Contact / Get a Quote

 

Axis and Datums Design - CAD and DFM Consultancy Logo

Please fill out the form below to get started. I will respond within 24 hours

Comments

New comments are not allowed.

Popular posts from this blog

Why Your Bottom Bracket Creaks: An Designer's Deep Dive into Tolerance, Not Design

Image
  Why Your Bottom Bracket Creaks: An Engineer’s Deep Dive into Tolerance, Not Design Introduction: The Engineering Flaw in the "Aerospace" Frame For a decade, the cycling world has battled a frustrating mechanical ghost: the bottom bracket creak. We’ve been told it's a normal part of riding, or that an expensive ceramic bearing is the fix. At Axis and Datums, we approach this problem not as frustrated riders, but as mechanical engineers specialising in Design for Manufacture (DFM) . The creak is not a mystery; it is a clear symptom of a fundamental failure in manufacturing tolerance control —a crisis where the final product fails to align with the precision of the CAD model. You’ve invested in a frame built on "aerospace-grade" principles. We believe the interfaces on that frame should meet aerospace standards, too. 1. The Real Enemy: Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) Failure The BB shell is the most critical interface on a bicycle frame. When t...
Read more

The Pencil Test: Why a Sketch Can Outsmart the Most Advanced CAD

Image
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...
Read more

The Costly Mistake of Over-Tolerancing: Why Your Drawings Are Making Your Machining Bills Skyrocket

Image
  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...
Read more