Design & Engineering
From Sketch to Manufacturable Part
TAB Industries' in-house design engineering team works from whatever a concept looks like — a finished drawing, a rough sketch, even a napkin drawing. From there, our engineers develop it into a part built to meet the strength, durability, and corrosion resistance the application needs, at the lowest achievable cost, before a single sheet of raw material is purchased.
How TAB Helps Form Your Project
- Consolidating multiple parts into a single, stronger part, reducing or eliminating welds and fasteners
- Re-engineering a finished product to fit UPS or FedEx shipping requirements and reduce shipping cost
- Reviewing uploaded drawings and recommending the manufacturing process that meets tolerance requirements at the fastest speed and lowest cost
Tools & File Compatibility
- Design and visualization performed in AutoCAD and SolidWorks 3D modeling
- Accepted file types: jpg, .jpeg, .png, .pdf, .gif, .dxf, .dwg, .sldprt, .slddrw, .sldasm, .iges, .igs, .step
- Design software integrates directly with TAB's shop-floor machinery, so a drawing looks and measures identically from concept through production
Upload a drawing or sketch, or call to talk through a project. TAB offers free guidance to help shape an idea into specifications that can be quoted.
What Affects Design & Engineering Price and Lead Time
- Starting point: a finished drawing typically requires less engineering time than a sketch or concept
- Number of design revisions and design-for-manufacturing iterations needed
- Whether the part requires new tooling or fixtures for production
- Complexity of any part consolidation or shipping-optimization redesign requested
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns the design once TAB completes the engineering work — TAB or the customer?
TAB owns all documents for design work unless the customer commissions our engineering services and pays for our time.
Can TAB reverse-engineer a part from a physical sample if I don't have a drawing?
Yes. TAB has the ability to reverse-engineer any part, item, or unit. We can develop component breakdowns per piece and assembly drawings in DXF, PDF, and STEP file formats.
How many design revisions are typically included before additional costs apply?
We provide most shop drawings at a cost of $125.00 per part.
Can a TAB engineer visit our facility to evaluate a project, or is design work handled remotely?
Yes, we can provide off-site engineering services.
Request a Quote for Design & Engineering
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