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Automotive

Professional Outsourced Automotive Services

When it comes to an automotive design, there are so many unique talents and specialties that you need. Sheet metal design, electrical experience, designing wire harnesses, stress analysis and engineering simulation skills, mold design, and so much more. It’s no wonder that it takes so long and so many engineers to design a single automobile.

To take a lot of the stress out of your next automotive design, you can trust CAD/CAM Services. Our team of over 100 engineers and drafters have experience in all of the required areas, and we have specialists who focus on just one part of the project. The result? A team that can do more.

We’ve helped design countless vehicles over our 35+ years in business, and we know that we can help you, too.

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Automotive

What Are Automotive Services?

Our automotive services will take most aspects of a vehicle’s design off your plate. Our outsourced automotive engineering services can cover every step of the design process from the initial concept to the production-ready design. Our team at CAD/CAM Services can handle the sheet metal design, thermal management, design of the powertrain and other subsystems, and create complete manufacturing-ready GD&T designs.

We are a full-service engineering firm. We can handle anything from a single motor mount to the entire vehicle design.

With our help, you don’t have to stress your in-house engineers. People choose CAD/CAM Services for a number of reasons — we can work alongside your engineers to speed up project completion, we can work alone to tackle other projects, or we can work as an on-demand engineering team for any of your automotive needs.

Need some reverse engineering before you can start with your new design? Not a problem. Our team has high-tech 3D scanners that will expedite the project and provide better accuracy than a pair of calipers or tape measure ever could.

Why Automotive Services Matters

Outsourcing your automotive design can be stressful. Picking the wrong team will waste your time and money, and can result in you missing deadlines. To avoid these issues, you should stick with CAD/CAM Services. We have a proven track record of helping companies create vehicles for the past 35+ years, and we can help you as well.

Our services are designed to save you time and money. We will deliver high-quality automotive part designs faster than other companies can, and at more affordable rates.

Outsourcing your automotive engineering is a great way to free up your in-house engineers and tackle bigger projects. With our help, you can complete projects quicker and design vehicles that have fewer problems during production.

Our outsourced automotive services at CAD/CAM Services come with a long list of benefits. Many Fortune 500 companies have trusted us to design part or all of their previous vehicles. Some benefits that you might notice are:

Faster turnaround times.

We know that automotive projects often have very tight and unmovable timelines. This isn’t a problem for our talented team of over 100 engineers and drafters. We can commit to tight timelines without sacrificing the quality of our design.

Tackle larger projects with our help.

Many companies leverage our team as a way to boost their team’s engineering power. With our help, you can tackle larger and more complicated projects without the woes of hiring and onboarding new engineers.

Customizable services.

Our services revolve around your needs. We can tackle a dozen different aspects of your vehicle’s design, saving you even more time and money.

A proven track record of success.

We have helped countless companies over our 35+ years in business. We have testimonials, case studies, and pictures from our previous successes to put you at ease before reaching out for a quote.

Better quality in every part, assembly, and drawing.

Quality is the number one priority at CAD/CAM Services. We can guarantee CAD Perfect® drawings, models, and assemblies.

What Goes into Automotive Services from CAD/CAM Services?

Our outsourced automotive services at CAD/CAM Services depend on what you’re looking for. Some companies just need us to revise and update different parts, others only need our help for drivetrain design, and some companies trust us for the entire vehicle’s design. Wherever you fall on that spectrum of requested work is okay with us.

Our services start with a simple consultation. During this conversation, simply explain what you’re looking for and give us some details about your project. We can explain exactly how we can help, detail our past successes, and suggest some services that might be helpful.

We will also discuss exact pricing so there are no surprises when you get an invoice. We’re always very transparent about pricing, and we can structure it as either a per-part, per-project, or per-hour flat rate to keep things simple.

From there, we can get to work. Our engineers will have a dedicated project manager who will be your specific point of contact, so you don’t have to worry about reaching out to a dozen different people. Every drawing and model we create will go through a peer-review process before it gets sent to you. This is just another way that we ensure high-quality models get sent to you.

Every model, drawing, and picture will get sent to you via a DoD-trusted filesharing website that keeps your data encrypted and safe. You have full access to open things, adjust them as needed, and make requests for us to make any changes to the drawings or models. Our job isn’t done until you’re completely satisfied with the work you receive.

Our Automotive Services Include:

  • Engineering Simulation
  • 3D CAD Modeling
  • Creating 2D Manufacturing Drawings
  • Sheet Metal Design
  • Prototyping and Production Designs
  • Electromechanical Systems
  • Wire Harness Design
  • And Much More (Including Custom Services)

More About Automotive Services

With the right outsourced automotive engineering company, you can achieve great things. Our automotive services span every part of a vehicle from the bumper to the trunk, and everything in between. Allow us to streamline and expedite your next automotive design.

It doesn’t matter if the vehicle is a new design or an improvement over an existing vehicle — our experts will deliver a high-quality vehicle assembly that meets all of your needs.

Get a Quote Today

Get a free quote today to get started with CAD/CAM Services. We’ve worked on countless vehicles over our 35+ years in business, and we’ve been trusted by some of the largest automotive companies in the country. We know what it takes to deliver a high-quality vehicle design, and we’re not afraid of a challenge. Allow us to exceed your expectations, and get your own CAD Perfect® design from CAD/CAM Services, today.

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FAQ's

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.

Reverse Engineering FAQs
What is the average price for Reverse Engineering?

