No 3D Model? How CAD Design From a Sketch or Photo Works

Lots of great print ideas start without a 3D file: a sketch on the back of an envelope, a photo of a broken bracket, or a gap under the desk that needs something that doesn’t exist yet. That’s what CAD design is for. Here’s how turning a sketch or photo into a printable part works, what to send, and what it costs.

What CAD design is

CAD (computer-aided design) is how a part gets drawn precisely in 3D, with exact dimensions, before it’s printed. Unlike a downloaded mesh, a CAD model is easy to change: a hole can move a millimetre, a wall can get thicker, or text can be added. We model your part, check it with you, and then print it.

Good CAD jobs

• simple brackets, mounts, adapters, spacers, clips and covers
• desk accessories, organisers and small custom household parts
• modifying an existing model for fit, text, colour separation or strength
• repairing a downloaded model that won’t print

How it works

1. Send what you have: photos, a sketch, measurements, or a model that needs changes.
2. Quote for the design work: we review it, ask about anything unclear and quote the modelling.
3. Modelling: we draw the part and check it with you before anything is printed.
4. Quote for the print: once the model is ready, the print is quoted separately, with a recommended material.
5. Print and collect: pick it up free from South Morang, or arrange delivery with your quote.

For parts that must fit tightly, it can be worth printing a quick fit-check version first, then fine-tuning the model before the final print.

What to send

The better the information, the less back-and-forth and the lower the design time. Include:

• photos from several angles, ideally beside a ruler or calipers
• critical dimensions: hole spacing, desk thickness, clearances and anything it has to fit around
• a sketch with measurements if you’re designing something new. A sketch works as long as it has enough dimensions, or they can be clarified before modelling
• how the part is used: what it holds, whether it takes load or heat, and what needs to fit around it

What it costs

CAD design starts from $75 per hour (30-minute minimum), depending on complexity. Simple edits to an existing model are usually quicker than recreating a part from photos. Printing is quoted separately once the model is ready, so you know both costs before anything is printed.

Do you need the design file too? File handover can be included in the quote. Just ask when you request it.

Have an idea or a broken part? Send us your photos and measurements, or read more about our CAD design service.