3D model design
Ideas, sketches and measurements turned into clean, editable CAD.
- Concept-to-CAD in Fusion 360
- Parametric models that are easy to revise
- Exports to STEP, STL, 3MF and 2D drawings
Engineering and consulting
CAD design and engineering advice that holds up on the shop floor.
Turn a sketch, a measurement or a broken part into production-ready CAD, and have designs reviewed for manufacturability by someone with 37 years of making parts in medical, automotive and aerospace manufacturing.
What you can hand off
Reverse engineering
Discontinued, broken or undocumented parts modeled from the real thing.
- Measured with precision instruments
- Replacement and improved versions
- Documented so you can make it again
Rapid prototyping
Physical parts for fit checks, functional tests and demos.
- Design, print, test and revise in short loops
- Engineering materials for functional testing
- Inserts, hardware and assembly
Design for manufacturing (DFM)
Reviews that catch cost and quality problems before parts are made.
- 3D printing, CNC machining, wire EDM and molding
- Tolerances, features and cost drivers
- How DFM reviews work
Material and process selection
The right material and method for the load, heat and environment.
- Plastics for strength, heat and chemical exposure
- Print versus machine versus mold trade-offs
- Cost-to-produce estimates at your volume
Fixtures, jigs and shop aids
Tooling for small manufacturers and machine shops.
- Inspection and assembly fixtures
- Drill guides, soft jaws and nests
- Shadow trays and tool organizers
Design for manufacturing reviews
A design can look right in CAD and still be expensive, slow or risky to make. A DFM review checks your model and drawing against how the part will actually be produced, and tells you what to change before you pay for tooling or a production run.
Send a STEP file and drawing. Most reviews are quoted as a fixed fee after a first look. Your files are kept confidential.
- 3D printingBuild orientation, wall thickness, overhangs and supports, hole and thread sizing, and strength in the weak direction.
- CNC milling and turningTool access, internal corner radii, deep pockets and thin walls, setups, and features that drive cycle time.
- Swiss turning and wire EDMSmall, long and precision parts: when these processes pay off and how to design for them.
- Tolerances and drawingsWhich tolerances matter for function, which ones only add cost, and whether the part can be inspected as drawn.
- Moving to moldingDraft, uniform walls, undercuts and gating, and the volume at which molding beats printing or machining.
- Finishing and secondary operationsHeat treat, surface finish, marking and bent wire or rod features planned in from the start.
Marked-up findings
Notes on your model or drawing showing each issue, why it matters and the suggested fix.
Cost drivers
The features, tolerances and materials that add the most cost, ranked so you know where to focus.
A follow-up call
A walk-through of the findings, and help updating the CAD if you want it done here.
How a project runs
Most first prototypes are in hand within a week of the intake call.
- Intake callA free 20-minute call about the part, how it is used and when you need it.
- Scope and quoteA written scope and quote within 48 hours.
- Design and first printCAD, then a physical part you can handle.
- Review and reviseA revision round, then hand-off files or a small batch here.
Who it is for
If you have an idea but not the CAD skills, printers or manufacturing background to finish it, this cuts out weeks of back and forth.
- Inventors and startupsFirst hardware product, fast iteration, a patient guide.
- Small manufacturers and machine shopsFixtures, jigs and replacement parts without tooling costs.
- Medical, automotive and aerospace suppliersSomeone who understands documentation, tolerances and regulated work.
- Engineers and product teamsOverflow CAD capacity or a second opinion.
Rates
Hourly for open-ended work. Fixed project quotes once the scope is defined. The first 20-minute call is free.
| Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| CAD design and 3D modelingModeling, drawings, reverse engineering | $92.50/hr |
| Engineering consulting and DFM reviewsOr a fixed fee once the files are reviewed | $130/hr |
| RushWork requested ahead of standard lead time | +37.5% |
Everything you send is covered by our confidentiality statement. Signed NDAs are available on request.
Tell us what you are trying to build
A sketch, a photo of the part or a short description is enough to start.