Drafting is the process of creating engineering drawings that communicate how a part, assembly, or structure should be manufactured, assembled, or installed. Drafting can also be used to document existing assets and as-built conditions. A good drawing provides all the information required for its intended purpose, helping ensure the final result matches the design. 

In short, design creates the solution; drafting communicates it. Design (or CAD modelling) is the process of creating a working part in 3D. Drafting turns that 3D model into a manufacturing drawing. Drawings include lots of information that 3D models typically don’t - including tolerances, surface finish controls, weld details, coating information, and notes.

A good drawing is critical to manufacturing a good quality part because it becomes the source of truth for everyone involved in the project. Drawings are the primary method of communication between designers, manufacturers, and installers, and should clearly define dimensions, tolerances, materials, finishes, and any other requirements.

If information is missing, unclear, or poorly defined, the result can be delays, rework, or parts that don't perform their intended function. Even an error as small as 0.05mm can be enough to cause fitment issues in a precision-machined assembly.

Usually, yes, but with some potential limitations. We use SolidWorks for drafting, which can import many generic CAD formats such as STEP, IGES, and Parasolid as well as its own native file types. If the CAD model accurately represents the finished part, we can usually turn that into drawings with few issues. If you require changes to the model, we may need to re-model the part into a native SolidWorks file, and then proceed to the drawing stage, depending on the CAD file type you have.

Yes we can, the process of creating drawings from a physical part is called Reverse Engineering. Click [here] for much more information about that.

Everything your manufacturer will need to know to make the part. This can include the actual dimensions of the part, allowable tolerances and geometric controls, acceptable surface finishes, material specs, welding symbols and specifications, pre- or post-weld machining steps, heat treatment requirements, coatings/paint specs, and in the case of fabricated weldments or assemblies, we also include a Bill of Materials/Parts list and assembly information. The drawing will include a revision control box to track changes. We can also include part numbers, customer information, and any other specific notes.

Yes. Assembly drawings are used to show how components fit together and are typically supported by exploded views, bills of materials, fastener schedules, and subassembly drawings where required.

Our largest assembly project to date included a 273-line Parts List and 98 pages of drawings, so we're comfortable handling complex assemblies.

Yes we can. We are well versed in fabrication processes and have worked on hundreds of fabrication projects over the years. For weldment drawings we typically provide a BOM, weldment/assembly layout, and then individual item details so that every part of the weldment can be made separate and assembled easily. We can also provide DXF cutting files for laser/plasma cutting, as well as sheet metal bending drawings.

We sure can. We have extensive experience supporting CNC machining businesses, so we understand machining processes and the information required to make machined parts. As well as general dimensional information, for machined component drawings we take extra care with limits & fits, GD&T and surface finish controls to ensure the parts you have made fit together perfectly. For multi-step machining processes (such as pre-machine > weld > heat-treat > post-machine, etc) we can create step-by-step drawings with different part configurations and dimensions for each step of the process.

Yes, usually. We use high-accuracy 3D scanning to capture existing conditions and convert them into accurate drawings and CAD models. This can be used to document machined parts, fabricated structures, assemblies, and other assets where reliable documentation does not already exist.

PDF is our standard deliverable format for drawings. We can also provide native SolidWorks drawing files, and DXF/DWG formats where required.

Usually, yes. We typically work to AS1100 drafting standards, however if you have an internal standard that differs from that, we can certainly accommodate. We can also work on your company’s drawing template, using your preferred layout and fonts etc if you prefer.

That depends on what the project entails, but most drafting projects will be completed within 1-2 weeks. We will provide you with an expected lead time as soon as we understand the scope. Also, we can usually accommodate rush jobs if you need an expedited turnaround, please let us know during quoting.

Drafting costs depend on the size and complexity of the project, the level of detail required, and whether existing CAD models or drawings are available. We're happy to provide fixed-price quotes once we understand the scope of work. 

Yes, but there’s a few steps in the middle. When we take a scan, we then have to create a 3D model. Depending on the purpose of your project (reverse engineering, or as-built documentation), we may either exactly capture the scanned geometry in the model, or change it slightly to become a manufacturable part. After that, we can turn the 3D model into a drawing. For more information, see our page about Reverse Engineering [here].

Often, yes. We can update existing drawings to reflect design changes, manufacturing improvements, revised standards, or as-built conditions.

Where native CAD files are available, the process is usually straightforward. However, CAD interoperability issues can sometimes make modifications more time-consuming than expected, particularly when working with older or non-native file formats. In some cases, it may actually be quicker and more cost-effective to rebuild the model from scratch.

We can also work from PDF drawings, scanned copies, and other legacy documentation where required.

Yep, a hand sketch is often very helpful! If you have an idea for something you want made, a sketch is usually the best way to translate what’s in your head into something we can draw. There will likely be a few steps in the middle, such as 3D modelling, but we’ll let you know the process during our initial discussions.