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Small and Large Format Scanning

Professional Outsourced Small and Large Format Scanning Services

Most offices have a way to copy and digitize a small A4 sheet of paper, but what about your large engineering drawings? We work with so many companies that struggle with a backroom stacked with engineering drawings, blueprints, and architectural drawings on Mylar. As you already know, physical drawings are so hard to share, edit, update, and manufacture.

This is where our 2D scanning services come in. At CAD/CAM Services, we can transform your stack of A0 or ANSI E-sized drawings and professionally turn them into digital files that you can pull up on your computer. This process takes a lot of experience, especially to prevent tearing and damaging your existing drawings.

Our team can either handle the entire scanning process for you, or we can set you up with a Contex 2D scanner of your own. In either case, we’ll provide all the experience and professionalism you need to ensure success.

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Professional Outsourced Small and Large Format Scanning Services
What Are Small and Large Format Scanning Services? 

What Are Small and Large Format Scanning Services? 

Small and large format scanning services involve our scanning experts getting all of your 2D documents, putting them through an industrial 2D scanner, and then creating digital files of each paper. The process itself is very similar to scanning a piece of paper on your photocopier, but it becomes much more demanding and difficult with bigger stacks of differently-sized papers.

With our services, you’ll go from a piece of paper to a file that you can pull up on your computer, zoom in on, and edit with no issues. You can still keep your physical copies, but most of our clients start only using the digital file whenever they need to look at each drawing.

Small-format scanning will cover all of your A4 and smaller sheets, while large-format scanning can handle documents up to 60 inches wide and infinitely long.

Why Small and Large Format Scanning Services Matters

Scanning an A4 piece of printer paper is one thing, but scanning a delicate E-sized mechanical drawing is a completely different challenge. We have to go through a few steps to prepare the drawing before we can scan it, and we need to use special 2D scanners that will delicately feed your drawings. With these steps, we can ensure that your work doesn’t get ripped or damaged during the digitization process.

However, not every outsourced scanning company goes through the same steps that we do. Other companies won’t care about your drawing, they’ll just rush through the project to get paid sooner. As a result, you can get digital files that are blurry or missing information, your original drawings can get ripped, and you can get assembly drawings that are out of order.

With high-quality small and large format scanning services from CAD/CAM Services, you’ll get the best results.

Why Small and Large Format Scanning Services Matters

Many modern companies are transforming their room of Mylar drawings into digital files. Why? There are too many benefits to count:

It’s easier to pull up files and find information.

Digital files are exponentially better when it comes to finding information. Instead of going through a stack of physical drawings, you can quickly pull up a file on your computer or search for its ID. Spend seconds instead of hours looking for the right prints.

Start turning your drawings into 3D CAD models.

The first step of any 3D CAD conversion project is a 2D scan. We can use these to make your 3D CAD models, or simply give you the digital files to do it yourself.

A quick way to double-check dimensions.

On paper, you can write down any dimension you want. On CAD, you’ll get exact measurements. Through 2D scanning, you can start double-checking your dimensions to ensure machine shops are set up for success.

CAD/CAM Services treats your drawings with respect.

Our team takes tremendous care of every drawing in our possession. You don’t have to worry about ripped, misplaced, or damaged drawings when you choose CAD/CAM Services.

We can even destroy the originals.

We have access to industrial shredders that the federal government uses for document destruction. By cross-shredding documents, we can make it harder for people to reconstruct your scraps and steal your IP. Of course, we don’t shred anything without your permission. 

A faster, more affordable solution to document scanning.

We make 2D scanning easy. With affordable pricing and unbelievable turnaround times, we’re here to scan every document you have.

What Goes into Small and Large Format Scanning Services from CAD/CAM Services?

To successfully scan a document, you have to start with the right 2D scanner. We only use Contex 2D scanners, and we can’t say enough good things about these scanners. They’re fast, incredibly accurate, and treat your drawings carefully. In addition, they have some built-in software that automatically cleans up drawings and removes smudges in every scan.

These scanners aren’t cheap, but we know it takes money to get the best results. When you choose CAD/CAM Services for your 2D scanning project, you can leverage our collection of in-house 2D scanners. We have scanners that cost tens of thousands of dollars, just to make sure you get the best results.

Our process starts with image prepping, which is often overlooked. In this step, our team will remove every staple and piece of tape. We’ll unfold your documents and set them up in the correct order and orientation.

Next, we’ll set up an indexing format. This is a naming convention that’s easy for you to find in the future. For engineering drawings, we’ll usually use the drawing number or some identifier in the title block, unless you have a specific naming convention you’d like — remember, we can always rename these files in the future.

