Outdoor Product CAD and Technical Documentation
As part of our core offering, we’re constantly performing CAD modeling services and technical product documentation for new product development.
Some of our CAD services include early concept models, form and volume check models, design verification and development prototypes, and CAD for real-time ergonomic and error checking. Once we’ve completed our 2D exploration, we streamline the design process by integrating CAD modeling into the product development process. Once we’re in CAD, we rapidly iterate on concepts and validate ideas early in the process using our internal rapid prototyping services.
Our industrial design team integrates creativity with technical expertise to produce functional and aesthetically pleasing designs that resonate with consumers. In-house CAD modeling allows us to optimize designs for manufacturing while working with our engineering and manufacturing counterparts. By shepherding the product’s original design intent through to manufacturing, we can ensure the final product meets testing standards while staying true to the original design intent. This integration streamlines the path to production and can reduce costly changes in production. Our technical product documentation provides comprehensive guides for manufacturing, quality control, and assembly processes, ensuring accurate production and adherence to specifications. Partnering with Trailside Creative guarantees high-quality outcomes, market success, and a seamless transition from design to manufacturing.
Product experimentation is a fundamental part of validating a new product. Testing product performance throughout the development process and prior to launching helps our team avoid backtracking and de-risks quality assurance complications post-launch.
While some brands have full in-house test labs and product testers, many brands and entrepreneurs choose to lean on our product testing services to gather valuable feedback during the development process. Our in-house testing is an integral part of gaining insights and optimizing products.
The best part about partnering with our team to bring your outdoor product to market is that some experimentation is always built-in. Since we’re a team of outdoor enthusiasts, we’re likely users of your product. Get to know our team and take a look at some of our favorite outdoor hobbies. We’re as close as you can get to having your customers design your product.
For hard goods with materials like plastics, metals, etc, a CAD (computer-aided design) file is created to represent the design in a digital, 3D format. CAD files and tech packs serve as blueprints for product designs, and they’re common deliverables from an engagement with Trailside.
CAD Modeling Services
As part of our one-stop-shop offering, CAD product design is almost always part of our process when designing a new hard-good product. Not all CAD files are created equal, so it’s important that they’re built correctly and with the appropriate end goal in mind. Learn more about our product design firm to see why our CAD modeling services are a step above the rest.
Here are the four most common distinctions between CAD models:
Sketch CAD
Sketch CAD is the lowest fidelity model and shows general forms in 3D space. The purpose of sketch CAD is to show proportions and visualize the aesthetics and balance of a product.
Surface CAD
Surface CAD is a model of the exterior surface of a product, with all of the correct dimensions and features. The purpose of surface CAD is to lock in the details of the exterior aesthetics. These models can be built from scratch or 3D scanned based on a physical model.
Full-feature CAD
Full-feature CAD is a model that includes all of the exterior and interior features of a product. Interior features might include details like battery compartments, wall thicknesses, or door catches. This fidelity of CAD is meant to show all of the designed components and details.
DFM-CAD
DFM-CAD is a model that includes all of the final DFM (design for manufacturing) details that are necessary for the intended manufacturing process. Details like draft, ribs and anchor points ensure compliance with manufacturing constraints.
Technical Drawings
While far less common than they used to be, technical drawings are used to convey the final intended design to the manufacturer. These drawings, along with technical writing and callouts, clarify any complex details and are part of the integrated services we offer.
CAD isn’t Just for Hardgoods!
Products made with textiles and other highly flexible materials are usually considered soft goods. This category covers products like shoes, bags, backpacks, and any wearable products such as outerwear and other technical clothing. The Trailside Creative team utilizes our cut-and-sew prototyping shop as well as the latest CAD technology to develop cutting-edge soft good products.
When you think of “CAD models“ you might think of objects like cars and spaceships spinning around on a computer screen, but you’ve likely also seen images of shoes or backpack models floating on your screen, or even animations of clothes moving without anyone inside. CAD models like these, in addition to the technical documentation that accompanies them, are all part of the CAD modeling service that Trailside Creative offers as a part of our soft good product development services. 3D CAD modeling for soft goods is a great way to rapidly iterate on designs and speed up the technical documentation process. For soft goods, the technical documentation is referred to as a “Tech Pack”, which represents the design instructions for a factory to produce your product.
Partner With Us For Your CAD & Tech Documentation Needs
When it comes to CAD and technical documentation, our expertise is deep. Trailside Creative is your partner if you need superior quality designs and thorough attention to detail. Contact us today to learn more about our process.
