OUR SERVICES
KAVONIKOV CUSTOMS specializes in custom fabrication, fixture and jig design, and precision TIG welding of aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, and other specialty alloys. From one-off prototypes to production tooling and complex assemblies, we deliver practical, high-quality solutions built to meet the demands of automotive, marine, aerospace, and industrial applications.
When replacement parts are no longer available, KAVONIKOV CUSTOMS can reverse engineer and reproduce obsolete or discontinued components. Using CAD design, fabrication, and machining, we create accurate replacement parts to restore functionality and keep your equipment operating.
FABRICATION AND WELDING
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REVERSE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN
We provide 3D scanning, and reverse engineering services for legacy, damaged, or out-of-production components. We can transform physical parts into accurate digital models, convert between CAD file formats, and develop production-ready designs for manufacturing, modification, or replacement applications.
CNC MACHINING
We have a 3 axis Haas VF2 which is great for making standard components such as flanges, baseplates, brackets, and face mounts.
About Me / Our History
My name is Michael Lahrman, and I started my welding career in 2016 MIG welding while teaching myself TIG on the side. In 2017, I got my first TIG welding job working on D17.1 flight-ready aerospace components. These were tubular assemblies used in jet engine applications, and that experience taught me the importance of traceability, tight tolerances, proper part handling, upstream fitment issues, and disciplined welding procedures.
The work involved thin-wall materials such as 347 stainless steel, 6061 aluminum, 625 Inconel, and CP1 titanium, often welded on a positioner with tight flange-to-flange tolerances around .015". These parts were required to pass pressure testing, fluorescent penetrant inspection, and, in some cases, X-ray inspection. That environment shaped the way I look at fabrication, design, and quality.
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A few years later, I started KAVONIKOV CUSTOMS as a concept in 2019, and in July of 2020 I opened my first shop in Angola, Indiana. That shop was where I started piecing ideas together, learning as I went, and figuring out how to apply the skills I had learned in aerospace to other industries. Automotive fabrication felt like a natural direction because of the amount of tubular work involved. I started taking on small jobs through Marketplace, developing my process along the way, and that eventually pushed me deeper into CAD design, 3D printing, and 3D scanning.
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In October of 2021, I began prototyping what would eventually become the HYBRID TRAILING CUP. The HYBRID TRAILING CUP is essentially a trailing shield that does not require a second argon line. Traditional trailing shields are used when welding reactive metals to provide additional shielding against oxidation, but before the HYBRID TRAILING CUP, that process typically required a second gas line. By removing that second line, we eliminated a variable that can lead to costly scrap, while also reducing hassle, saving gas, and saving time.
If you took the time to read this, it truly means the world and I look forward to working together.
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-Michael Lahrman
CORE COMPENTENCIES
2015-2017
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2011-2014
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2007-2010
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