A surprising share of the enquiries we receive start with a photo of a broken part and a message that reads "can you make this?" You do not need to learn Fusion 360 to get a part printed. Here is how the modelling path works and what makes it go smoothly.
01 What We Can Start From
The brief does not need to be polished. It needs to be unambiguous about what the part has to do.
A hand sketch
Even rough pencil drawings with approximate dimensions give us enough to work with. Annotate the measurements that matter, and flag the ones you are unsure about.
Photos
An existing object, a product you want adapted, or a reference image. Shoot straight on from several angles, with a ruler in frame for scale.
Measurements
Caliper or ruler readings from a broken or worn part you need replicated. Calipers are worth borrowing for an hour if the part has to fit something.
A written brief
A clear description of what the part needs to do, even with no visual reference at all. Function first, form second.
02 How the Process Runs
The quote is fixed before work starts, so there are no hourly surprises. We model with printability considered during design rather than patched afterwards: wall thickness, overhang angles, support strategy and dimensional accuracy are decisions made at the sketch stage, not corrections made at the slicer.
03 What Makes a Good Brief
The difference between one revision round and four is almost always in how the brief handles fit and function. Tell us:
- What it attaches to. A bracket is defined by its mounting interface more than by its overall shape
- Which dimensions are critical. Mark the ones that must be exact and the ones that are cosmetic, and we will hold tolerance where it counts
- What load it takes. Static shelf duty and repeated impact lead to very different wall and rib strategies
- Where it lives. Outdoors, in a hot car, near solvents, or on a desk. This drives the material recommendation
- How many you need. A one-off and a run of 200 are modelled differently for print efficiency
04 Replicating a Broken Part
Replacement parts are the most common modelling request we get: discontinued appliance clips, obsolete machine fittings, brackets nobody stocks any more. When measuring a broken original, work from the intact side wherever possible and note the wear. A part that failed in service often failed because it was underbuilt, and reprinting the original geometry in a tougher material with a slightly thicker section is usually the better outcome.
Pro tip
If both halves of a broken part survive, send both. Reconstructing the fracture line from two pieces is far more accurate than inferring the missing geometry from one.
05 The File Is Yours
You receive a print-ready STL and the native CAD file, either STEP or F3D. Your IP, your file: take it to any manufacturer, modify it later, or hand it to your own engineering team. If you want the part printed as well, a print order can be added straight from the quote and runs on the standard FDM or resin lead time.
Start with the 3D modelling service, or send your sketch and measurements through the RFQ form.
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