A manufacturer sends us a folder of 2D floor plans, sections and a series of dimensioned sketches, asking whether we can turn them into 3D drafting their own team can take forward. That is a typical work package for us. We build the model, derive the elevations and details from it and deliver in the format that will be imported at the other end.
We draft and model; calculations, structural advice and permits remain with the client. The work is carried out remotely from our office, with licences and workstations of our own.
Our main tools are Revit, AutoCAD and Rhino, supplemented by Inventor and Grasshopper and, to a limited extent, Dynamo and Vault. We always work with the latest versions. The reason for calling us is almost always the same: there is too little drafting capacity for a peak, or modelling work is piling up because your own drafters are tied up with running jobs. We fill that gap with a team that is already in place.
Cable tray routing in the model, built with parametric families that carry the material schedule with them.
What we deliver in 3D drafting
By 3D drafting we mean building a model and everything that comes out of it in drawing form. In Revit, that means a model with the associated floor plans, elevations, sections and detail drawings, plus the material schedule generated from the model itself. In Rhino, it is more often about freer geometry, where shapes cannot be built from standard components. We use Inventor for parts and assemblies, and Grasshopper when geometry has to be generated from rules rather than drawn piece by piece. Alongside the modelling itself, we handle the work that surrounds it: as-built drawings that incorporate the existing situation, and revision rounds on models that already exist but have fallen behind reality.
We deliver output in DXF, DWG, Revit formats and STEP files, and otherwise in any common CAD format. We agree in advance which files are included, because a model used for production preparation needs something different from a model that mainly serves as a reference. What we do not do is just as important to spell out.
We do not make calculations, give structural advice or handle permits. That separation keeps responsibilities clear and prevents you from expecting something that is not our job. Our approach works best with high volumes and lots of repetition, because we can then build components intelligently instead of working out each variant separately. Everyone working on this kind of job has more than ten years of CAD experience, so the time goes into the substance of the project.
A fixed point of contact and consultation rhythm for 3D drafting
With 3D drafting, things rarely go wrong in the modelling itself and far more often in the communication around it. That is why we keep the lines short. Barry, our project manager, is usually the first point of contact for a new request and remains so throughout the project. As soon as things get technical, Sam, our team leader, takes over that part. His background in architecture spans more than fifteen years; he worked in Iran for seven years, ran his own design practice in the Netherlands and is still an engineer.
He leads the CAD team, is responsible for the technical side and supervises the project. As a result, you do not have a group of individual drafters on the line, but one fixed point where scheduling, staffing and delivery come together. We match the rhythm of consultation to the pressure on the project. With a deadline that cannot move, we sit down together every two days; if a project is running more calmly, weekly contact is enough. Day to day, communication runs through email, phone and meetings.
We come to you, or you come to our office when it is easier to look at a model together. On larger projects, such as greenhouse construction projects, we work in software you log into yourself to follow the project. You can then see where the work stands without having to ask. For standalone drafting, files go back and forth by email, which for that kind of job is more practical than setting up a separate environment. What we ask of you is limited: a brief response to each delivered part, so we know whether the chosen direction is right before the next part is built on top of it.
No ongoing payroll costs and no idle staff once the peak is over. If one of our people is off sick or on holiday, we replace them and the work simply carries on.
Ownership and confidentiality of 3D drafting
Intellectual property in all the 3D drafting we produce belongs to you. We retain no rights to models, families or templates built for your job. That also applies to smart components we build specifically for your set: they remain yours and you can reuse them in future projects without involving us. We work in our own environment with our own licences, so nothing needs to be set up on your side and none of our accounts run in your systems. We are open about confidentiality. So far we have not signed a non-disclosure agreement, simply because clients have not asked for one. We are open to an NDA and will sign one without fuss if it matters to you. For companies working on something that is not yet on the market, it is often a standard part of their procurement process.
File exchange runs via email or through the project environment where you can follow along, depending on the size of the project. An agreement changes little about the way we work together, because we only use the material you give us for your project. If this point weighs heavily for you, you can raise it straight away in the first conversation, so it is settled before any files change hands. On request, we also agree in advance what happens to the supplied material after completion. Points like these belong at the start of a project, not in a discussion afterwards when files have already gone back and forth.
From first conversation to partial delivery
A project starts with a conversation. In it, we discuss what is already there, which date is fixed and exactly what needs to be delivered. You then supply the details, usually together with existing drawings that need revising or that serve as the basis for the model. We go through that material and tell you straight away if something is missing, rather than starting and getting stuck halfway.
We work to your standard and drawing conventions, which you provide. As soon as there is enough information, we can start. We deliver in parts. You receive a first piece, give feedback, we process it and move on to the next part.
That keeps a wrong assumption small, because it surfaces in the first part rather than at final delivery. Everything that leaves our office has by then passed through at least three review layers. A drafter draws, a second team member checks that work, Sam then checks it as team leader and finally Barry looks it over as project manager. In practice, that results in a minimal number of errors. We respond to a new request within 1 to 2 working days, so there is little noise between first contact and a substantive conversation.
A short job is fine, and sometimes that is the wisest start, because it lets you judge our speed and accuracy first. A clearly defined part of a larger model is suitable for this, such as one building section or one assembly. If that goes to your satisfaction, the rest of the package follows without anyone having to be trained in again.
Frequently asked questions about 3D drafting
Hand your 3D drafting over to us
Send us your documents and drawing conventions and we will let you know within one to two working days what we can take on and when.