It all depends on the part’s complexity, size and structure.

What do you guys need to provide me with accurate pricing?

We need to know whether you need your parts to be scanned by us. Or many times we can work with 3D scans provided by third-party companies.  The quality of the scan is everything in our business. Anyway, we strongly advise you to use us for both the scanning and the CAD conversion aspects.  That way, we can control the quality. Sometimes we receive poor quality scans which make it impossible to create truly Cad Perfect™ models for you.  By all means, send us a couple of even cell phone photos, and the rough size of the object.  Most of the time, this will provide us enough information to provide a real bid.

The price depends on the part complexity, size, as well as the target file parametres. We need to know whether you need full parametric models, and your desired accuracy. If you tell us the purpose of reverse-engineered models, we can often provide you with possible solutions. The target CAD software may change the price as well. This includes sophisticated Workstation add-on products such as Composites, Catia electrical wiring, mold design, and others.

What is the quality of reverse-engineered parts?

We can provide ±.005” aerospace quality for every model. CT scanned parts can have even higher precision up to ±.001”.

3D Scanning FAQs
How much does scanning services cost?

It depends on the complexity of the scanned model and material properties. As, for example, it may be much more complicated to properly scan an object with a reflective surface, than a non-reflective surface. It also depends on three main factors:

  1. the physical size of your part
  2. the required scanning resolution
  3. if industrial CT or metallurgy scanning is needed

Simple quick cell phone photos are worth a thousand words to us. To know for sure you can request a quote. It is of course, free – and treated as if an NDA is already in place.

Some averages:

  • The typical 3D scan is somewhere around $200-400 per part.
  • Tomographic (CT) scanning is $600-900 per part.

Because so much of our business is Aerospace related, our scanning – and the completed CAD file HAS to be within ±.005” anywhere on that part, we never use consumer-grade scanners. The scanners we use start at $25,000 and go up to $700,000 (CT) per scanner.

At any given time, we have in excess of $ 5 million just in scanning hardware we use. In addition, a hidden factor of scanning on any system is the assembly and clean up of any scan. The rule of thumb is a 2-1 ratio. So even with our experienced scanning staff, if we spend one-hour scanning; we will then spend an additional two hours of clean up and assembly before our CAD group gets the Point Cloud file to simulate or reverse engineer.

What is the Point Cloud/Mesh/3D Scan?

A point cloud is thousands if not millions of data points located in space by X, Y, Z coordinates. Images of this nature are often captured with Faro Focus or Artec scanners that specialize in large-area scanning.  Most likely you obtain building and territory plans in this file format.

A polygon mesh is a set of triangles located in the same manner. These scans are obtained with Artec, Creaform, Enscan and other handheld scanners. Parts and reverse engineering device scans are usually polygon meshes.

What types of scanners do you use?
  • Faro Arm – Very good for most parts, fast and accurate
  • Turntable scanners – high accuracy, high detail, fast scanning. Great for smaller parts.
  • Portable handheld – may be favorable for some larger parts – if not a tripod-mounted scanner.
  • Long Range – these mount on a tripod, and are intended to scan buildings, plants, and other larger sized projects.
  • Industrial CT scanners – incredibly expensive, but they offer two main benefits – the ability to inside an object (think of a void in a solid object), and their accuracy.  At this level, we are often in the ±.001” – ±.002” range, and often used in metrology scanning.

Which scanner models do you use?
How accurate is 3D scanning?

The scanners we use are as accurate as the industry offers – from anybody at any cost. We use Faro and Artec 3D scanners, in addition to Faro CMM type arms, including the Surveyor tables. Depending on what scanner we use:

  • CT scanners – 4 to 400µm/voxel resolution
  • Artec Portable scanners high accuracy (0.03 – 0.05mm)
  • Artec Portable scanners high resolution (up to 0.15mm)
  • Our CyberGage 360 – generates highly precise full 360 degrees automated scan with accuracy NIST traceable to approximately 7 microns
  • The CyberGage 360 has a system repeatability of ±.005mm.
Finite Element Analysis FAQs
What is the purpose of FEA?

A Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a form of non-destructive testing (NDT) that shows how your part reacts to real-world loading events. A common example is running an FEA on a support bracket. The FEA will give results showing how much the bracket deflects, how much reactive force is seen, and the kind of internal stresses the bracket experiences.

FEA results will change dramatically based on the position and angle of the load, how much force is applied, the material properties of the part, and the design of the part itself.

An FEA is used to optimize a part before manufacturing begins. It allows you to find weak points within your part or assembly, and it will predict a failure before you physically make anything. This gives you an opportunity to fine-tune each part to optimize its size, strength, and cost before you start producing it.

What do you need to make an accurate simulation?

The more information we have, the more accurate the simulation results will be. It also depends on what type of simulation you want to run. For a simple FEA, we can run an accurate simulation with just a 3D CAD model and loading/force/pressure information that you want to simulate.

Don’t have a 3D model? Not a problem, our team can make one for you from scratch, and then run an FEA on it.

For a more detailed answer, a well-run FEA will need:

Material properties: What material is the part made out of? We can run different FEAs with different materials to help you pick the right one.

Loading conditions: The size, location, and type of load you want to simulate.

Bonding condition: How is the part held in place? Is it bolted, welded, or just sitting on a tabletop?

A 3D model

For other simulations: Please provide us with all thermal, dynamic, aero, and/or fluid flow information. Feel free to call us and we’ll walk you through what we need.

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 [email protected]

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.