CAD Design & CAM Manufacturing Services in Taylor, Michigan
Design errors can cost your facility both time and money in production. Parts that fail to fit, programs that crash machines, and/or drawings missing critical dimensions create delays. Finding shops that understand both design and manufacturing is a must for reliability and accuracy. You simply cannot afford to allow poor design work to interfere with your production or the relationship you have with your clients.
Motor City Metal Fab provides CAD design & CAM manufacturing services from our shop in Taylor, Michigan. We model parts for automotive companies, equipment builders, and manufacturers who need designs that actually work in production. Our team knows how parts get made, not just how they look on screen.
- Models that work - designs checked for manufacturing problems
- Programs that run - toolpaths tested before hitting the machine
- Drawings that make sense - dimensions and tolerances that matter
- Files you can use - formats that work with your systems
Why CAD & CAM Services Matter
Bad designs can cause catastrophic production problems. Missing fillets create stress points that lead to failures while impossible tolerances waste machining time. Poorly programmed toolpaths break cutters and scrap parts. Your customers deserve better.
Real benefits show up on the shop floor:
- Fewer revisions - catch design problems before cutting metal
- Better toolpaths - optimized programs save machine time
- Less scrap - simulation catches collisions and errors
- Faster production - parts run right without constant adjustment
CAD design creates accurate models that are critical for reliable manufacturing. Then, CAD programming converts those digital models into precise and accurate machine code. Combining these two crucial components makes sure your parts meet specifications on the very first production run.
Our CAD Design & CAM Programming Process
We begin by carefully reviewing what you need built. Our designers create intricate and precise 3D models with proper dimensions and tolerances. Then, our CAM programmers develop toolpaths based on material, geometry, and machine capabilities.
- Thorough requirements review - fully understand what the part needs to do
- Innovative 3D modeling - meticulously build accurate digital geometry
- Full manufacturing analysis - check if the design can actually be made
- Precise CAM programming - effectively create toolpaths that work on real machines
What We Actually Design and Program
Our facility operates modern CAD stations that run SolidWorks for 3D modeling and technical drawings. CAM software handles our mill programming, lathe work, and cutting path generation. We model everything from simple brackets to complex assemblies.
Our file format support covers STEP, IGES, Parasolid, and native CAD formats. Most reverse engineering work uses precision measurement rather than scanning.
- 3D part modeling - single components with full dimensions
- Assembly design - multiple parts that fit together correctly
- Technical drawings - production prints with GD&T callouts
- CNC programming - milling, turning, laser, waterjet, tube bending
Need parts cut from your designs? Our powder coating services provide durable finishes for fabricated components.
What Sets Our CAD & CAM Work Apart
Software means nothing without manufacturing knowledge. Our designers understand how tools cut metal. They know which features cause machining problems and how to fix them before programming starts.
CAM programmers select proper tooling, calculate feeds and speeds, and verify clearances. Programs get properly simulated before running on machines. This prevents crashes and produces good parts.
- Manufacturing experience - years of making parts, not just drawing them
- Design optimization - make parts easier and cheaper to produce
- Program verification - simulate toolpaths to catch problems
- Format flexibility - work with whatever files you have
Industries We Serve
Motor City Metal Fab has built a strong reputation and proven track record serving the automotive prototype, automotive aftermarket, transportation, food services, gas & oil, alternative energy (including EV’s and hydrogen fuel) automotive testing, autonomous vehicle development, and car washing industries.
Ready for Better Designs?
CAD design & CAM manufacturing services give you models that work, programs that run, and parts that fit. Our Taylor, Michigan shop understands both the digital side and the production reality.
Need modeling, programming, or reverse engineering? We handle design work correctly.
- Straight talk - honest assessment of what your design needs
- Fair pricing - based on actual design and programming time
- Working files - models and programs that produce good parts
Frequently Asked Questions About CAD Design & CAM Manufacturing
Our design team works with industry-standard CAD platforms including SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Fusion 360, and CATIA. This software versatility allows us to accept and work with files from virtually any CAD system. We maintain multiple software versions to support backward compatibility with older files when needed. Our expertise across these platforms means we can select the most appropriate tools for your specific project requirements.
Yes, we can work with most existing design files, including those created in different CAD systems. We accept common file formats such as STEP, IGES, Parasolid, DWG, DXF, and native files from major CAD programs. For designs that require modification, we can either work directly with your original files or convert them to our systems. If you only have physical parts without digital files, our reverse engineering services can create accurate digital models from your components.
Our CAM programming capabilities cover a wide range of manufacturing processes:
- CNC milling programs for 3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis machining centers
- CNC turning and mill-turn programming for complex parts
- Laser and waterjet cutting path optimization
- CNC tube bending programming
- Sheet metal forming programs
- Custom post-processors for specific machine controllers Our programmers use advanced CAM systems including Mastercam, HSMWorks, and Edgecam to create optimized toolpaths tailored to your specific components.
We employ several verification methods before sending programs to the shop floor:
- Virtual machine simulation showing actual toolpaths and material removal
- Collision detection to identify potential tool/fixture/machine interferences
- Dimensional verification comparing the simulated result to the original model
- First article inspection of initial production parts This multi-step verification process minimizes the risk of errors, material waste, and machine damage during production.
Turnaround times vary based on project complexity, from 1-2 days for simple components to 1-2 weeks for complex assemblies or manufacturing programs. Factors affecting timeline include model complexity, number of components, manufacturing method, and current workload. We offer expedited services for urgent needs when possible. During your initial consultation, we provide specific timeline estimates based on your project scope and requirements.
We offer complete design services ranging from concept development to manufacturing-ready models. Our engineering team can help optimize your designs for manufacturability, suggest material alternatives, or completely develop new designs from your specifications. For clients with established designs, we can program directly from your files without modification. Our flexible approach allows us to tailor our services to your specific needs, from full design development to simple file conversion.
Yes, our CAD/CAM services form an integral part of the prototype development process. We can create digital models of concept designs, perform virtual testing through simulation, develop production-ready CAM programs, and manufacture prototype parts in our facility. This integrated approach streamlines the development cycle by keeping design and manufacturing under one roof. We can produce single prototypes or small batches for testing and validation before committing to full production.
We implement strict data security protocols to protect your intellectual property:
- Secure file servers with restricted access for design files
- Non-disclosure agreements for all design and manufacturing projects
- Limited distribution of design files on a need-to-know basis
- Regular data backup and archiving procedures
- Physical security measures in our facility All customer designs remain strictly confidential, and we never share proprietary information with third parties without explicit permission.