By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.

Engineering

Vessel Design

High-Quality Vessel Design Services from CAD/CAM Services

Outsourcing your vessel design through a professional company like CAD/CAM Services is a great way to get the best results without wasting time or money. Our team has created custom vessel plans for individuals, large companies, manufacturers, and even the Navy. With just a large range of experience, we have the confidence and ability to help with your next vessel design project.

Our high-quality vessel design services are designed to help anybody start manufacturing their dream vessel. We can provide full 3D CAD assemblies alongside detailed 2D manufacturing and assembly drawings. From there, you can start fabricating your vessel and get it on the water in no time.

GET A QUOTE

What Is Vessel Design? 

Professional outsourced vessel designers will create your custom boat or yacht will full manufacturing plans. If you choose CAD/CAM Services, you’ll get a cutsheet for each part of the sheet metal assembly, allowing any machine shop to create and assemble your custom vessel.

Depending on the specifics of your project, we can create drawings that are ready to be CNC machined, or cut on a waterjet or plasma cutter. For bent and rolled sheet metal, we will provide flat patterns alongside instructions to make the boat of your dreams. 

Our designs are built with tolerance stack-ups considered, and a vast understanding of the machining capabilities of most CNC machinery. The result? A design that can be made with no issues.

Why Vessel Designs Matter

Outsourcing your vessel design is the best way to take your custom boat into the open waters. Creating a truly unique boating experience is only possible with experienced vessel designers. Our team at CAD/CAM Services has over 100 engineers and draftsmen, and we’ve been operating for decades. During that time, we’ve created our fair share of custom yachts and boats for individuals and massive companies alike.

As a result, we have the ability to make your custom boat come to life. We don’t do in-house machining, but we create a full 3D CAD assembly, and individual manufacturing sheets for every part. Plus, our assembly instructions will tell the final assembler exactly how to put the parts together in order to create the high-quality vessel of your dreams.

Trying to design a boat is significantly harder than it sounds — it’s not as easy as putting a few pieces of metal together and hoping for the best. Watercraft needs to be airtight, able to withstand forces on the water, and light enough to drive. At the same time, we want your craft to be stylish and fun to be in.

Combining all of these factors requires a lot of engineering prowess and previous experience, which is exactly why our team at CAD/CAM Services is a great choice for your vessel design.

What Goes Into Vessel Designs from CAD/CAM Services?

A vessel design always starts with a consultation. During this time, we’ll learn the current status of your design and look at any current drawings or ideas you have for your custom vessel. We’ll also discuss what file type you want the final design to be sent in. With access to all of the major 3D CAD programs, we can create native designs in the software of your choice.

Once we discuss all the specifics, our team will get to work. Our staff of over 100 engineers and draftsmen will start working around the clock to finish your drawings.

Before we finalize any file, we go through an extensive quality check that includes independent peer reviews. This is just another way to ensure there are fewer issues during the manufacturing of your custom vessel. 

We will share all of the final files with you through an encrypted and secure file-sharing site. If you spot any issues or want fixes, we can make small adjustments for free within 24 hours.

Our final deliverables will be everything you need to start fabricating and assembling your custom vessel.

Get a Quote Today

It’s always free to get a quote from our team at CAD/CAM Services. With our office open 24 hours a day, you’ll quickly get a response whenever you reach out to us, and you can always talk to a real person when you call. With our help, you can get professional-grade vessels designed faster and more affordably. Every vessel we design is intended to last a lifetime on the open water while meeting all of your constraints and requests. 

GET A QUOTE

FAQ’s

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.

What is the PPD-21 Protocall?

The Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21) is a Critical Infrastructure Protection and Resilience United States directive that aims to strengthen and secure the country’s critical infrastructure.The goal of this directive is to reduce vulnerabilities, identify and disrupt threats, minimize consequences and hasten response and recovery efforts related to critical infrastructure.

The directive defines resilience as the ability to prepare for and adapt to ever changing conditions, terrorists, and withstand and recover rapidly from disruptions. Resilience includes the ability to withstand and recover from deliberate attacks, accidents, or naturally occurring threats or incidents.

Who is affected by the PPD-21 directive?

