CMCADMAN / ENGINEER

Independent contract engineering / 01

CAD engineering design, without the overhead.

Freelance CAD and mechanical design engineering for manufacturers, engineering firms, fabricators and inventors. Based in Staffordshire, working across the Midlands, the North West and the rest of the UK.

Available now for short or long-term projects.

Discuss a project See the work
Modular storage rack modelled in the load bed of a Ford Ranger
Ford Ranger modular storage rack / 3D design to production

01 / APPROACH

An engineer who delivers, not an agency that sells.

You deal directly with the engineer doing the work: no account managers and no handovers. The focus is clear models, buildable detail and drawings your workshop and suppliers can use straight away.

Work can be carried out under NDA, and client designs are never shared.

02 / WHAT I DO

Practical support from first idea to finished drawings.

01

CAD modelling & 3D design

SolidWorks parts, assemblies and layouts, from early concepts to fully resolved designs ready for manufacture.

02

Fabrication & manufacturing drawings

Clear workshop drawings, weldments, sheet metal flat patterns and DXF files for laser cutting, to recognised drawing standards.

03

Design for manufacture

Designs reviewed and detailed with cutting, folding, machining, welding and assembly in mind, so parts are quicker and cheaper to make.

04

3D scanning & reverse engineering

Worn, broken or obsolete parts scanned and modelled, with drawings so they can be made again or improved.

05

Legacy drawings to 3D

Old paper or 2D drawings brought into SolidWorks as accurate 3D models with up-to-date drawing packages.

06

Design checks, FEA & simulation

Engineering checks, FEA and simulation to make sure parts and structures are fit for purpose before they are made.

07

BOMs & documentation

Bills of materials, cut lists and document control that keep purchasing, production and site teams working from the same information.

08

Short or long-term support

Extra design capacity for a backlog, a deadline or an ongoing programme of work, remote, on-site or a mix of both.

03 / WHO I WORK WITH

Engineering support across a wide range of industries.

The work changes from job to job, but the need is the same: designs that are right first time and drawings the workshop can build from.

04 / ABOUT

Workshop experience, engineering discipline.

Mechanical engineer working on a CAD design

I’m a mechanical engineer with a hands-on route from welding and fabrication into CAD design, manufacturing and project delivery.

My career has covered SolidWorks design engineering, contract design work, product and process engineering, CNC engineering for motorsport components and architectural metalwork, and end-to-end mechanical project management, with time spent in the water treatment industry too. I’ve also designed biomass boiler feed systems, augers and conveyors.

That breadth helps me design with the workshop and the finished product in mind. I hold an FdSc in Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering and my own current SolidWorks licence, and I’m available for freelance CAD and design engineering work outside IR35, on short or long-term projects.

CORE SKILLS

  • CAD modelling & 3D design / SolidWorks
  • Manufacturing drawings, DFM & GD&T
  • 3D scanning & reverse engineering
  • Sheet metal & weldments
  • BOM management & technical documentation
  • Fabrication & welding
  • Project engineering & subcontractor coordination
  • CNC engineering
  • AutoCAD & Revit
  • SAP engineering

OUTSIDE WORK Camping / mountain biking / enduro / fishing

05 / PROJECTS

A selection of recent work.

Much of my work is under NDA, so only part of it can be shown here. Drawings are shown at reduced detail to protect client information.

06 / HOW IT WORKS

A straightforward route from question to useful output.

  1. 01 / ScopeShare the requirement, files, constraints and target date. Early or incomplete enquiries are welcome.
  2. 02 / PlanAgree the deliverables, working arrangement and a sensible statement of work.
  3. 03 / DeliverWork progresses against clear milestones, with communication and documentation kept practical.

07 / FAQ

Useful answers before you get in touch.

What kind of work do you take on?

SolidWorks CAD modelling and 3D design, fabrication and manufacturing drawings, design for manufacture, 3D scanning and reverse engineering, legacy drawings to 3D, design checks, BOMs and documentation, and mechanical project engineering.

What types of projects and industries do you work in?

All sorts: industrial machinery and process equipment, gates and handling equipment, vehicle storage systems and products, motorsport parts and bespoke architectural metalwork. The projects on this site are only a selection, as much of the work is under NDA.

Can work be carried out under NDA?

Yes. An NDA can be put in place before any drawings or details are shared.

Short or long-term projects?

Both. Anything from a single drawing package or a defined piece of work to ongoing design support over several months. The scope decides the right arrangement.

Do you work remotely or on-site?

Mostly remotely, for clients anywhere in the UK. On-site visits, surveys and meetings are easy to arrange across Staffordshire, the Midlands and the North West, and further afield when the job needs it.

Is the work outside IR35?

Yes. Work is offered outside IR35, subject to the actual working practices and agreed statement of work.

Do I need to provide a SolidWorks licence?

No. I hold my own current SolidWorks licence, so there are no extra licensing costs on your project.

How do I get a quote?

Send a short description of the project using the enquiry form, with any sketches, photos or files you have. I will come back to you to talk through the scope and how best to deliver it.

08 / START A CONVERSATION

Have a project in mind?

Send the outline, even if it is still taking shape. A useful first conversation starts with the problem, not a polished brief.

STAFFORDSHIRE / MIDLANDS / NORTH WEST
UK-WIDE REMOTE / OUTSIDE IR35