classmate PLAN: See costs before they happen.
Control manufacturing costs from the very first design decision.
✅ Automatically analyze the geometry of 3D CAD models
✅ Identify manufacturing steps quickly and reliably, with early production cost estimates
✅ Generate routings ready for transfer to your ERP system
classmate PLAN: See costs before they happen.
The clear presentation points out cost drivers
How automated costing creates real value:
Pinpoint cost drivers and take targeted action
Compare design and manufacturing alternatives before parts reach production
Save up to 50% of effort in production planning
Trusted by
more than
250 companies
Up to 80% of manufacturing costs are locked in during design. Turn that early cost insight into better product development.
Preliminary costing of parts and assemblies during the design phase
classmate PLAN generates preliminary cost estimates for individual parts based on the 3D CAD model and the available manufacturing technologies. Even complex assemblies can be calculated in a very short time.
Cost estimates can be created under different assumptions, from comparing prototype and series production costs to evaluating manufacturing alternatives across different production sites.
Automated process planning
The results of the analysis can be used for automated process planning. Based on the analyzed geometry of a part, classmate PLAN determines which operations are required and in what sequence. Within seconds, it generates a routing for production planning, significantly accelerating the entire workflow.
The level of detail in the routings can be defined individually, and various output formats are available. A direct interface to SAP® is also provided.
Flexible calculation parameters
General calculation parameters for manufacturing technologies are already stored in a technology database, such as cutting data for turning and milling operations.
Individual parameters, such as machine hourly rates, can be configured flexibly and easily adapted to customer-specific requirements. This keeps the effort required to maintain the calculation basis to a minimum.
System interfaces for classmate PLAN
classmate PLAN provides interfaces to all common CAD systems, including Autodesk® Inventor®, CATIA, PTC Creo Parametric, Siemens NX, Solid Edge, and SOLIDWORKS. Additional interfaces are available on request.
Up-to-date data and fewer errors
Raw material prices and other relevant procurement factors can be retrieved directly from the master data system and used for costing.
This ensures accurate, up-to-date data and delivers reliable costing results.
Calculation of times and related costs
For time calculations used in cost estimating, classmate PLAN follows REFA standards. In addition to manufacturing cost calculations, full cost accounting is also possible – for example, to evaluate quotes from external suppliers.
Visual cost transparency
To help designers understand a part’s cost structure at a glance, the model can be color-coded in classmate FINDER or easyFINDER using a traffic-light system. Cost-intensive manufacturing surfaces are highlighted in red, while lower-cost areas are shown in yellow or green.
By selecting a surface, users can view detailed information about the manufacturing process and the associated costs for that specific area. When the CAD model is modified and recalculated, cost changes can be displayed in a table across different revision levels—down to the individual manufacturing surface.
How AI analysis of technical drawings makes your costing even more accurate
With classmate DRAW, you can analyze technical drawings using AI and extract annotations and other manufacturing-relevant information automatically.
> AI-powered analysis of 2D drawings
> Assignment of drawing information to the 3D model: dimensions, fits, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), thread specifications, and surface finishes
> Fully digital, end-to-end processes
„No more searching through drawings or databases. With one click, users can find all relevant parts for a specific search criterion in just 10 seconds—making the process faster, easier, and far more efficient.“
Martin Eggensperger, Head of Engineering
Success Story Gessmann: Transparency in CAD data and manufacturing costs »