Professional Outsourced CAD Translation Services

In any engineering office, you need the right CAD files. If you’re working in SolidWorks and trying to use old CREO files, you’ll run into a ton of issues. Non-native files lose a lot of information, like material properties, visual properties, design tree history, and threading information. In some cases, you might not be able to open the file at all.

This is where outsourced CAD translation services can really help. At CAD/CAM Services, our suite of conversion services can help you transform all of your files into native CAD files. Our services will save you time and money, while unlocking a new level of functionality for every file you open.

This process can be overwhelming if you try to handle it yourself. You’ll spend hours and hours redoing work, just trying to get functional parts. Instead, you can let our engineers work around the clock to provide professional CAD translation.

What Are CAD Translation Services?

CAD translation services will take a file in one CAD software and turn it into a native file within a different CAD program. Our CAD translation can be done a few different ways, and it really depends on what you’re looking for. In some cases, a simple conversion program can be used to translate your files from one CAD platform to another, then our engineers will do quality checks and fill in the gaps.

In other cases, we’ll have to redraw the files in your new CAD program from scratch. We’ll use the non-native CAD file to pull dimensions and characteristics, then we’ll start a new drawing in your CAD software of choice and physically redraw the part.

Regardless of the process we use, you’ll be left with a native CAD file that has all the information you need.

By outsourcing this work, you don’t have to worry about assigning your engineers to a time-consuming and meticulous project like this. Plus, our team has decades of experience performing CAD Perfect® CAD translations. We’ve translated millions of files over our 35+ years in business, so we know a thing or two about CAD translation.

Why CAD Translation Services Matters

A professional-quality CAD translation company will work wonders for your company. With native CAD files, you can get more information, make changes easier, go through full assemblies and fitments, do engineering simulations, and prepare your parts for manufacturing — the same can’t be said for the original non-native CAD file.

However, there’s a big difference between CAD translation companies when it comes to quality. Some companies will simply run your files through a converter software and send them back without quality checking anything. This is a great way to have issues with your new files.

At CAD/CAM Services, we go the extra mile to ensure every file is CAD Perfect®. We do peer reviews, quality checks, and we redo anything if we’re not completely certain it’s perfect. This is just another way that we ensure our clients are satisfied with the work we deliver.

Benefits of CAD Translation Services from CAD/CAM Services

When you choose CAD/CAM Services, you’ll notice a lot of differences. We offer benefits that you won’t find elsewhere, and our CAD translation services can work wonders for you:

Our CAD Translation Services Include:

2D to 3D CAD Conversions
Raster to Vector (R2V) Conversions
2D and 3D Native CAD Conversions
Full CAD Digitization
And Much More (Including Custom Services)

More About CAD Translation Services

We can translate files within any major CAD program on the market:

Autodesk AutoCAD and Inventor
SolidWorks
Bentley MicroStation
ArcInfo ESRI
Siemens NX
PTC Creo
CATIA
And Many Others

Get a Quote Today

Regardless of what files and how many files you’d like to translate, allow our professionals at CAD/CAM Services to help. With over 100 engineers and drafters working around the clock to provide 24/7 coverage, we can deliver high-quality results faster. Get a free quote today and get your own CAD Perfect CAD Conversions®.

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Professional Outsourced CAD Translation Services

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Benefits of CAD Translation Services from CAD/CAM Services

When you choose CAD/CAM Services, you’ll notice a lot of differences. We offer benefits that you won’t find elsewhere, and our CAD translation services can work wonders for you:

Faster turnarounds.

Above everything else, our team can deliver fast turnarounds without sacrificing quality. In many cases, you can get finished files in as little as 48 hours.

Free up your engineers.

Your engineers have better things to do than converting files from one CAD program into another. Free up your engineers and allow CAD/CAM Services to handle this bothersome task.

Fewer headaches and mistakes.

With our commitment to quality, you’ll get CAD-translated files that come with fewer headaches and mistakes. We want to remove all the stress out of this process for you.

Affordable pricing, no matter what.

With us, you’re only paying for the engineering time that goes into your specific project. With that said, we’ll never overcharge you for our CAD translation services (or any service, for that matter).

CAD Perfect® results.

We are the only company in America that offers CAD Perfect® results. You’ll notice that each CAD translation file has tons of information that you need.

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FAQ's

CAD Conversion FAQs

What do you need to provide me with an accurate quote?

We need to know source CAD and target CAD software. Since large quantity orders can be discounted by us you can provide us with the number of parts you need to be converted.

If you tell us the desired purpose of the conversion we can offer you some conversion options. We can also convert your files into vendor-neutral file types (.STEP, .STL, etc,).

Please email us even cell phone photos, and the rough size of what you wish scanned and converted sales@cadcam.org.

What do I get?

You get native Cad Perfect™ files with the full-featured model tree (where applicable, since some file types have no trees), and features can be fully parametric. It all depends on your goals. We prefer to not translate any files. Our goal is to deliver to you a file that you do not have to touch. Our work is exactly as if you had reproduced that work in-house.

Which CAD file formats do you work with?

All the CAD file formats are listed on this page but bear in mind that we also work with exotic and legacy CAD systems. After 31 years of providing CAD Services, we have run into almost any CAD file format.

Which CAD systems do you work with?

We support all the modern CAD systems including SolidWorks, Catia, Siemens NX, PTC Creo, Inventor, Revit, AutoCAD, and many others.

I have some weird CAD files from the previous century, can you help me?

