into an existing ERP rather than live in a standalone tool.
Trade-offs to weigh
| If you… | Costimator fits when… | Watch out for… |
|---|---|---|
| Quote many similar parts | Standardized cost models speed up turnaround and improve consistency | You still need to validate models against your own shop rates and methods |
| Quote highly custom or one-off work | You can estimate without CAD, so unusual jobs aren't blocked | Custom work may need manual model building or adjustment |
| Already run an ERP | Integration can connect estimating to order and job data | Confirm the specific integration path for your ERP before committing |
| Have experienced estimators | Their knowledge can be captured into reusable models | Initial setup and model calibration take real effort |
A practical next step
If you're evaluating it, pick five recently quoted jobs—two you won, two you lost on price, one complex outlier—and ask for them to be run through Costimator during a demo. Compare the generated cycle times against your actual shop floor times. That tells you more about fit than a feature list, because the real question is whether its cost models match how your shop actually cuts metal.
For context on the broader category, see MTI Systems for Costimator itself.
How does Costimator estimate costs for machined parts without a 3D model?
Costimator estimates machined-part costs without a 3D model by working from part features and shop-specific process knowledge rather than geometry. Instead of extracting features from CAD, the estimator describes the part manually—material, dimensions, hole and slot patterns, tolerances, quantities—and Costimator applies its pre-loaded cost models to calculate cycle times and costs.
How the estimating logic works
The software ships with hundreds of cost models, which the vendor describes as cycle-time calculators built on industry-validated machine shop strategies and formulas. Those models encode things like speeds and feeds, machine-specific capabilities, and tool-change times. The estimator supplies the part characteristics; the model supplies the machining logic and returns a time and cost.
For a machined part, a practical workflow looks like this:
- Select the material and starting stock.
- Enter the part's features—milled slots, drilled holes, tapped threads, turned diameters—using the software's feature-based input rather than a CAD file.
- Choose the machine or process for each operation.
- Apply the relevant cost model, which calculates cycle time from the built-in speeds, feeds and machine parameters.
- Add setup, non-machining activities and shop rate to reach a quoted price.
Where the shop-specific data matters
The accuracy of a no-CAD estimate depends heavily on how well the models match your actual equipment and practices. Costimator's approach assumes you can tune machine capabilities, tool-change times and rates to reflect your floor. An estimator at a job shop running older manual and CNC equipment will get more realistic numbers by adjusting those inputs than by accepting defaults, because the defaults describe general industry practice, not your specific spindles.
When this approach fits
| Situation | Suitability of no-CAD estimating |
|---|---|
| RFQ arrives as a drawing or PDF, no model | Strong fit—features can be entered directly |
| Customer sends STEP files for every job | CAD-assisted estimating may be faster |
| High-mix, low-volume quoting | Useful, provided models are tuned to your machines |
| Tight-tolerance aerospace work | Requires careful review of tolerance and inspection inputs |
| Simple 2D turned parts | Well suited to feature-based entry |
The trade-off is speed versus fidelity. Manual feature entry is slower than importing a model and can miss geometry the estimator overlooks, but it lets you quote from a print the moment it arrives—often the deciding factor in winning work.
Next step
Ask for a demonstration using one of your own recent parts, and request the machining and slot-milling cost models so you can see exactly which inputs drive the cycle time. Compare the result against a job you have already run to judge how much tuning your shop data needs before the estimates are trustworthy. Costimator is developed by MTI Systems; details are at MTI Systems.
Can Costimator integrate with ERP systems for quoting and job management?
Yes, MTI Systems positions Costimator® as integrating with ERP systems for manufacturing estimating and quoting. The site lists "ERP Integration" among its core capabilities and shows a specific connection to Epicor, so the intended flow is that a quote built in Costimator can feed job and order data into the ERP rather than being re-keyed.
H3 What the integration is for
- Estimating and quoting: generate cycle times and costs from cost models, then pass the resulting quote or job data to the ERP.
- Job management: keep the ERP as the system of record for orders, work orders and scheduling while Costimator handles the estimating logic.
- Avoiding duplicate entry: one estimate becomes the basis for downstream job and accounting records.
H3 Practical caveats The page confirms ERP integration exists and names Epicor, but it does not spell out which ERP versions, whether the link is native, file-based or middleware, or how much configuration is required. Treat "integrates with ERP" as a capability to verify for your specific system, not a plug-and-play guarantee.
H3 How to evaluate it for your shop
- Identify your ERP and version, then ask MTI Systems directly whether that exact combination is supported.
- Ask what data moves: quote header, part numbers, routings, operation times, material and tooling costs.
- Ask the direction of flow and whether it is one-way export, scheduled sync or real-time.
- Request a demo using your own part and your own ERP data, not a generic sample.
- Check who maintains the connection after upgrades on either side.
