Sunday, October 21, 2012

Mechanical CAD Design - Drafting

Hamilton By Design –Mechanical CAD Design & Drafting was created to enable businesses, small or large and individuals to have instant access to professional CAD drafting & design services without having to hire a new employee or using the services of a high end design firm. We provide accurate, quality drafting & design on a as needed basis.



Mechanical Design

Our team offer

For more information contact Hamilton By Design








Monday, August 20, 2012

Mechanical Engineering Solutions


Creative Mechanical Engineering Solutions for Product Development and Machine Design

We offer advanced Mechanical Engineering services to customers that help them develop complex mechanical designs and products to improve performance, reduce time to market and minimize financial risk.
Services

We can help you by providing:



Mechanical Engineering Solutions: Designing for Performance, Efficiency & Innovation

Creative Mechanical Engineering Solutions for Product Development & Machine Design

In today’s competitive landscape, engineers and companies cannot afford to rely solely on intuition, guesswork, or legacy methods. Real success in product development and machine design depends on combining creativity, discipline, and rigorous analysis. At Hamilton By Design, our mission is clear: deliver mechanical engineering services that enhance performance, compress time to market, and reduce financial risk.

Here’s how we do it — and how we help clients build engineering confidence into every stage.


🧩 Core Services: From Concept to Realization

We work across the full mechanical value chain. Among our core offerings:

  • Design Reviews
    Before you commit to prototypes, we step in with critical evaluation — checking manufacturability, structural integrity, cost drivers, and alignment with system requirements.
    A design review isn’t just critique — it’s risk mitigation.

  • Concept Analysis
    Many projects get locked into a first idea and fail to explore alternatives.
    We perform parametric trade studies (e.g. stiffness vs. mass, cost vs. durability) early, so the “best” concept is chosen, not just the familiar one.

  • Product Design
    From mechanical layout to component specification, we bring holistic systems thinking — particularly in heavy machinery, mining equipment, conveyors, and rotating systems.

  • Engineering Analysis
    Using FEA, thermal modelling, and dynamic simulation, we validate every design under realistic load, environment, and usage scenarios. The goal is to find the limits before the product hits the field.

  • Rendered Images & Animations
    It’s one thing to build; it’s another to show. We generate high-fidelity renders and motion/flow animations to visualise operation, assembly sequence, or failure modes — useful for stakeholder review or marketing.

  • SolidWorks / CAD Solutions
    Whether you already use SolidWorks, or you need compatibility, we deliver parametric, well-organised CAD models, assemblies, and detailed drawings that work downstream across manufacturing, simulation, and maintenance teams.


🔧 Why These Services Matter — Real Engineering Value

1. Reducing Time-to-Market

A smooth transition from concept to prototype — with fewer redesign loops — means faster launches, less rework, and lower capital wasted.

2. Minimising Financial Risk

Every project carries cost risk: material overspec, underperformance, schedule delays. By injecting analysis early (reviews, FEA, concept modelling), we shrink that risk envelope.

3. Optimising Performance & Longevity

Machines, structures, and systems operate in harsh environments. Wear, fatigue, vibration, and thermal effects all degrade performance over time. Through simulation and validation, these failures can be anticipated and avoided.

4. Better Communication Across Stakeholders

Rendered visuals, animations, and simulation results help non-technical stakeholders (management, clients, operations) see why design decisions are made — building trust and clarity.


🏗 Engineering Examples: Where Theory Hits Practice

Here are a few illustrative scenarios where our capabilities deliver concrete advantage:

  • Mining Chutes & Hoppers
    Material flow, impact, and wear are unpredictable. By scanning as-built geometry and applying FEA/CFD models, we optimise shape, thickness, and backup structure to reduce jamming or high-stress zones.

  • Conveyor Frames & Shafts
    Long spans and dynamic loads demand stiff, low-mass designs. Modal analysis helps avoid resonant frequencies, while static FEA checks stresses and deflections under heavy load.

  • Heavy Machine Structures
    Large, welded subframes in mobile machinery are subject to fatigue, shock loads, and thermal gradients. We use combined analysis techniques to ensure long service life.

  • Thermal/Expansion Effects
    When equipment operates near heat sources or in fluctuating climates, thermal stress and expansion matter. We model temperature fields, thermal expansion, and structural stress to prevent binding or distortion.


