Product Design Services: From Napkin Sketch to Manufacturing-Ready CAD

By Mike Moussa, PE — Most of our clients don’t start with a CAD file. They start with a sketch, a broken part, or just an idea. Here’s how we turn concepts into manufacturable designs.

What We Actually Do

Product design isn’t just making a pretty 3D model. It’s designing a part that:

Works — meets the functional requirements (strength, fit, sealing, thermal, etc.)
Can be made — is manufacturable with available processes and materials
Won’t cost a fortune — is optimized for the target manufacturing process
Fits together — interfaces correctly with mating parts and assemblies

The difference between a “designer” and an “engineer who designs” is the second part. Anyone can make a pretty model. Making one that actually works, can be manufactured, and doesn’t cost 3x what it should — that takes engineering experience.

Our Design Process

Phase 1: Understand the Problem ($0)

We start with a conversation. What does this part need to do? What environment does it live in? What are the constraints? This is free — we need to understand your project before we can quote it.

Phase 2: Concept Design ($500-$1,500)

We create 1-3 concept designs — 3D models that explore different approaches to solving your problem. You review them, pick a direction, and we refine.

Deliverables: 3D renderings, basic dimensions, material recommendations.

Phase 3: Detailed Design ($1,000-$5,000)

The selected concept becomes a fully detailed, dimensioned, toleranced design ready for manufacturing. This includes:

Complete 3D CAD model (STEP + native format)
2D engineering drawings with GD&T where needed
Material specifications
Manufacturing process recommendation
BOM (Bill of Materials) for assemblies

Phase 4: Prototype and Validate ($200-$3,000)

We build the prototype in-house (3D printing, CNC, or casting), test it, and iterate. Most designs need 2-3 rounds of refinement before they’re ready for production.

Design for Manufacturing (DFM)

This is where engineering experience pays for itself. A part designed by someone who understands manufacturing will cost 30-50% less to produce than one designed in isolation.

DFM means:

Proper draft angles for injection molding (so the part ejects from the mold)
Appropriate wall thicknesses (too thin = weak, too thick = expensive and warps)
Features that match the manufacturing process (3D printing allows different features than CNC)
Assembly-friendly design (snap fits instead of screws, self-aligning features)
Standard hardware where possible (don’t custom-make a bolt)

What You Can Start With

We’ve started projects from all of these:

📝 A napkin sketch with dimensions
📸 Photos of a broken part
📦 A physical part shipped to us
💡 A verbal description of the problem
📄 An existing 2D drawing (even hand-drawn)
🖥️ A partial CAD model that needs finishing
🔧 A competitor’s product you want to improve on

What It Costs

Honest answer: $500-$7,000 for most projects, depending on complexity.

Simple single part: $500-$1,500
Multi-part assembly: $1,500-$3,500
Complex product (electronics + enclosure + mechanisms): $3,500-$7,000+

These are real numbers from real projects, not padded estimates. We bill hourly ($95/hr) or fixed-price depending on project clarity.

Start a Conversation

Tell us what you’re trying to build. We’ll tell you what it’ll take — timeline, cost, and process. No commitment, no pressure.

📧 info@partsnap.com | 📞 (214) 449-1455 | Describe Your Project