Mechanical Design Drafting Services
At Next Level CAD, we specialise in 2D and 3D modelling that brings your project to life with 100% accuracy and more control. Our 3D models give you a clear, realistic view of your project and design, helping you visualise every angle and iron out potential issues before construction begins. This means fewer surprises, smoother project execution and better communication between all parties.
While our preference is to work with Autodesk Inventor, we can work with nearly all 3D modelling software packages to ensure our work is native to your requirements. If you require a specific 3D format at the end of the job, we will make sure you get your files and that you can use them before we consider our job done. If we can’t we won’t take on your job.
Benefits of Our 3D Modelling Technology
Highly Realistic
Seeing your designs in 3D gives you an exact image of what your end project will look like, making it easier to spot issues and communicate clearly with other parties.
Improved Accuracy
3D modelling helps detect design clashes or design problems early, saving you or your clients time and money during the construction or modification process.
Simplified Changes
While making changes to traditional models can take time, you can adjust one part of a 3D design and have all the related components updated automatically.
Supports Modern Processes
Whether for technical plans, showcasing designs or a proposal, our 3D models work well with many other platforms, including simulations and virtual walkthroughs.
3D versus 2D Drafting — We Can Help With Both
Don’t let the name and our emphasis on 3D fool you, while we love our 3D, we realise that it is awfully difficult to make things from a 3D model alone. To us, there is something very satisfying about seeing a well done drawing. It doesn’t matter too much if that drawing is of a simple bearing shaft, a platform and tank farm or a whole processing facility — we love to do great drawings for our clients. As such we are also exceptionally well versed in the use of AutoCAD.
Whether it is a rough floor plan or a detailed design, we can do it in AutoCAD for you. If your job requires accurate detailed DXF files for profile cutting or other machining processes, we can do that too. We can even supply drawings done in most 3D software in a DWG or DXF format.
It doesn’t matter what it is we are putting into a drawing, we ensure our drawings are clear, easy to read and have all the required information on them. We have very strict drafting standards that we work to and are always happy to work to your standards using your templates, if required.
Advanced Point Cloud Model Solutions
With the world starting to migrate to using point clouds, it is more important than ever to keep up with the latest developments in this area. At Next Level CAD, we not only work with point clouds, but capture them also with our Leica P30 Scanstation (3D Laser scanner). This means we are 100% in control of the quality of the process. Meaning that your jobs will be done faster and more accurately than with traditional methods or by having the scans done by another service provider.
Frequently Asked Questions About 3D Drafting
What is 3D modelling?
3D drafting or modeling is the process of creating a digital, three-dimensional model of a structure, product or component using specialised software. Unlike traditional 2D drawings, 3D models provide depth and detail, allowing you to view and explore a design from any angle for more accuracy before building or manufacturing.
What is a Point Cloud?
As the name suggests, a point cloud is a series of points in 3D space. Just like the Dot-to-Dot or Join the Dot books from your childhood, a Point cloud is a 3D series of points depicting something that has been digitally scanned in some way, minus the lines to make the picture.
Is 3D modelling like drawing?
Yes and no. 3D modelling may start with creating shapes and forms, it’s more like sculpting or constructing the structure on your computer, rather than a flat drawing on paper. They have depth that you can move, zoom in on and see from any angle, which you can’t do with a normal 2D drawing.
How big are the point cloud files?
The size of a point cloud file depends on the number of scans in the point cloud, if it was done inside or outside, the amount of detail in the line of sight of the scanner and the scan settings used. From our experience, the average point cloud file is between 10 to 30GB, however, they can be reduced to 0.5 to 2GB once all excess data has been stripped from the point cloud.
Can my software work with point clouds?
Most of the leading software companies have modified thier software to handle large point cloud data sets.
Below is a list of some of the leading 3D software on the market and (that we know of so far) the point cloud file formats they can use/import.
Autodesk Recap – Recap .RCP & .RCS files, Leica .PTX, .PTS, .PTG & .PRJ files, Faro .FLS, .FWS, .ISPRJ & .XYB files, Lidar .LAS files, Zoller & Frolich .ZFS & .ZFPRJ files, Topcon .CL3 & .CLR files, Riegl .RDS files, Autodesk Point Could files .PCG and .E57, .XYZ, .TXT & .ASC Point Cloud files.
Autodesk AutoCAD – Recap files RCP & RCS
Autodesk Revit – Recap files RCP & RCS
Autodesk 3DS Max – Recap files RCP & RCS
(Most Autodesk products can attach a Recap .RCP or .RCS file.)
Archicad – E57 & XYZ
Vectorworks – Leica .PTS files, Lidar .LAS files and .E57 & .XYZ Point Cloud files.
Sketchup (with the UNDET4SketchUp addon) – Leica .PTS files, Faro .FLS & .FWS files, Topcon .CL3 & .CLR files, Zoller & Frolich .ZFS files, Lidar .LAS files, and .E57, .XYZ, .ASC, .FPR, .LSPROJ & .RSP Point Cloud files.
SolidWorks – .XYZ, .TXT & .ASC
If you do not see your software here it does not necessarily mean it will not work with point cloud data, it just means we have not come across it yet. We are happy to help as much as we are able to, so if you have any doubts, feel free to get in touch at any time.
Let’s Draft Your Next Big Idea
Whether you need help fleshing out a concept, reverse engineering a legacy part, or producing a complete set of shop-ready drawings, Next Level CAD is ready to jump in and deliver.