The Department of Homeland Security has identified 16 different infostructures:

  1. Chemical Sector,
  2. Commercial Facilities Sector,
  3. Communications Sector,
  4. Critical Manufacturing Sector,
  5. Dams Sector,
  6. Defense Industrial Base Sector,
  7. Emergency Services Sector,
  8. Energy Sector,
  9. Financial Services Sector,
  10. Food and Agriculture Sector,
  11. Government Facilities Sector,
  12. Healthcare and Public Health Sector,
  13. Information Technology Sector,
  14. Nuclear Reactors Materials and Waste Sector,
  15. Transportation Systems Sector,
  16. Water and Wastewater Systems Sector.

This is both Government and private sectors.

If you are in any of these industries, this directive is important to you for many reasons.  Do you know where your critical sections are? Are they well protected? Are there concerns for Hazmat, security clearance requirements, and other concerns?  Can you quickly rebuild what might be lost?

The important part of this means that critical infrastructure must be secure and able to withstand and rapidly recover from all hazards. Achieving this will require integration with the national preparedness system across prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery.

Further details can be found at:  Government PPD-21

DHS – The National Infrastructure Protection Plan details:  The National Infrastructure Protection Plan

Industry specific plans:  2015 Industry specific PPD-21 plans

CAD / CAM Services provides PPD-21 for the following industries:  DHS – CAD / CAM Services

I need my project done today or tomorrow. Can you process rush jobs?

Depending upon when you catch us, yes, we can handle rush jobs. We often work over the holidays, Thanksgiving and even Christmas holidays. If you have a deadline – call us.

For years we have run three shifts of about 30 drafting folks per shift – allowing us to deliver work 3x faster, and seven days a week. Yes, we work 24/7, so you do not have to. The fun never stops here.

For 3D scanning, this is a different question. Because of the common setup work required, at best expect a 48-72 hour turn to be scanned. CAD or simulation services are in addition to that.

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.

Finite Element Analysis FAQs

Does an FEA actually help?

In our experience, FEAs are invaluable. Spending a few hours running a simulated FEA in the background can save you weeks of your time, thousands of dollars, and countless headaches. One time, we ran an FEA for a client and found that their base platform needed to be an extra 1/4” thick, or else it would have collapsed under the weight of the machinery and people. Without an FEA, the platform was likely to fail in real life, and risk people’s lives — but it was completely avoided with just a simple FEA. In this case, the original designer changed the thickness of their platform in CAD, created manufacturing drawings, and then sent the plans out for fabrication: a change that took a day of effort.

An FEA can:

• Save you time

• Save on manufacturing costs

• Help you to avoid common design issues

• Optimize your part so you don’t overpay for manufacturing

• Keep your people safe

• Maximize power and fuel-efficiency

• Minimize drag

• Avoid thermal or physical failure

• Understand cyclic loading results

• Find the failure point of your designs

• Fine-tune your material selection

• Learn the physical limitations of each part

• Establish confidence in each design

• Be shared with stakeholders and investors to secure funding and buy-in

How do I know if I need an FEA on my part?

Generally, an FEA is a good idea for any new part that you’re going to make. The FEA tells you whether or not your design is optimized, and it points out your part’s weak points (physically, not metaphorically). For structural or load-bearing parts, FEAs are often required by your industry standards. For any one-off parts or custom pieces, an FEA can keep your operation safer.

Consult with our expert engineers to get a better understanding of whether or not your part needs an FEA, and let CAD/CAM Services handle the full project for you.

How long does an FEA take?

On our advanced computers, an FEA can be run in a matter of minutes. For incredibly detailed or complex FEAs, it might take a few hours or even overnight. Not to worry, we have dedicated workstations that just run FEAs 24/7, so you won’t have to wait long for the results.

Do you handle other engineering simulations?

Yes, our team has license access to all of the major simulations on the market. Currently, we offer:

• Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Simulation Services

• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Services

• Discrete Element Method (DEM) Simulations

• Testing Simulated Products

• Fiber-Based Material Simulations

• Geometric Optimization and Design Iteration

• Aero and Hydrodynamics Analysis

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.