🔍 Differentiators: Why Hamilton By Design

  1. Engineer-First Mindset
    We approach every project from first principles — not template-based. If a design doesn’t pass theory, we don’t proceed to CAD.

  2. Integrated Workflow
    Scanning, analysis, mechanical design, and CAD are handled in tight loops — so geometry is consistent, and iteration is fast.

  3. Data-Driven Decisions
    Every design choice is backed by data: stress plots, displacement maps, safety margins. We don’t rely on “rules of thumb” in critical systems.

  4. Client Collaboration
    We don’t just deliver drawings — we work alongside your team, sharing intermediate models, explaining trade-offs, and enabling you to make informed calls.


🚀 Taking Your Mechanical Design Further

If you’re working on a new machine, retrofitting plant equipment, or designing a rugged structural system — here’s how we can help:

  1. Book a Design Review or Concept Study. Let us audit your initial design, identify risk zones, and propose alternatives.

  2. Integrate Scanning & Simulation. Using modern scanning, we build as-built geometry to feed simulation and validate modifications.

  3. Iterate with Confidence. With mechanical analysis in every loop, you reduce guesswork and rework.

  4. Deliver a Complete Package. Rendered visuals, drawings, performance reports — everything your team needs to build confidently.


If you’re interested in learning how these mechanical engineering solutions can apply to your next project — whether mining, heavy machinery, materials handling, or industrial plant — I’d love to talk.

Let’s turn bold ideas into engineering reality.


 

Mechanical Engineering | Structural Engineering

Mechanical Drafting | Structural Drafting

3D CAD Modelling | 3D Scanning

Chute Design

SolidWorks Contractors in Australia

Hamilton By Design – Blog

Custom Designed - Shipping Containers

Coal Chute Design

Mechanical Engineers in Sydney

 





Monday, July 30, 2012

Functional projects can delivered on time

Hamilton By Design offer a complete mechanical design service our fabulous team provides full support to meet your design challenges.
 
Our Mechanical  Design Services include; 3-Dimensional Drafting, 3D-design and 2D-drafting to mining, maintenance and industrial industries. As a small business, we value every client, clients from Mining Services Companies, Designing Engineers, Architects, Project Managers and Fabricators

Many of our past projects have included:
  • Additional Design Resources
  • Additional Drafting Resources
  • Product Design and Development Services
  • Prototype Construction and Testing
  • Visualisations of your product ideas or parts
  • Concept design
  • Sheet metal design and development
To discover how functional projects can delivered on time and on budget contact  www.hamiltonbydesign.com today

Design Projects | On time | In Budget

Functional Projects Delivered On Time: Engineering with Integrity

At Hamilton By Design, we believe well-executed mechanical engineering isn’t a luxury — it’s the foundation of reliability, safety, and client trust. Every project we accept carries three core promises: functionality, timeliness, and budget discipline.

We deliver “functional projects on time” not by chance, but by design.


What We Do

Our mechanical design services span the complete spectrum of industrial requirements. Whether you’re in mining, maintenance, manufacturing or heavy industry, we support clients across disciplines:

  • 3D conceptual design / modelling

  • 2D drafting and documentation

  • Product development and prototyping

  • Sheet metal design and fabrication plans

  • Visualisations, renderings, and animations

  • Supplemental design & drafting resource support

We partner with mining services firms, design engineers, fabricators, project managers, architects, and all stakeholders who demand a practical, robust design partner.


The Challenge: Complexity, Deadlines & Cost Pressure

In mechanical projects, “late” often means cost blowouts, reputational harm, and safety compromises.
The typical obstacles include:

  • Incomplete or evolving specifications

  • Geometric clashes and interface surprises

  • Fabrication tolerances and assembly misalignments

  • Lack of resources or overcommitment

  • Delays from downstream changes or rework cycles

If you aren’t designing with these realities in mind, your “ideal” model rarely survives the transition to shop floor.


Our Approach: Engineering Discipline + Rigour

1. Early Concept Validation

We don’t wait until late stages to test ideas. Early trade studies—stiffness vs mass, cost vs durability, modularity vs permanence—help eliminate dead-end paths. That way, your concept starts with a strong chance.

