Most good inventions start the same way — a quick sketch on the back of a docket, or an idea that hits you in the middle of a job. You know it’ll make life easier, but the gap between that rough idea and a finished piece of gear can feel massive.
That’s where prototype design comes in.
Truth is, you don’t need a factory or a degree to get started — just a clear head and the right steps.
Step 1. Start simple
Write down what your idea needs to do.
Is it lifting, pushing, sorting, supporting, or saving time on a task?
Once you know the job, the rest of the prototype design process starts to take shape.
Step 2. Sketch or describe it
You don’t need fancy drawings for early prototype design work.
Even a photo of a rough setup with a few arrows and notes is fine.
I’ve started full builds from nothing more than a whiteboard drawing, a phone snap, or a scribble on a notepad.
Step 3. Turn it into a 3D model
This is where I come in.
Using SolidWorks, I can take your sketch and build a 3D model you can spin around and see from every angle.
We can tweak it before any steel gets cut — saving a heap of time and money.
Without proper prototype design and CAD drawings, you can’t get parts laser cut, waterjet cut or CNC machined.
Turning the idea digital is one of the most important steps in getting it workshop-ready.
Step 4. Produce proper workshop drawings
Once the model’s spot-on, I create detailed fabrication drawings your fabricator can use to build it — every hole, bolt and weld point sorted.
This is the final step in prototype design — when your idea goes from concept to reality.
Ready to start your own prototype design?
If you’ve got an idea that’s been sitting in your notebook too long, now’s the time to move it forward.
I can help turn that sketch into something you can actually build — simple, clear and ready for the workshop.