Computer-Aided Design (CAD) skills involving the creation of 3D mechanical components and detailed engineering drawings using SolidWorks.

• 3D Part Modelling — Create mechanical components using sketches, extrusions, cuts, fillets, chamfers, holes, and other features.

• Assembly Modelling — Combine individual components into assemblies and define their relationships using mates.

• Engineering Drafting — Produce technical drawings from 3D models using standard orthographic, sectional, and isometric views.

• Dimensioning & Tolerancing — Apply accurate dimensions, tolerances, annotations, and manufacturing specifications.

• Section Views — Create sectional drawings to reveal internal features and verify component geometry.

• Design Interpretation — Read and interpret engineering drawings to reconstruct accurate 3D models.

• Design for Manufacturing (DFM) — Develop models with consideration for machining, fabrication, material selection, and manufacturability.

• Technical Documentation — Generate professional drawings and documentation suitable for manufacturing and engineering communication.

🔧 Example: Mechanical Mounting Bracket

The drawing shown demonstrates the workflow of:

Engineering Drawing → 3D CAD Model → Assembly/Visualization → Manufacturing Drawing

Key skills demonstrated include:

• Reading orthographic projections

• Interpreting section B–B

• Translating dimensions into 3D geometry

• Creating holes and cylindrical features

• Applying fillets/radii

• Producing an isometric model

• Creating a manufacturing-ready technical drawing

SolidCAM is a Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software used to program CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines. It integrates with CAD platforms such as SOLIDWORKS and allows engineers and machinists to transform 3D CAD models into toolpaths and CNC machine instructions.

Developed practical experience in operating 3D printing equipment to produce physical components from digital 3D models.

• Printer Operation — Prepared and operated 3D printers for additive manufacturing.

• Print Preparation — Prepared the print bed, loaded filament, and configured basic printing parameters.

• Digital-to-Physical Manufacturing — Converted digital CAD models into physical components through additive manufacturing.

• Print Monitoring — Monitored printing processes to identify issues such as warping, layer defects, or print failure.

• Material Handling — Worked with 3D-printing filament and understood basic material requirements.

• Post-Processing — Removed completed prints from the build plate and performed basic finishing where required.

• Quality Inspection — Checked printed components for dimensional accuracy, surface quality, and visible defects.

• Machine Safety — Followed appropriate operating and safety procedures when working with 3D-printing equipment.

Performed basic turning operations including workpiece setup, facing, turning, drilling, and dimensional measurement.

Performed basic milling operations including workpiece setup, cutting, slotting, drilling, and dimensional measurement.

Learnt & operated surface grinding equipment for controlled material removal, surface finishing, and dimensional accuracy. 

Developed foundational knowledge & operations of CNC milling processes, machine setup, tooling, workholding, and basic machining operations & Mazatrol Programming.

Developed foundational knowledge & operated the CNC turning processes, tooling, workpiece setup, machine operation, and basic program interpretation.

Learnt tensile testing to evaluate material strength, deformation, and mechanical performance under controlled loading.

Learnt compression testing to evaluate material behavior, deformation, and load-bearing performance under compressive forces.

Used to check the pitch and profile of threaded components.

• Identifies the thread pitch of screws, bolts, and threaded holes.

• Helps determine whether internal or external threads match the required specification.

• Common types include Go/No-Go thread gauges and thread pitch gauges.

• Useful for quality control, machining, and inspection.

A versatile precision measuring instrument for determining dimensions accurately.

• Measures outside dimensions, inside dimensions, and depth.

• Uses a main scale and vernier scale for precise readings.

• Suitable for measuring components such as shafts, holes, slots, and plates.

• Commonly used in engineering, machining, fabrication, and quality inspection.

A high-precision instrument used to measure small dimensions with greater accuracy than a caliper.

• Measures thickness, diameter, and other external dimensions.

• Uses a precision screw mechanism to move the spindle.

• Available in different types, including outside, inside, and depth micrometers.

• Commonly used for precision machining and dimensional inspection.

Used to mark, compare, and measure the height or position of features relative to a reference surface.

• Typically used on a surface plate.

• Helps scribe accurate lines at specific heights.

• Can be used to check alignment, flatness, and component positioning.

• Useful in machining, layout work, and precision inspection.