Yes, absolutely. We can perform legacy CAD conversions. Just send us some example files, and what CAD system we need to wind up in, and let us design the best solution for you.We have worked with old Computer Vision tapes, Anvil, and many other 1980’s systems.

Digitizing FAQs

What is the average raster to vector (R2V) 2-D conversion price?

The typical AEC D & E size sheet is $225. There are possible discounts depending on the job size. The more you convert the less you pay. The bulk of the files we produce are for AutoCAD.

Creating models and drawings over scanned analog documents seem so easy – why such a low price?

In order to make an accurate representation, you have to calibrate the original drawing, which may have deformed during its storage period. Non-dimensioned mediums need to be thoroughly calibrated before digitizing.

Parts of scanned data may be lost due to time and other factors. Because it is important to recreate the design intent, we need to recreate lost data.

You ONLY receive Cad Perfect™ files – as if you had drawn these by hand.

Do you support BIM modeling?

Using Revit, yes we do. Think of BIM as an intelligent 3D model of your building. We know exactly where all of the HVAC is, IT cabling, electrical, the cost of doors and windows, when mechanical systems need to be serviced, all the way to a room number with a phone number and IP in that room. In addition to our Ray Tracing technology to support some very life-like photo renderings.

What is DHS – Critical Infrastructure Products

The Department of Homeland Security protocol PPD-21 requirement has deemed that sixteen (16) industries and services are critical to our US Nations security.

These industries require additional security protocols when creating CAD files. CAD / CAM Services follows all of these requirements. Think of industries and info structures such as power, water, along with fourteen (14) other industries. For a full list please see Critical Infrastructure Products.

What is a “Calibrated” Mylar image?

Mylar films can be stored in climate-controlled facilities. However, films get skewed and change sizes over time – ironically not linear. So what changes on one end, does not apply to what is in the middle, or the other end. We have seen ‘J’ size Aerospace Mylars (about 48×180”), vary by a full inch.

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CAD/CAM Services utilizes a proprietary process to make Mylar raster images dead on a 5” or 10” grid. Our process was developed in conjunction with, and approved by Boeing engineers.

General CAD Questions

How do I send a sample, in order to get a quote?

Fill out our quote form, attach your files, or simply send us an email. Tell everything about your project, like the model purpose.

For smaller files < 15 MB you can simply email them to us. For something larger, just drop them in any number of drop boxes like Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive and others. Or if you would like, just contact us for a private, hardened link.

It is fine to use most any time of compression such as *.zip, *.rar, *.tar, *.7z, *.arc, *.LBR, and even *.iso images.

A direct email is sales@cadcam.org

We also use a hardened OwnCloud web file sharing platform for unlimited file transfers. We provide unique and very private Web Storage Portals, this also supports file syncing for extreme convenience for you. Because so much of our work is DOD or weapons design work, Security – and confidentiality is very important to us.

Will CAD / CAM Services Sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)?

Yes. NDAs are a common part of our business. All data is yours – not ours, and treated as proprietary data and not for public consumption or use. Probably 70% of our work is under NDA agreements. We can generally get these signed within the day.

What is the estimated delivery time?

It depends on the scope of work:

2D drawings – small quantity, normally 48 hours. We have several customers where they contract to us, keeping 4-8 drafters busy full time.
3D models – complexity dependent, but smaller jobs in 2-3 days. Some models we have spent months on. Again, we have several customers where they contract to us, keeping 6-10 3D CAD designers busy full time.

Simple jobs have a lead time of 48 hours. Larger projects are delivered and invoiced weekly.

Did you really own the trademark Cad Perfect™, Cad Perfect CAD Conversions™ and Cad / Cam Services™?

Yes, we did back in 2008. We started using Cad Perfect™ back in the early 1990s because all of our customers wanted only real Cad Perfect™ work. Back then the buzz words were terms like machine ready, or DXF Traceover and others.

The problem is, nobody wanted that. They all wanted drawings and models that they did not have to touch. Everybody wanted drawings just as if they hand redrew the work themselves.

Thus, Cad / Cam Services™ was the first company to start offering ONLY Cad Perfect™ work.

Do you support the PPD-21 Directive?

Yes we do, and have now for several years. In addition, we also support the industry specific plans as well.

3D Modeling FAQs

How do you bill 3D CAD services tasks?

Per hour. Hourly rate depends on what CAD software used and typically starts at $75 per hour. In general, to make this process safer for you, we often provide you a fixed not to exceed the cost as well. That way, you are protected from an open-ended PO. However, the reality is our fees are based on time. In addition, services in say Catia or NX are more expensive than say Solidworks. Or, simulation services are commonly done by real engineers.

What do you need to give me accurate pricing?

First of all, we need to know the target CAD system and whether you have an existing template, or set of CAD standards for this project.

The main question is the overall complexity. As each part and assembly consists of different features and elements the best way is to provide us with an example. Again, a picture is worth a thousand words.

If you already have a model and need us to improve it or update it in any way we need to know which dimensions and features are critical and which can be modified to achieve your desired result. Even a before and after example works very well. We started with x, and got to this CAD file.

We can also offer you better options if you provide us with the purpose of your project (demonstration, 3D printing, FEA Simulation, CNC manufacturing, etc.). This helps us better refine the task.

How do you check your models?

We create 2D drawings from our 3D models for QC purposes. We follow aerospace standards and deliver ±.005” accuracy models for all projects. All of our QC is done by a different person than the designer. On Catia work, we often use Q-Checker for Airbus.

What is the minimum price for your 3D modeling services?

We have a minimum order fee $150.