Finally, we’ll start scanning. We use a DoD-trusted filesharing platform to make sure your data is safe as we send you all of your digital files. From there, you’re free to use your files however you’d like.

As an added service, we can also destroy all of your existing physical drawings, once you give us the greenlight. It’s always best to confirm the digital file is okay before we start shredding anything.

What Goes into Small and Large Format Scanning Services from CAD/CAM Services?
Our Small and Large Format Scanning Services Include: 

Our Small and Large Format Scanning Services Include: 

  • Mylar to CAD Conversions
  • 2D Scanning for Engineering, Architecture, Structural, and More 
  • 2D to 3D CAD Conversions
  • Microfilm, Aperture, and Medical Scanning and Digitization
  • Small and Large Format Document Digitization
  • 50-Year Engineering Data Storage 
  • And Much More (Including Custom Services)

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With CAD/CAM Services, you can start pulling up drawings even faster. This can dramatically speed up any workflow, and it helps you share your information internally, with vendors, with machine shops, and with anyone else who wants more information. Get started today with our team of expert 2D scanners at CAD/CAM Services. Get your free quote.

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FAQ's

Digitizing FAQs
What is the average raster to vector (R2V) 2-D conversion price?

The typical AEC D & E size sheet is $135. There are possible discounts depending on the job size. The more you convert the less you pay.  The bulk of the files we produce are for AutoCAD.

Creating models and drawings over scanned analog documents seem so easy – why such a low price?

In order to make an accurate representation, you have to calibrate the original drawing, which may have deformed during its storage period. Non-dimensioned mediums need to be thoroughly calibrated before digitizing.

Parts of scanned data may be lost due to time and other factors. Because it is important to recreate the design intent,  we need to recreate lost data.

You ONLY receive  Cad Perfect™ files – as if you had drawn these by hand.

Do you support BIM modeling?

Using Revit, yes we do.  Think of BIM as an intelligent 3D model of your building.  We know exactly where all of the HVAC is, IT cabling, electrical, the cost of doors and windows, when mechanical systems need to be serviced, all the way to a room number with a phone number and IP in that room. In addition to our Ray Tracing technology to support some very life-like photo renderings.


What is DHS – Critical Infrastructure Products

The Department of Homeland Security protocol  PPD-21 requirement has deemed that sixteen (16) industries and services are critical to our US Nations security.

These industries  require additional security protocols when creating CAD files. CAD / CAM Services follows all of these requirements. Think of industries and info structures such as power, water, along with fourteen (14) other industries.  For a full list please see Critical Infrastructure Products.

What is a “Calibrated” Mylar image?

Mylar films can be stored in climate-controlled facilities. However, films get skewed and change sizes over time – ironically not linear. So what changes on one end, does not apply to what is in the middle, or the other end.  We have seen ‘J’ size Aerospace Mylars (about 48×180”), vary by a full inch.

CAD/CAM Services utilizes a proprietary process to make Mylar raster images dead on a 5” or 10” grid. Our process was developed in conjunction with, and approved by Boeing engineers.

CAD Conversion FAQs
What do you need to provide me with an accurate quote?

We need to know source CAD and target CAD software. Since large quantity orders can be discounted by us you can provide us with the number of parts you need to be converted.

If you tell us the desired purpose of the conversion we can offer you some conversion options. We can also convert your files into vendor-neutral file types (.STEP, .STL, etc,).

Please email us even cell phone photos, and the rough size of what you wish scanned and converted [email protected].

What do I get?

You get native Cad Perfect™ files with the full-featured model tree (where applicable, since some file types have no trees), and features can be fully parametric. It all depends on your goals.  We prefer to not translate any files. Our goal is to deliver to you a file that you do not have to touch. Our work is exactly as if you had reproduced that work in-house.

Which CAD file formats do you work with?

All the CAD file formats are listed on this page but bear in mind that we also work with exotic and legacy CAD systems.  After 31 years of providing CAD Services, we have run into almost any CAD file format.


Which CAD systems do you work with?

We support all the modern CAD systems including SolidWorks, Catia, Siemens NX, PTC Creo, Inventor, Revit, AutoCAD, and many others.

I have some weird CAD files from the previous century, can you help me?

Yes, absolutely. We can perform legacy CAD conversions.  Just send us some example files, and what CAD system we need to wind up in, and let us design the best solution for you.We have worked with old Computer Vision tapes, Anvil, and many other 1980’s systems.

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.