2. Integrated Design & Drafting

Rather than forcing design handoffs, we mesh conception and documentation. This keeps geometry consistent from modelling to CNC, from fabrication to as-built. It means fewer surprises and less rework in manufacturing.

3. Simulation & Analysis

We apply finite element, static stress checks, thermal modelling, and modal analysis where needed to stress-test your concept long before fabrication. That ensures your part behaves before it’s cut from metal.

4. Iterative Prototyping & Testing

We believe in “fail fast, fix early.” Prototype cycles are short, feedback tight. You see performance in physical tests, we refine, repeat — before full rollout.

5. Transparent Project Management

We track scope, risks, and timeline deeply. Clients receive regular status updates, design flags, and cost forecasts. No surprises, no hidden deviations.


Why “Delivery” Matters as Much as Design

A beautifully engineered product is worthless if it never reaches site, or arrives late. Here’s what delivering on time enables:

  • Budget certainty — you aren’t paying for idle fabrication time or last-minute rework.

  • Operational readiness — your plant or machinery can go live when planned.

  • Trust & repeat business — on-time delivery is as reputational as technical quality.

  • Continuous improvement — you build a feedback loop: data from delivery, use, and maintenance inform the next design cycle.


Real-World Scenarios

  • Mining Hoppers & Chutes: In high-abrasion flow environments, even millimetre misalignment causes jamming. We validate geometry, material, and structural design so the system fits the flow from first install.

  • Structural Frames & Platforms: Vibration, fatigue, and thermal expansion all demand that the frame not just supports weight, but remains stable over cycles. Our designs consider real loads, not idealized ones.

  • Sheet Metal Assemblies: Fold lines, bending, weld deformations — we integrate manufacturing constraints into design so that production happens without constant “fudge factors.”

These examples show how functionality, durability, and delivery are inseparable in mechanical systems.


The Value Proposition: Why Clients Choose Us

  • Client focus over contract size — every client matters, not just the big names.

  • End-to-end support — from concept to installation, we stay part of the loop.

  • Engineering accountability — we don’t hand over “departments” or fragmented work; we deliver systems.

  • Clarity in communication — you always know where the design stands, what risks exist, and what trade-offs drive decisions.


Making Your Next Project Functional & On Time

If your next project demands reliability, craftsmanship, and zero surprises — here’s how to start:

  1. Engage early. Bring in engineering support at concept stage, not as a last-minute layer.

  2. Define constraints formally. Budget, schedule, critical interfaces — agree these early.

  3. Mandate simulation early. A lightweight stress check can catch 80% of fabrication mistakes.

  4. Use digital data loops. Let CAD, drafting, and modelling share geometry — avoid redrawing and rework.

  5. Track risks continuously. Change management, part tolerances, supplier capability — monitor them weekly.

With this approach, “functional, delivered on time, and on budget” becomes not a slogan, but a repeatable engineering promise.

 

Mechanical Engineering | Structural Engineering

Mechanical Drafting | Structural Drafting

3D CAD Modelling | 3D Scanning

Chute Design

SolidWorks Contractors in Australia

Hamilton By Design – Blog

Custom Designed - Shipping Containers

Coal Chute Design

Mechanical Engineers in Sydney

 



Sunday, July 22, 2012

Mechanical CAD

The reason mechanical drawings are very important is because they are the most important, first steps to creating a very good system. The mechanical CAD drawings reveal a lot of information about the system being designed and the tool makers use this information to produce the mechanical system or component.

With the advancement in mechanical CAD drawings, it has become very easy to create designs that account for all the possible defaults in the component, which can make calculations out of the given parameters and solve a lot of technical details for engineer’s right out of the design.

One of the most important factors in mechanical drawings is using the right persons to create your design. Converting ideas into design involves a lot of foresight and understand, along with a lot of experience. All this combined; it becomes vital to employ very experienced mechanical designers who understand the science of components in a mechanical system.

Smart Mechanical that runs on the SolidWorks platform offer the most cost effective methods of producing Mechanical Designs.

For more information  about CAD development and Smart Mechanical contact Hamilton By Design Today


Mechanical CAD: The Blueprint for Engineering Success

Mechanical CAD drawings are far more than just 2D sketches or visual aids. They are the foundation of every mechanical system, translating concept into manufacture and guiding the entire lifecycle of a component or assembly.