H3 Who this suits Shops doing high-mix machining or sheet metal fabrication, where quoting speed and consistency matter and where estimates must land in an existing ERP. If you run a very small operation with no ERP, the integration is irrelevant and the estimating features alone are the reason to look.
Next step: contact MTI Systems with your ERP name and version and ask for the integration to be shown live during the demo. You can start at MTI Systems. For context on the ERP side, see Epicor.
What types of cost models are included for sheet metal fabrication in Costimator?
Costimator includes pre-loaded cost models for sheet metal fabrication, and the site describes them as industry-validated cycle time calculators covering hundreds of models. The page specifically highlights a laser cutting cost model as an example of the sheet metal category, alongside machining models such as slot milling and a MIG welding time model.
For a fabrication shop, that means the software is aimed at generating consistent cycle times and quotes for laser-cut and formed parts, not just machined ones. If your work is mostly sheet metal, ask which specific processes your quote mix depends on — laser cutting, punching, forming, welding, or finishing — and confirm those models are covered before evaluating further. You can review the models and request a demo through MTI Systems.
How can manufacturers use Costimator's 'should cost' analysis to negotiate supplier prices?
Costimator's should-cost analysis gives you an independent, bottom-up estimate of what a part ought to cost to produce, so you can compare it against a supplier's quote and negotiate from evidence rather than gut feel. The software builds that estimate from cycle-time cost models — the same kind of machine-shop logic (speeds and feeds, tool change times, machine capabilities) used to price machined parts and sheet metal fabrication. The result is a defensible target price you can put on the table.
How the negotiation typically works
- Estimate the part yourself. Build the should-cost estimate for the same drawing, material and quantity the supplier quoted. Costimator supports estimating with or without a 3D model, so you can do this even for legacy or 2D-only parts.
- Break the quote into elements. Compare the supplier's price against your estimate line by line — material, setup, cycle time, secondary operations, lot size effects.
- Isolate the gap. If the quote is 20% above your estimate, ask which cost driver explains it: a slower machine, extra setups, higher scrap, or a margin assumption. That turns a vague "your price is too high" into a specific technical conversation.
- Test alternatives. Re-run the estimate with a different quantity, material form, or process to see whether the gap is real or an artifact of the RFQ.
- Agree on a target. Use the estimate as the anchor for a revised price, a productivity commitment, or a cost-reduction schedule over the contract term.
Where should-cost helps most
- Single-source or sole-source parts, where you have no competitive bid to benchmark against.
- New parts with no price history, especially when you need a quote turned around quickly.
- Cost-reduction programs, where you need a baseline to measure supplier progress against.
- Make-vs-buy decisions, since the same estimate tells you what it would cost you to produce in-house.
Where it needs care
A should-cost model is only as good as its inputs. If your estimate assumes a machine, batch size, or routing the supplier doesn't actually use, the gap may reflect your assumptions rather than their inefficiency. Treat the estimate as a strong negotiating position, not proof. Suppliers who can show their own process data may legitimately land above or below your number.
A practical starting scenario
A procurement engineer receives a $42 quote on a machined aluminum bracket, quantity 250. She runs a should-cost estimate in Costimator using the same material and a comparable machining strategy, and gets $34. Rather than demanding a cut, she asks the supplier to walk through setup time and cycle time. The supplier reveals a second fixture and a manual deburr step. They agree to a $37 price with the deburr moved in-house — a smaller win than the raw gap suggested, but one the supplier can actually sustain.
Next step: pick one high-spend, single-source part, build a should-cost estimate for it, and compare it against the current price before your next supplier review. If you want to see how the estimate is constructed, MTI Systems publishes model examples and demos at Costimator by MTI Systems. For broader benchmarking context on should-cost practices, the Institute for Supply Management at ISM and APICS/ASCM at ASCM both cover cost-management methods.
What is the process for requesting a demo or pricing for Costimator?
You request a demo or pricing directly through MTI Systems' Costimator site, which lists both options as separate calls to action.
How to start
- Request a Demo — the page provides a "Request Demo" link for seeing the software in action.
- Request Pricing — a separate "Request Pricing" link is offered for cost information.
- Get a Free Quote — the header also shows a "Get A Free Quote" option.
- Contact Sales — you can reach the sales team through the contact options on the site.
- Direct contact — the page lists [email protected] and phone 413-733-1972.
The site also mentions a Customer Portal, but that is for existing customers rather than new demo or pricing requests.
What to expect These are lead-capture forms, so pricing is not published on the page. You will likely need to provide your company and contact details, and a representative will follow up. If you want to move faster, calling is the most direct route; if you prefer a scheduled walkthrough, use the demo request.
A practical next step Before you submit, write down your parts mix (machined, sheet metal, welding), whether you quote from 3D models or drawings, and your current quoting bottleneck. That lets the demo focus on your actual workflows instead of a generic tour. For context on comparable tools, you can also look at Website Name if you already know the official domain.
Decision criterion Ask for a demo first if you need to judge fit; ask for pricing first only if budget approval is your gating step.
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