The Engineer
Ben Hoffman — Founder
Silvades started with a simple idea: automotive parts should be engineered, not guessed at. Every component that leaves this shop begins as a 3D model — designed in CAD, validated with GD&T standards, and manufactured to spec.
I specialize in 3D-printed performance parts, custom dashboard and panel fabrication, and precision intake systems — including the Volvo T6 cold air intake that has become our flagship product. Beyond parts, I handle audio installation, suspension work, and detailing for local builds.
The goal is not to be the biggest shop. It is to be the one where every part fits right the first time.
The Fabricator
Ilya Richardson — Co-Founder
What Ben designs, Ilya builds in metal. With six years of professional welding experience — from energy infrastructure to custom stainless exhaust systems for Formula Vee race cars — Ilya brings the kind of precision that most shops cannot match.
He works with stainless steel (304, 309, 321), mild steel, aluminum, and hot/cold rolled steel. Every stainless weld is properly cleaned and back-purged. Every cut is measured. If it is not right, it does not leave.
Together, we cover the full build — from digital design to finished metal.
Why Silvades
We are not a volume shop and we are not trying to be. Silvades exists for people who care about how their car is built — the people who want to know that their intake was actually engineered, their exhaust was actually back-purged, and their parts were actually made for their car.
If that sounds like your kind of build, let us talk.
About Silvades
SILVADES is a precision engineering and custom fabrication studio based in Washington, Illinois. We design and manufacture high-performance 3D printed parts for automotive and workshop applications — built to fit, built to last, and priced to make sense.
The name comes from Silvia, my childhood companion. She approached every day with curiosity, composure, and loyalty — and those are the same values we bring to every project. Our visual identity is rooted in her memory, with a palette drawn from the natural, earthy tones of her coat.
Whether it's a Volvo T6 cold air intake or a custom workshop jig, every part that leaves SILVADES goes through the same rigorous process: precision digital modeling, iterative prototyping, and real-world testing. No shortcuts.
Meet the Founder
I'm Ben Hoffman — Working towards engineering degree, designer, and the person behind every part SILVADES makes.
I work at the intersection of mechanical engineering and digital media. With seven years of CAD experience (five of those specializing in PTC Creo) and a background in communications, I'm wired to take complex technical problems and turn them into things you can actually hold, install, and use.
I operate with a builder's mindset. Whether I'm designing a cold air intake for a turbocharged Volvo T6, dialing in tolerances on an industrial FDM printer, or pushing a high-performance PC build to its thermal limits, the goal is always the same: make it work better than it did before.
My prototyping workflow runs on Bambu Lab hardware with PA6-GF (glass-fiber reinforced nylon) as the go-to material for anything going into an engine bay. That means parts that handle heat, vibration, and automotive fluids without flinching. Every design goes through a fail-fast, refine-faster cycle until the tolerances are dialed to the micron.
What I Bring to the Table
Engineering & Fabrication: 7 years of CAD, 5+ years in PTC Creo. Expert in FDM 3D printing, functional part design, and rapid prototyping with industrial-grade materials.
Automotive Performance: Hands-on experience with Volvo T6 engines. I design, test, and manufacture bolt-on performance parts — starting with the SILVADES cold air intake system.
Digital Media: Professional video production using DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Creative Cloud. I document my builds, share the engineering process, and create content that helps people understand what goes into every part.
Technical Problem-Solving: 3+ years as a mobile technology expert providing deep-level diagnostics. I bring that same systematic troubleshooting approach to every design challenge.
SILVADES A1 3d printing a custom bathroom shelf.
How We Build
Every SILVADES product starts as a problem worth solving. The Volvo T6 cold air intake exists because quality aftermarket options were either overpriced or underengineered — so we built something better.
The process is the same for every part we make:
1. Precision Measurement & Modeling — Every component is hand-measured using GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing) standards and modeled in PTC Creo to ensure an OEM-plus fit.
2. Material Selection — We use PA6-GF glass-fiber reinforced nylon for parts that need to withstand engine bay temperatures, mechanical vibration, and chemical exposure. No PLA. No compromises.
3. Industrial Manufacturing — Parts are produced on high-precision industrial FDM equipment with active vibration compensation, achieving tolerances and surface finishes that consumer printers can't match.
4. Real-World Testing — Nothing ships until it's been installed, tested, and proven in a real engine bay. Dyno numbers are nice; daily driver reliability is what matters.
Have a project in mind? I'd love to hear about it.