Mechanical Design

With over 50 years combined experience, our mechanical design engineers have a working knowledge of many different industries and technologies. They are adept at designing both single components and complicated assemblies, often using the latest manufacturing techniques available. We are able to design for many different manufacturing processes, with a broad knowledge of material selection and process optimisation. We have extensive workshop facilities which allow us to build working prototypes for physical testing and validation.

Our mechanical engineers also have vast experience of electro-mechanical design, and can liaise directly with our electrical engineers in order to arrive at the best possible solution for our clients.

Electrical Design

Our electrical engineers have a vast and varied experience, from designing full control systems for production line equipment, to simple electro-mechanical test rigs for life testing of concepts.

They are experienced at producing a specification from scratch, or designing a control panel to meet a clients existing specification.

More often than not it is possible at C-Tech for electrical and mechanical design engineers to work together on a project, ensuring the highest level of integration for electro-mechanical products.

CAD Services

Our design engineers predominantly work with Solid Works and ProEngineer, which allows us to produce both 3D and 2D CAD files. If we are designing a new product for a client we will produce 3D models for concept evaluation. These models can also be used for Finite Element Analysis, CFD analysis and prototype creation. From the 3D CAD data it is possible to CNC machine the part itself, or the tooling required to make the part.

We can also produce a full set of 2D manufacturing drawings, from the 3D data, for the client to use themselves for sourcing their own manufactured components.

We can also provide 3D models generated from clients existing 2D drawings, and provide these files in any chosen format.

Product Design Specification

In liaison with our clients, C-Tech will write a detailed Product Design Specification (PDS). This document, once approved by the client, is used to fully describe what is required for any specific design project.

The PDS sets the parameters within which our design engineers will work, and a measure or our success will be how well we fulfill the requirements set out in it. The PDS can be modified, either by client or C-Tech, as the project progresses, so long as all parties agree with the changes.

C-Tech engineers are skilled at writing Product Design Specifications, and believe it is a necessary document in order to ensure a successful project.

Concept Design

At C-Tech we have a number of staff from various disciplines who are adept at generating concept designs from a client’s brief. Whether we receive a detailed design specification, or just the beginnings of an idea, we can transform this into several different concepts for further evaluation through brainstorming sessions.

The concepts can be modelled in 3D CAD for easier understanding, and they become a focus for more detailed discussion.

With our extensive knowledge of engineering design, we can quickly arrive at a final concept that both fulfils the original design brief and is also practical to manufacture economically.

Product Development

Once a concept has been generated, C-Tech can then develop the product into a final working design. There are several different activities required within the product development stage.

We will first fully detail the 3D CAD model, ensuring all components and features are designed such that they can me manufactured.  As the next step, it is possible to use these CAD models to analyse areas such as strength, weight, heat transfer etc, dependent upon the design specification requirements. At this stage, any re-design required can be made before the expense of getting prototypes produced.

Once happy with the analyses, C-Tech can produce prototypes for aesthetic and functional evaluation. We have an internal workshop and laboratory facility for both the manufacture and testing of such prototypes.

Following any further development of the product as a result of the physical testing, a final 3D model is produced, ready for pre-production manufacture.

Value Engineering

As part of any design project for a client, C-Tech will always ensure the product being designed is value engineered. This involves checking the design is optimised for the correct manufacturing process, the correct material is utilised, and the minimum amount of waste is created.

For instance, using FEA tools can ensure the weight of a component is minimised whilst still maintaining its strength. Alternatively, if a component is to be injection moulded, the design will be such that the tooling cost is as low as possible, and the amount of waste plastic produced is minimised.

C-Tech Design can also carry out stand alone Value Engineering projects for clients who may already have a working design, but are looking to reduce costs of manufacture, weight of component, assembly costs etc.

Reverse Engineering

It is possible for us to carry out a Reverse Engineering project for a client. This may be required when a client has a product which they currently sell that was inherited from another company. Although tooling may currently exist for it, they may not have the original manufacturing drawings. We can strip products down, inspect, measure and model the components and provide the client with a full set of manufacturing drawings for that product. These drawings can then be used by the client to invest in new tooling etc.