At Hamilton By Design, we view CAD not just as a tool, but as a strategic asset — a way to expose hidden constraints, validate design intent, and bridge the gap between engineering vision and practical execution.


Why Mechanical CAD Matter More Than Ever

  1. Communicating Design Intent
    A good mechanical CAD drawing tells a story. It shows dimensions, tolerances, welds, holes, surfaces, fits, clearances, and assembly relationships. Toolmakers, fabricators, and other engineers depend on that story to build reliably. If the CAD lacks clarity, confusion, errors and rework follow.

  2. Design Validation & Default Mitigation
    Modern CAD software allows designers to incorporate error checking, constraint logic, parametric relations, and behavioral rules. As you iterate models, the system can warn you of over-constraint, interference, geometry failure, or tolerance conflicts before prototyping. In effect, the CAD system becomes your first line of defense against design faults.

  3. Efficiency & Reuse
    An experienced mechanical designer doesn’t just draw — they foresee variation, leverage libraries, reuse modules, and build flexible systems. With the right skills, CAD becomes not just drafting, but design automation. The right parts, constraints, and relations reduce repetitive manual effort.


What Makes CAD Effective?

Skill & Experience

CAD is only as powerful as the person driving it. Crafting truly useful mechanical models requires understanding component behavior, material properties, manufacturing constraints, and system interactions. A designer must anticipate load paths, clearances, alignment, assembly, and servicing — not just sketch shapes.

Parametric & Constraint-Based Modeling

The backbone of advanced CAD is parametric modeling: dimensions, feature relations, and constraint definitions. Change one parameter (length, thickness, radius) and the model updates intelligently in all related parts. This flexibility is crucial for iteration, optimization, and design evolution.

Integration with Engineering Tools

CAD is stronger when integrated with analysis. A robust CAD setup enables:

  • Export of geometry to FEA for validation

  • Import of scanned (reality-capture) geometry to retrofit or reverse-engineer

  • Associative drawings, bills of material (BOMs), and simulation links to design

  • Version control and design comparison

At Hamilton By Design, we often start a project with a detailed CAD phase — refining curves, building assemblies, and layering relations — before simulation or fabrication begins.


Real-World Examples: CAD in Action

  • Mining Chutes & Hoppers
    Material flow, abrasive wear, and impact dynamics demand accurate geometry with sufficient tolerance and clearance. Good CAD ensures that liners, support scaffolds, flanges, and transition angles all align seamlessly.

  • Machine Frames & Baseplates
    CAD allows you to define structural webs, ribbing, weld reliefs, and precision mounting interfaces. You can manage deflection, assembly error, and vibration before anything is built.

  • Gearboxes / Enclosures
    You must maintain shaft alignments, bearing fits, and clearances for seals and lubrication. CAD plays a central role in capturing those relationships in one coherent model.

  • Custom Fabricated Parts
    Sheets, folds, bends, and welds all must be seamlessly represented. CAD can generate unfolded flat patterns, detailing bend allowances, and remap changes automatically.


Overcoming Common CAD Challenges

ChallengeStrategy
Design changes break modelsUse constraints, relations, and modular architecture so that changes propagate gracefully.
Too rigid or over-constrained geometryUse flexibility, selective constraints, and reference geometry to allow realistic motion.
Assembly misalignmentsUse locator features, alignment references, and intentional clearance offsets.
Poor documentationAutomate drawing views, annotation templates, and detail extraction to reduce manual error.
Version control chaosUse disciplined file-naming, version tracking, and change logs so that CAD evolution remains traceable.

CAD as a Strategic Asset

When properly leveraged, mechanical CAD delivers far more than lines and curves — it becomes a shared engineering environment, enabling:

  • Faster iterations, because geometry updates cascade predictably

  • Cross-disciplinary collaboration, since mechanical models link to electrical, control, and structural systems

  • Better handoffs to fabrication and procurement with error-free dimensioning and annotation

  • Digital continuity into downstream systems like simulation, PLM, and digital twin frameworks

In other words, CAD becomes the soul of engineering integrity: the core record that ties concept to reality.


