Axis and Datums

Introduction: The Tactile Gap in Digital Design In the world of precision engineering, the CAD system—be it Onshape, SolidWorks, or Fusion 360—is, without a doubt, king. As the founder of Axis and Datums, my whole workflow is based on these powerful digital platforms. However, I believe the most powerful tool in a designer's kit is not the software but the process. I recently saw a fantastic LinkedIn post that highlighted an engineering mistake missed in the CAD model but instantaneously spotted on a simple paper sketch. This is not an anomaly; it is a profound reminder that traditional techniques still have so much value, and indeed these forms a core part of my personal design philosophy. This post will explain why, as a designer and keen artist, believe in starting with the basics—the humble pencil and paper and why this "low-tech" approach remains one of the most powerful tools in my design arsenal. The Artist's Process & The Designer's Solution As a...

  The Costly Mistake of Over-Tolerancing: Why Your Drawings Are Making Your Machining Bills Skyrocket The single most expensive mistake I see on a technical drawing isn't a complex 3D surface or an exotic material. It's a simple part, like a mounting bracket, with a dimensional tolerance that's 10 times tighter than it needs to be. As a CAD designer who lives and breathes Design for Manufacture (DFM), I see this constantly. It's a hidden cost-killer that many engineers and product developers, especially those removed from the shop floor, overlook. They're unknowingly adding 30%, 50%, or even 100% to their machining costs for "precision" that provides no functional benefit. You are paying for precision you don't use. Today, I'm breaking down what over-tolerancing is, why it happens, and how to fix it—saving you money and time on your very next production run. Why a Machinist Quotes the  Drawing , Not the  Part? When a machini...

An independent amateur rally driver in the UK needed a robust and rapidly interchangeable solution to adapt their rear suspension setup between varied race conditions, often requiring a change of their anti-roll bar diameter mid-event. The client’s initial concept lacked the necessary manufacturing detail and risked being overly heavy and slow to adjust. The core problem was balancing high-performance design with manufacturing efficiency. Critical Need: The bracket must allow for an anti-roll bar swap in minimal service time (seconds, not minutes). Performance Requirement: The component needed intelligent features to reduce mass without compromising the structural integrity essential for harsh rally stages. Target Material & Process: CNC machined from 6061 Aluminium, with complex features on the main body requiring a 4-axis machining centre. The DFM ( Design for Manufacture) Solution: Intelligent Feature Design and 4-Axis Optimisation Axis and Datums Design, a specialist CAD Design...