Services
3D Modeling
Concept development
Take an idea from sketch 3D form. I explore proportions, test how parts fit and move, and refine the design so it’s practical to make, not just attractive on screen. Turn photos, measurements, or existing parts into editable models, including reverse engineering of worn or discontinued components.
Design for fabrication
Designs are checked against how they’ll actually be made. I will work with readily available material sizes in metal such as standard flat bar, angle, plate, square & round hollow sections, and pipe, so parts can be sourced quickly and cost less to make. I also advise on bend radii, weld access, material thickness, and sensible tolerances, so the design is fabricatable from the start.
Spatial visualisation
Model rooms, workshops, plant layouts, or outdoor spaces to see how equipment, access, and flow will work in practice. Useful for planning a fit-out, checking clearances, or presenting options to clients and stakeholders.
Drafting for Manufacture
I produce clear, complete drawings that take a design from model to workshop. Our drawing sets include dimensioned views, sections and details, material and stock sizes, and finish and surface treatment call-outs. Weld symbols, bolt and fixing details, and tolerances are set out so your fabricators or manufacturers can quote accurately and build the part correctly the first time. Drawings are prepared to suit how your workshop works, whether you’re cutting and rolling steel, machining stainless, or setting up a short production run.
I also prepare assembly drawings with a parts list and bill of materials, so a multi-part product or frame can be ordered, fabricated, and assembled without guesswork. Drawings are issued in PDF & DWG, DXFs can be supplied on request for CNC cutting.
3D Printing
Functional parts Parts that have to do a job, not just look right. I print brackets, guides, spacers, clips, housings, mechanical linkages, and fixtures, designed around the load, temperature, and environment they’ll see.
Prototyping
Test a design in physical form before committing to tooling or fabrication. I can produce several iterations quickly, so you can check fit, ergonomics, and function, and refine the design based on what you learn. Each prototype can be printed in a material close to your final choice.
Replacement and obsolete parts
Worn, broken, or discontinued components can often be reproduced from a measured or scanned original. I model the part, check it against the original, and print it in a suitable material. For parts that carry load or sit in a critical position, I will recommend material and testing before they go into service.
Short production runs
Where injection moulding is cost-prohibitive, printing lets you produce small to medium batches without the expense of moulds or tooling. This suits low-volume products, custom variants, pilot batches, and jigs and fixtures. I will advise when printing makes sense and when a moulded run would be more economical.
Custom gifts and personalised items
Keepsakes, desk accessories, signage, cake toppers, and one-off gifts made to a name, design, or theme. Send me a photo, a sketch, or an idea and I will model it, suggest a finish or colour scheme, and print it in a material suited to how it will be handled and displayed. Gift runs, such as wedding favours or corporate gifts, can be quoted in batches.
Send us your STL or STEP file, or ask me to model the part first. I can check the file for printability, including wall thickness, tolerances for fits and clearances, and overhangs, then confirm material, finish, and turnaround before printing. Parts can be cleaned, support-removed, and sanded on request, and I can supply a test prints on large production runs. Parts can be picked up in Nelson, or shipping aranged to anywhere in New Zealand.