How Hamilton By Design Leverages CAD in Practice

We don’t use CAD just to draw — we use it as an engineering platform. Our workflow might look like:

  1. Concept modelling — quick iterations using parametric sketches

  2. Constraint refinement — test assemblies, relative motion, fits

  3. Validation setup — export to FEA or retrofit scanned geometry

  4. Detailing & fabrication output — auto-generated drawings, BOMs, nesting

  5. Revision control & change propagation — maintain consistency across versions

That flow ensures that every physical part built from our CAD models behaves as designed — with fewer surprises and greater confidence.


Mechanical CAD, when wielded with discipline and insight, becomes more than a drafting tool — it becomes the first engineering validation step, a communication bridge, a manufacturing enabler, and a strategic asset in your project pipeline.

If your next mechanical project demands clarity, consistency, and performance, we’re ready to partner. Let’s convert your ideas into precision models — and your models into engineered reality.



 

Mechanical Engineering | Structural Engineering

Mechanical Drafting | Structural Drafting

3D CAD Modelling | 3D Scanning

Chute Design

SolidWorks Contractors in Australia

Hamilton By Design – Blog

Custom Designed - Shipping Containers

Coal Chute Design

Mechanical Engineers in Sydney

 




Monday, June 25, 2012

Mechanical Drawings Converted from 2d to 3d

2D to 3D Conversions focus is on converting 2D engineering drawings to 3D parametric master models. This allows manufacturing to directly input the data into Computer Numerical Control (CNC) and/or 
Computer Measuring Machine (CMC) which improve accuracy and speeds up production. Furthermore 2D conversation to 3D offer higher levels of design productivity in terms of and getting projects out the door in a more timely fashion in comparison to traditional 2D drawing methods. 

Conversion services may be limited to occasional field visits and certain contract administration requirements. Our clients are established engineering and/or manufacturing firms who require 3D model conversion services.






Mechanical Drawings Converted from 2D to 3D — Why It Matters

In many engineering and manufacturing environments, legacy 2D drawings—on paper or in CAD—still dominate. But converting those drawings into 3D parametric models unlocks far greater productivity, accuracy, and design flexibility.

At Hamilton By Design, we specialise in converting 2D mechanical drawings into robust 3D models, so that manufacturing, inspection, and design teams all work from the same, living dataset.


Why Convert 2D Drawings to 3D?

Here are the core benefits:

  • CNC / CMC Compatibility
    A 3D model can feed directly into Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines or Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM/CMC). That reduces error from manual interpretation, and accelerates machining and inspection.

  • Higher Design Productivity
    Designers working in full 3D parametric space can more quickly explore variations, assemblies, interference checks, and motion elements. Revisions ripple through the model automatically, not via manual redrawing.

  • Better Visualisation & Validation
    3D models allow stakeholders to see spatial relationships, clearance, interference, and access issues before fabrication. You avoid surprises in shop or onsite.

  • Reverse Engineering & Legacy Support
    Many projects start with old drawings, incomplete documentation, or even paper prints. Converting 2D to 3D lets you modernise those assets for future use and analysis.


What the Conversion Service Includes

When Hamilton By Design handles 2D → 3D conversions, these are standard components of our service offering:

  1. Import & Interpretation

    • We convert existing CAD files or scan/import paper drawings

    • We support 13+ common data formats (DWG, DXF, IGES, STEP, etc.)

    • We interpret drawing annotations, tolerances, and material notes

  2. Parametric 3D Modelling

    • Building mechanical components in full 3D

    • Creating assemblies with correct mates and motion constraints

    • Retaining design intent and allowing future edits

  3. Reverse Engineering & Analysis

    • For legacy or worn parts, we can reverse engineer geometry from 2D or scans

    • We support finite element (FEA) preparation if clients want to validate stress, deformation, or thermals

  4. Upgrades & Modifications

    • Once 3D models exist, we can adapt, optimise, or extend them

    • We quote modifications based on job scale, complexity, geometry clarity, and documentation state


How We Do It — Our Approach & Quality Controls

Converting drawings isn’t just copying shapes into 3D — it’s reinterpreting design intent in a living model. Here's how we make that reliable:

  • Interpret Annotations & Tolerances
    Dimensions, centrelines, surface finish, material notes — we map those from 2D to 3D metadata, so the model remains legally and functionally consistent.

  • Maintain Parametric Intent
    We build models with parametric constraints (driven dimensions, relations, features) so that future changes are easier and safe.

