CNC-Optimized 3D CAD Files

Create CNC-Optimized 3D CAD Files with CAD/CAM Services

Having the perfect 3D CAD models for your next batch of CNC fabrication is essential for any modern-day company. Most companies rely heavily on 3D CAD models for manufacturing, fabrication, assembly, or installation of their parts. The CAD file contains a lot of information, and a well-made file will avoid phone calls from the machine shop when they start making your parts.

At CAD/CAM Services, our claim to fame is high-quality 3D CAD files that are perfect for CNC machining operations. If you want to use a machine shop to create your parts, you need to get your own set of professional-grade CAD models from us.

Our CNC-optimized 3D CAD file service is a bit general, and it includes a variety of different services, such as:

3D scanning services
2D and 3D CAD generation
Conversions or migrations from one medium into 3D CAD
Reverse engineering
Digitization, unique engineering, or iterative design

In general, our CNC-optimized 3D CAD service provides you with a CAD model that you can take directly to a machine shop to start fabrication. The CAD files we make can be used internally, sent to vendors, shared with machine shops, or distributed as you’d like.

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What Are CNC-Optimized 3D CAD Files?

CNC-optimized 3D CAD files rely heavily on the practice of “Design For Manufacturing” (DFM). These files are created by engineers with strong backgrounds in machining and CNC machinery limitations, resulting in parts that can be machined easier, cost less to make, and take less time to machine.

At CAD/CAM Services, our DFM-trained engineers take extra time to ensure each part uses the best practices that we’ve learned over our decades in business. We’ll discuss some specific examples in a moment, but the heart of DFM-based engineering is to ensure your CAD files are as easy to make as possible.

Easier manufacturing gives you more time and money back throughout the course of each project.

Our CNC-optimized 3D CAD files can be sent directly to a machine shop, or you can have our team create 2D manufacturing drawings from the same file to send out to machine shops. Either way, you’re left with a design and drawings that are much easier to fabricate. By using CAD/CAM Services instead of your internal engineering team, you’ll be saving even more time and money with each CAD Perfect model.

Simple Example of CNC-Optimizing a Part

As a very simple example, consider machining a square out of a piece of material. If you were to just design a square with 90-degree corners, the machinist has no simple way to make the feature. They will either refuse to quote the part, charge an astronomical amount, or call you with questions.

Using DFM principles, our designers might round the internal corners of the square pocket, add lead-ins, or adjust the design altogether. This very simple change can actually save you hundreds of dollars.

There are countless small examples like this that can apply to your parts, but there are also much bigger examples, like changing the part’s material or overall dimensions and bolt patterns. With these DFM best practices and CNC-optimized 3D CAD files, you will spend less time and money manufacturing each part.

Why CNC-Optimized 3D CAD Files Matter

The simple fact is that CNC-optimized 3D CAD files are easier to make. They take less time which translates to quicker turnarounds and lower quoted prices for every unit that you fabricate. Our high-quality 3D CAD models are not just great for CNC machining, they’re also perfect for sales material, installation guides, and fine-tuning your engineering efforts.

Every CNC-optimized 3D CAD file that we create is designed specifically to make manufacturing as easy as possible.

With these optimized CAD models, you will spend less time and money on manufacturing. We can use the generated 3D CAD files to make 2D manufacturing drawings in a fraction of the time, for any machine shop that prefers 2D drawings.

Benefits of CNC-Optimized 3D CAD Files from CAD/CAM Services

Receiving CNC-optimized 3D CAD files from our team at CAD/CAM Services comes with a long list of benefits:

Lower your manufacturing costs.

Every time a machine shop makes your CNC-optimized part, you’ll save money. These savings add up quickly, and can result in a lot of extra money in your pocket at the end of the day.

Faster fabrication turnarounds.

In addition to lower costs, our 3D CAD models should also expedite every fabrication timeline. Due to our DFM best practices, parts will fit within the function of most CNC machinery, expediting each project.

No headaches during manufacturing.

The worst phone call to get during manufacturing is a machinist asking questions about your design. These phone calls halt progress and lead to a lot of wasted time. With our CNC-optimized files, you don’t have to worry about these calls anymore.

More confidence in every component and assembly.

With our professional outsourced 3D CAD files, you can unlock more confidence with all of your parts. You’ll have peace of mind knowing that your parts will get manufactured correctly and assembled without any issues.

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What Goes Into CNC-Optimized 3D CAD Files from CAD/CAM Services?

Our CNC-optimized designs are incredibly streamlined, making your life easy. First, we’ll have a quick consultation to evaluate what you need, what you have, and how we can help. From there, we’ll start putting together models and make good progress.

We can handle any 2D scanning, 3D scanning, reverse engineering, measuring, and design work that goes into your parts. In addition, we’ll evaluate the machinability of each part, go through tolerance analyses as needed, and perform simulations to ensure each design is optimized.

All of our CAD files will be created in your CAD program of choice. We currently support work in:

Siemens NX
CATIA
Autodesk AutoCAD or Inventor
SolidWorks
CREO (formerly called Pro/Engineer)

By using your native program to create the 3D CAD model, all of our material properties, color selections, and design trees will open when you open the part. This means that you’ll have a lot more functionality with each part.

If you’re planning on 3D printing the parts, you can use our professional 3D printing services to save even more time and money.

When the 3D CAD file is done, our team will go through further quality checks and peer reviews to eliminate any errors. After we’re confident that the file is CAD Perfect, we’ll send you all of your 3D CAD files in a secure and encrypted digital location that the DoD uses.

It’s worth mentioning that these files are your property, and CAD/CAM Services doesn’t own any of the IP or engineering discoveries that go into them. In other words, you keep all of your work and we don’t claim to own any of it, making things really simple.

After opening the files, let us know if anything is missing or not up to your standards. Most of the time, we can correct the drawing and resend it within 24 hours, free of charge.

What Goes Into CNC-Optimized 3D CAD Files from CAD/CAM Services?

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Our team at CAD/CAM Services has over 100 engineers and draftsmen who are here to help you. We can create one or one thousand CNC-optimized 3D CAD files for you. We know the power that comes with a well-made 3D CAD model, and we understand what goes into creating parts that can be easily manufactured by any machine shop.

With our help, you can unlock huge cost and time savings on each fabrication project in the future. Reach out today to get a free quote and learn how CAD/CAM Services can help you.

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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.

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.