--- title: "CNC Machine Shop Software | OpenSpindle" description: "CNC machine shop software built for the way job shops actually work. Quoting, scheduling, and invoicing in one system. Flat monthly fee." canonical: https://openspindle.com/solutions/cnc-machine-shop-software --- # The operating system for CNC machine shops. Quoting, scheduling, production runs, invoicing. One system. Replace the whiteboard, the spreadsheet, and the three-app stack. ## Which kind of CNC shop are you? - [CNC Routing: Wood, MDF, plastics. Cabinets, millwork, signs.](https://openspindle.com/solutions/cnc-routing-software.md) - [Precision Machining: Tight tolerances. Aerospace, auto, medical.](https://openspindle.com/solutions/precision-machining-software.md) - [Plasma / Laser / Waterjet: Sheet metal, structural, decorative cutting.](https://openspindle.com/solutions/plasma-laser-waterjet-software.md) - [Metal Fabrication: Weld shops, structural, custom metal work.](https://openspindle.com/solutions/metal-fabrication-software.md) ## Built for your shop if - Custom jobs, quick turns, and production runs. Built to order, not mass produced. - Every job is quoted before it gets built - 2 to 40 employees - Paying for QuickBooks, a scheduling tool, a CRM, and a whiteboard -- and still dropping balls ## Not the right fit if - You're fine not knowing which jobs actually made you money - You don't mind when jobs run over budget - You enjoy paying for tools that weren't built for a shop - You're happy adding headcount every time business picks up Most shops cobble together 5 to 10 tools that were never built for a job shop. OpenSpindle replaces the whole stack. ## The same three problems cost CNC shops jobs every week. ### The lost RFQ A GC emails a DXF on Friday afternoon. You're on the floor. You see it Monday. They already went with someone else. That job was yours. ### The quote that ate your margin You quoted aluminum at last month's price. Material costs jumped. The job runs, you invoice, you're down $800. Again. ### The whiteboard that lies Machinist asks what's next. You walk to the board. Three jobs on it are already done. Two more aren't on it yet. ## How a job moves through OpenSpindle From the first email to the paid invoice, in one system. 1. **RFQ In** -- Every channel lands in one feed. DXF attached, context captured. 2. **Quote** -- Build from real machine rates, material costs, and labor. Send in minutes. 3. **Schedule** -- Job drops onto the machine calendar. Conflicts surface before they happen. 4. **Run** -- Production stages tracked live. Floor display shows what's running now. 5. **Invoice** -- Invoice from actual job costs. No retyping. Get paid. ## Built for how CNC shops actually work Not generic business software. Every feature speaks the language of a job shop. ### Quoting + Cost Library Build quotes from your actual machine rates, material costs, and labor. Not gut feel. Update material prices once and every future quote reflects it automatically. [Explore Invoicing and Cost Library](https://openspindle.com/features/invoicing.md) ### Machine Scheduling See every job against real machine capacity. Drag to reschedule. Spot conflicts before your machinist asks what's next. [Explore Scheduling](https://openspindle.com/features/scheduling.md) ### Production Runs + Shop Floor Display Stage jobs through your operations. Live display on any screen in the shop. No proprietary hardware, no walk to the whiteboard. [Explore Production Runs](https://openspindle.com/features/production-runs.md) ### Client Workspace Customers review quotes, approve files, and check job status without calling you. Fewer interruptions on the floor. [Explore Client Workspace](https://openspindle.com/features/customer-portal.md) ## How we compare to JobBOSS2 The most common shop management software CNC shops are coming from. | Feature | JobBOSS2 | OpenSpindle | |---|---|---| | Metal fabrication + machine shops | Yes | Yes | | CNC routing (wood, MDF, plastics) | No | Yes | | Quoting + cost library | Yes | Yes | | Shop floor display | No | Yes | | Client workspace | No | Yes | | Marketplace (matched RFQs) | No | Yes | | Per-seat pricing | Pay per user | Flat fee | | Time to go live | Weeks to months | Hours to days | ## Getting started is fast We do the setup. You run the shop. 1. **Tell us about your shop** -- 30-minute call. We learn your job types, team size, and current tools. 2. **We configure your workflows** -- Job types, production stages, and your team are set up for you. 3. **Go live** -- Most shops are live in hours. Complex setups take a few days. Flat monthly fee -- no per-seat charges -- no long-term contract ## Everything included No modules. No add-ons. One flat price. - CRM and RFQ tracking - Cost library and quoting - Machine scheduling - Project management - Production runs - Shop floor display - Client workspace - Invoicing - Reporting and P&L - Equipment management - Team and time tracking - Vendor management ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Does it work if every job has a different material and setup? Yes. OpenSpindle is built for make-to-order. No two jobs need to be the same. You define your own job types, stages, and cost structures so a 4140 turned shaft and a 6061 milled plate can each follow their own workflow without any workarounds. ### Does OpenSpindle integrate with CAM software? OpenSpindle is the operations and business layer. It works alongside your CAM software, not instead of it. Your Mastercam, Fusion 360, or Esprit programming workflow stays exactly the same. OpenSpindle handles what happens before the program runs (quoting, scheduling) and after it runs (job tracking, invoicing). ### Do you charge per user? No. Flat monthly fee. Add your whole team, including operators, programmers, and front office, without watching the bill go up. ### What is CNC machine shop software? CNC machine shop software refers to a business management system built specifically for shops running CNC mills, lathes, and machining centers on custom or short-run work. It covers quoting, job scheduling, work order management, material tracking, and invoicing in one place, replacing the combination of spreadsheets, whiteboards, and disconnected apps most shops currently use. ### How does OpenSpindle handle quoting jobs with multiple operations like turning, milling, and grinding? You build a quote with separate line items for each operation, each carrying its own setup time, cycle time, and machine rate. Material, outside processes like heat treat or plating, and any tooling costs stack on top. The system totals it all and lets you add a margin before sending the quote to the customer, typically in under 15 minutes for complex multi-op jobs. ### Can it handle repeat orders and blanket purchase orders? Yes. Repeat jobs carry forward the previous quote so you are not re-pricing from scratch every cycle. Blanket POs can be set up as a parent job with individual releases scheduled across weeks or months. This is especially useful for shops supplying OEMs or contract manufacturers with recurring call-off schedules. ### How long does setup take for a shop with 5 to 20 employees? Most shops are quoting live jobs in OpenSpindle within one to two days. The onboarding flow walks you through adding your machines, labor rates, and material cost library. There is no ERP-style implementation project or consultant required. If you can set up a spreadsheet, you can set up OpenSpindle. ### How does OpenSpindle compare to JobBOSS2 or Shoptech for CNC job shops? JobBOSS2 and Shoptech were built for larger, higher-volume shops and carry a corresponding learning curve and cost. OpenSpindle is designed for shops with 2 to 40 people doing custom work, where quoting speed and floor visibility matter more than deep ERP modules. Setup takes days, not months, and pricing is flat with no per-seat fees. ### Can operators on the floor update job status without needing a full account? Yes. OpenSpindle includes a shop floor kiosk mode designed for operators. They can clock onto jobs, mark operations complete, and flag issues from a shared tablet or workstation without needing individual logins or touching quoting or billing data. Job status updates in real time so office staff always know where a part is. [Book a demo](https://openspindle.com/contact.md)