  • Assembly Validation
    We assemble parts in 3D to validate fit, motion, interference, and alignment. That ensures what’s drawn actually works in 3D space.

  • Quality Checking & Review
    After conversion, we review models — comparing against original drawings, cross-checking tolerances, and ensuring the geometry is accurate and clean.

  • Deliverables
    We provide the 3D model in your preferred CAD format, annotated 2D drawings, and often a “redline” list of areas needing client review (ambiguous features, missing dimensions, etc.).


Real-World Impact: Use Cases & Benefits

  • Reduced Lead Time in Manufacturing
    When machine shops receive a fully modelled part, they skip manual interpretation and setup. That cuts setup time, reduces fabrication error, and accelerates delivery.

  • Better Inspection & QA
    The 3D model can drive CMM measurement programmes directly — alignment, feature location, and tolerances can be validated more consistently.

  • Fewer Hidden Errors & Rework
    Spatial clashes, misalignment, and interference issues become visible in the 3D model — before parts are cut or welded.

  • Future-Proofing Legacy Assets
    Older drawings become digital assets. Once in 3D, you can perform modifications, simulations, and digital twin integration.

  • Interoperability & Collaboration
    3D models are easier to share between design, engineering, procurement, manufacturing, and downstream systems — no ambiguous sketches or misinterpretations.


Challenges & Best Practices

ChallengeMitigation / Approach
Ambiguous or incomplete drawingsWe highlight these areas and request clarifications or field measurements
Legacy or inconsistent standardsApply internal consistency rules and standardise dimensioning during modelling
Tolerance discrepanciesUse worst-case assumptions, flag areas for review, or request client verification
Assembly constraintsUse flexible mates or test-fit assemblies to observe motion correctness
Complex non-linear geometryDissect into sub-features or use reference geometry to reconstruct missing curves

By treating the conversion as an engineering re-interpretation, not just a drafting task, we ensure the resulting 3D models are robust, editable, and usable.


The Hamilton By Design Difference

We don’t just “draw in 3D” — we engineer for reuse, clarity, and forward motion. Our converted models are designed so they:

  • Support simulations and analysis (FEA, thermal, motion)

  • Integrate with downstream CAD, CAM, and manufacturing workflows

  • Adapt easily for modifications, upgrades, or new versions

  • Are captured with correct metadata, annotations, and feature intent

In short: we deliver converted models you can work with, not just view.


Starting a Conversion Project: What to Expect

  • Send us your 2D CAD files, PDF drawings, or paper scans

  • We review scope, complexity, and deliverables — supply a quote

  • We perform conversion (geometry + metadata)

  • We validate with you (review sessions, redlines)

  • We deliver a full 3D model package + 2D drawings

Throughout, we keep open communication to ensure design assumptions are aligned.


 


Mechanical Engineering | Structural Engineering

Mechanical Drafting | Structural Drafting

3D CAD Modelling | 3D Scanning

Chute Design

SolidWorks Contractors in Australia

Hamilton By Design – Blog

Custom Designed - Shipping Containers

Coal Chute Design

Mechanical Engineers in Sydney

 


Friday, June 1, 2012

Mechanical Design: Smart Mechanical - Solidworks Platform

Mechanical Design: Smart Mechanical - Solidworks Platform: Hamilton By Design offer first class mechanical design and detailing services in terms of quality furthermore over recent weeks Hamilton By...


Smart Mechanical Design: Where LiDAR Scanning Meets 3D Engineering

In today’s world of mechanical engineering, the smartest designs aren’t born from drawings alone — they’re born from data, precision, and adaptability.
At Hamilton By Design, we bring together the accuracy of LiDAR scanning and the intelligence of 3D mechanical modelling to redefine how machinery, chutes, hoppers, and industrial systems are conceived, built, and maintained.

The result is what we call smart mechanical design — where reality and design finally speak the same language.


🧭 What Is Smart Mechanical Design in 2025?

Traditional mechanical design begins with assumptions — estimated measurements, manual sketches, and outdated 2D drawings.
Smart design begins with truth.

By using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) scanning, we capture millions of 3D data points from the actual physical environment — every angle, weld, and tolerance.
That point cloud becomes the foundation for parametric 3D models, ensuring our mechanical systems fit exactly where they’re meant to, the first time.

