Outsource Modelling Work to a Drafting Firm

Architecture firms

Three projects under way, and the modelling for the fourth is stalling.

Manufacturers

The product line needs to become smart components, but nobody in-house can be freed up.

Contractors

The as-built dossier needs updating while the drawing office has already moved on to the next job.

Engineering firms

A peak in drafting work that your own team cannot absorb.

Your fixed points of contact

Project manager Barry leads the first conversation, team leader Sam keeps a firm grip on the technical side

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Step 1

Drafter

Creates the model and the drawings.

Step 2

Second team member

Checks the work for structure and dimensions.

Step 3

Sam

Team leader: reviews the technical side of the set.

Final check

Barry

Project manager: gives it a final review before delivery.

We deliver 2D drafting, 3D modelling where needed, as-built drawings and revisions to existing models. If you supply an outdated or partly hand-drawn file, you get back an updated version. Where it makes sense, we build with parametric Revit families, so parts adapt without us having to model them again. Engineering is not included: we model, but we do not carry out structural calculations or handle permits.

That boundary keeps responsibilities clear between us and your own engineer. We deliver in stages, so you can give feedback along the way. We deliver files in DXF, DWG, Revit formats or STEP, and virtually any other common CAD format. We decide together in the first conversation which output you need.

We work mainly for architectural practices, engineering firms, contractors and manufacturers with a shortage of drafting capacity. We usually speak to managers, team leaders or owners, because they are the first to spot the bottleneck. The core reason is always the same: too little time, too few drafters, or a peak they cannot resolve internally. Firefly is the clearest example, with more than twenty projects now completed with us.

At manufacturers it is more often about repeated parts, while at architectural practices it is more often a temporary peak. For some clients, a clogged set of Revit families is also a reason to bring us in. We work nationwide, with a focus on clients in the Netherlands. A short conversation usually shows quickly whether this is a good fit.

We start with a conversation in which you provide the project details and usually also existing drawings or models. We respond to a new enquiry within 1 to 2 working days, after which we schedule that conversation. Barry, our project manager, is usually the first point of contact, after which Sam, our team leader, takes over the technical side. You can contact us by phone or through the contact form on the website.

In that conversation, we also discuss which standard we will follow and which file format you want to receive. As soon as that information is complete, we start on the first part. A short first assignment is also possible, so you can see our speed and accuracy first. That way there is no lengthy process before the first modelling work begins.

We deliver models in stages rather than all at once at the end. After each partial delivery, we gather your feedback, adjust the model accordingly and continue. The meeting rhythm differs per client: with some we speak every two days, with others weekly. Day-to-day contact runs by email and phone, and where necessary through meetings, either at your premises or at ours. For larger projects, we use software in which you can follow progress. For smaller pieces of modelling work, we exchange files by email. That way you stay involved with the model throughout the project. A conversation about the meeting rhythm at the start prevents confusion later on.

A set of Revit families that has become clogged over the years with duplicate or outdated components can be cleaned up, provided enough of it is still usable. If the set has become too messy, we sometimes rebuild it completely rather than repairing it. We judge which approach makes more sense based on the state of the existing set. A cleaned-up or rebuilt family then adapts to a new situation without us having to redraw it.

In greenhouse construction, this saves at least seventy per cent of the time for valves in different sizes. The material schedule updates automatically along with the part. We then put every result through the same three review layers as new modelling work. A conversation about the family set usually gives us enough direction for the approach.

We work in our own environment with our own licences, not in yours. That means you do not need to provide separate software installations before we can start. We do always follow your standards and drawing conventions, which we receive from you in advance. We exchange files by email or, for larger projects, via software that lets you follow along.

We work in Revit, AutoCAD and Rhino, supplemented by Inventor, Grasshopper and, to a limited extent, Dynamo and Vault. For file formats, we use DXF, DWG, Revit formats and STEP, and virtually any common CAD format. The intellectual property of what we deliver rests with you once the work is complete. A conversation about the working method prevents any confusion about responsibilities.

We put every model through at least three review layers, which keeps the number of errors to a minimum in practice. First, one of our drafters builds the model, after which a second team member checks it for errors and consistency. Sam as team leader then reviews it personally, and as the final step Barry as project manager looks over it once more. We do not quote an exact figure here, but four pairs of eyes significantly reduce the chance of errors.

That matters especially with repetitive work, where a small error would otherwise spread across multiple parts. Everyone on our team has more than ten years of CAD experience, which further reduces the risk of errors. If you set requirements yourself, we include them in the standard. That way our checks stay aligned with what matters to you.

If we find an error in one of the review layers, the model goes back to the drafter. We only move on once that error has been fixed. That way errors are caught on our side before you ever see them, rather than after delivery. That is exactly why we do not rely on a single check. A drafter draws, a second team member checks, Sam reviews it as team leader, and Barry carries out the final check as project manager. With a large volume of models, we go through that process for each part separately. You usually notice little of this, except in the delivered result. If we receive a clear standard in advance, we keep the number of corrections limited.