Question 1

What is HawkQMS?

Accepted Answer

HawkQMS is a white-label SaaS platform for CNC machine shops. It turns any CAD file (G-code, STEP, STL, DXF) into an instant, itemized CNC machining quote and gives each shop a branded customer portal for quoting, ordering, and taking Stripe payments.

Question 2

What CAD file formats does HawkQMS support for CNC quoting?

Accepted Answer

HawkQMS generates instant CNC quotes from G-code (.nc, .gcode, .tap), STEP (.step, .stp), STL (.stl), and DXF (.dxf) files. Upload any supported CAD file and the pricing engine returns an accurate machine-shop quote in seconds.

Question 3

How fast can a machine shop launch a HawkQMS customer portal?

Accepted Answer

Most machine shops go live on their branded HawkQMS portal the same day. Configure your logo, materials, machines, markup rules, and Stripe account and your customers can start submitting CAD files and paying for quotes immediately.

Question 4

Does HawkQMS handle payments?

Accepted Answer

Yes. HawkQMS is integrated with Stripe and Stripe Connect, so customers can check out inside the portal and shops receive payouts directly to their own bank account. HawkQMS's own subscription billing runs through a separate standard Stripe subscription.

Question 5

Is HawkQMS a white-label platform?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Each tenant gets a branded, white-label customer portal with their own logo, colors, domain, and contact information so the quoting experience looks like your machine shop, not HawkQMS.

Question 6

Can HawkQMS quote from G-code directly?

Accepted Answer

Yes. G-code is the most accurate input for HawkQMS because cycle time is parsed directly from the program rather than estimated from geometry. The quote engine reads feeds, speeds, and rapid moves to produce a cycle-time estimate, then applies the shop's machine rate and material cost.

Question 7

What if a customer uploads a STEP file with no G-code?

Accepted Answer

HawkQMS's Python quote engine analyzes the STEP file's geometry — bounding box, feature detection, surface area — and estimates cycle time using the shop's configured feeds, speeds, and machine parameters. The output is an itemized quote showing material, machine time, setup, and markup.

Question 8

Does HawkQMS replace my CAM system?

Accepted Answer

No. HawkQMS is a quoting and customer-portal layer that sits in front of your existing CAM and shop-floor workflow. It does not generate toolpaths; it ingests CAD and produces priced quotes for your customers.

Question 9

Does HawkQMS replace my ERP or MES?

Accepted Answer

No. HawkQMS covers the quote-to-cash customer journey. Shops that already run an ERP can integrate HawkQMS through its API; shops without one typically run HawkQMS alongside a simple spreadsheet or QuickBooks.

Question 10

How does HawkQMS compare to Paperless Parts?

Accepted Answer

Paperless Parts is an enterprise quoting platform priced for larger contract manufacturers. HawkQMS targets small and mid-size CNC shops with simpler onboarding, a white-label customer portal, and a lower price point. Both let you quote from CAD; HawkQMS additionally bundles the customer-facing portal and Stripe payments.

Question 11

How does HawkQMS compare to Xometry?

Accepted Answer

Xometry is a marketplace: customers upload parts and Xometry routes the job to a shop in its network. HawkQMS is the opposite — it gives your own shop its own branded portal so your customers go directly to you and you keep the margin a marketplace would take.

Question 12

Is there an API?

Accepted Answer

Yes. HawkQMS exposes a REST API for quotes, parts, and orders on higher-tier plans.

Question 13

Where is HawkQMS data hosted?

Accepted Answer

In the United States. PostgreSQL is hosted on Neon (AWS us-east region); uploaded CAD files and generated PDFs are stored on Cloudflare R2.

Question 14

Does HawkQMS support ITAR or export-controlled parts?

Accepted Answer

HawkQMS is not currently an ITAR-compliant environment. Shops handling ITAR-controlled work should keep those quotes off the platform until ITAR certification is complete.

Question 15

Is HawkQMS multi-tenant?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A single HawkQMS deployment hosts many machine shops. Data isolation is enforced at the database row level with per-tenant context middleware, and every tenant has its own portal subdomain, branding, and Stripe account.

Question 16

Who operates HawkQMS?

Accepted Answer

HawkQMS is built and operated by Hawk Insight LLC, based in Decatur, Alabama, United States.

Question 17

Is there a free trial?

Accepted Answer

Yes. HawkQMS offers a free trial with full platform access so shops can configure their portal and generate sample quotes before subscribing.