Smart mechanical design combines:

  • Real-world field data

  • Intelligent 3D modelling

  • Engineering validation through simulation and analysis

It’s a full loop — from scanned reality to verified digital twin.


🛰️ From the Field to the Model: How LiDAR Transforms Design

Our engineers use high-precision LiDAR scanners to record existing plant layouts, equipment, and structures — often while systems remain live.

  1. Capture: A laser scan collects spatial data with millimetre accuracy.

  2. Process: The data is cleaned and converted into a dense 3D point cloud.

  3. Model: Engineers trace and rebuild geometry, converting surfaces and volumes into editable CAD features.

  4. Validate: 3D models are cross-checked against FEA, assembly motion, and manufacturing constraints.

  5. Deliver: The finished model integrates perfectly with your current infrastructure — no site clashes, no field modifications.

This workflow reduces on-site measuring, fabrication risk, and downtime — while dramatically improving design confidence.


⚙️ Smart Design in Practice

Every mechanical system — from a conveyor frame to a process hopper — lives in a real environment full of challenges: misalignment, uneven floors, outdated drawings, and tight maintenance access.
LiDAR scanning gives us a perfect digital copy of those constraints before design even begins.

1. Design for Fit and Function

Our 3D models reference the exact as-built environment. We design to fit, not to guess — ensuring that new structures, brackets, and machines align flawlessly.

2. Design for Serviceability

Because the scan captures surrounding clearance, we can plan for access, removal paths, and tool reach. This builds maintainability into the design.

3. Design for Longevity

Smart design considers vibration, load paths, and heat effects early. The 3D model becomes a living baseline — ready for future analysis, wear tracking, and retrofit.


🧩 Real-World Examples

  • Mining Chutes & Hoppers:
    LiDAR scanning captures existing geometry and deformation, letting us rebuild worn sections and design new liners or reinforcements that fit perfectly.

  • Conveyor Systems:
    Scanned data allows accurate alignment between drives, pulleys, and trusses, reducing belt tracking issues and assembly time.

  • Plant Retrofits:
    When upgrading or adding new equipment, LiDAR ensures that new models respect surrounding structures, pipework, and walkways — avoiding expensive clashes.

  • Machinery Frames:
    Using 3D data, we can simulate vibration and deflection on accurate as-built geometry, improving reliability and lifespan.


💡 Why Combine LiDAR and 3D Modelling?

AdvantageBenefit
Millimetre AccuracyEliminates manual measuring and guesswork
Reduced DowntimeCapture while systems stay operational
True Digital TwinCreates a baseline for future design and monitoring
Better Collaboration3D visuals everyone can understand
Faster FabricationModels translate directly to manufacturing data

By merging scanning and modelling, we deliver mechanical systems that aren’t just designed well — they’re designed to reality.


🧠 Engineering with Data-Driven Integrity

Once the 3D model is complete, we run structural and thermal simulations to validate design performance.
Our engineers check stresses, vibration, fatigue, and thermal expansion — using data that reflects actual geometry, not theoretical shapes.

It’s engineering integrity powered by digital precision.
And when the system goes live, we can rescan it later to track performance, compare wear, and plan upgrades — all within the same digital framework.


🏗️ The Hamilton By Design Difference

What sets our approach apart is the integration of three disciplines:

  1. Field capture — accurate LiDAR scanning by experienced mechanical engineers

  2. Digital modelling — intelligent 3D reconstruction with parametric logic

  3. Engineering analysis — FEA and validation for safety, stiffness, and performance

We don’t just create models; we create living engineering records — data that evolves with your plant, enabling faster retrofits and smarter design decisions.


🚀 Smart Design for a Smarter Future

Mechanical engineering is moving from reactive maintenance to predictive intelligence.
By combining LiDAR scanning and 3D mechanical design, we’re giving our clients the tools to see, understand, and improve their systems before a problem arises.

At Hamilton By Design, smart mechanical design means combining field reality with digital foresight — turning physical data into insight, and insight into engineering confidence.


 

Mechanical Engineering | Structural Engineering

Mechanical Drafting | Structural Drafting

3D CAD Modelling | 3D Scanning

Chute Design

SolidWorks Contractors in Australia

Hamilton By Design – Blog

Custom Designed - Shipping Containers

Coal Chute Design

Mechanical Engineers in Sydney