CAD Design

Equipped with cutting-edge computer-aided design (CAD) software, DC Manufacturing houses an expert in-house team that collaborates closely with customers to ensure exceptional product excellence and precision right from the initial stages.

From project inception, our proficient in-house design team collaborates closely with customers to ensure seamless assembly processes and successful prototypes. To uphold specifications and quality, we have dedicated New Product Introduction (NPI) staff overseeing the manufacturing of metal parts, meeting our customers’ expectations.

Our experienced team continuously optimizes new developments, leveraging cutting-edge machine and tooling technology. This approach guarantees maximum efficiency while upholding the highest standards of quality for our valued customers.

We utilize the most advanced CAD and CAM design technology for sheet metal applications.

Our sheet metal fabrication products are developed using state-of-the-art 3D CAD software. During the development stage, computer models of the metal products are created, allowing customers to review and provide their approval before the manufacturing process begins.

If customers already have established designs, we have the capability to work with 3D models in various formats. By leveraging this information, we can significantly reduce machine programming time when producing the sheet metal components.

Additionally, our in-house team can design and develop jigs and fixtures directly from the 3D models, ensuring that the parts are accurate and correct from the very beginning, eliminating any rework or errors. This streamlined process enables us to deliver high-quality products consistently.

FAQ

The level of involvement from our design team varies depending on the project and the nature of the product. When working on new designs or existing parts, our customers typically provide us with drawings or design specifications. Based on the level of detail and accuracy in these specifications, our design team determines the extent of their input.

In many cases, our designers will create or modify the product drawings based on the customer’s specifications. This enables our clients to visualize the final product and make any necessary design changes before the manufacturing process begins. During this stage, DC’s design team can also provide recommendations for design modifications that can enhance manufacturing efficiency and result in cost savings for the customer.

Prior to any fabrication processes such as cutting, folding, or punching, our design team initiates the production by creating a CAD (computer-aided design) component in a virtual 3D environment. This is accomplished using various formats, including:

  • DXF
  • STEP
  • SAT

This enables seamless communication and collaboration between our team and the customer, facilitating design modifications prior to final approval.

To achieve this, our designers utilize the latest version of SolidWorks software, allowing them to create, manipulate, and export the 3D model of the product. This advanced software streamlines the design process, enabling swift modifications and presenting updated designs to the customer. The significant time and cost benefits for our customers at this stage cannot be overstated, particularly considering that we manufacture parts in large batches, often numbering in the thousands or tens of thousands.

Having the assurance of a flawless design before production begins is invaluable, ensuring optimal outcomes for our customers.

When receiving files from a customer our designers can work with various files but the most common are:

  • STEP
  • DXF
  • DWG
  • IGIS
  • Parasolid
  • Inventor
  • solid edge

When outputting CAD models, designers will generally use one of the following:

  • Solidworks
  • IGIS
  • STEP

Frequently, our design department collaborates closely with our NPI (new product introduction) team and quality department to re-engineer both new and existing designs.

This collaborative effort aims to optimize manufacturing efficiency and identify potential cost savings. We achieve this by various means, such as reducing material content, implementing process changes, or bringing in-house components that were previously outsourced.

Through this iterative process of re-engineering, we strive to enhance the overall value and performance of the products we manufacture.

Our designers possess in-depth expertise in working with diverse materials and are well-versed in understanding the unique advantages, disadvantages, and general properties of each type. This comprehensive knowledge enables them to make informed recommendations, such as suggesting a material change to a lighter option or selecting a different finish for parts intended for outdoor use that require a more durable paint coating. By considering the specific requirements and desired outcomes of a project, our designers strive to optimize material selection and finishes to enhance the performance and aesthetics of the final product.

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We work with businesses in a wide variety of sectors with capabilities to offer short and long runs of metal products.

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