Sound familiar?
- Your best-selling part only exists as a 1990s paper drawing
- A supplier needs a STEP file and all you have is a PDF
- The laser cutter keeps rejecting your DXF files
- Your instruction manual was written by an engineer in Word and looks like it
- The product catalogue is three years out of date
- Trade show stand graphics arrive late and don't match the brochure
Key facts
- 2D and 3D CAD at £45 an hour + VAT, or a fixed quote for a defined drawing pack
- Drawings laid out to BS 8888 and ISO 128 conventions, first or third angle projection as you specify
- Files supplied as DWG, DXF, STEP (AP214 or AP242), IGES, STL and PDF
- Paper and legacy drawings converted to editable CAD
- Instruction manuals and technical literature laid out for print and PDF
- Product and factory photography on location, from £25 + VAT per image or £295 + VAT a half day
- Catalogues and trade show graphics quoted or at £45 an hour + VAT
Technical drawings your suppliers can quote from
A good drawing removes guesswork. We produce technical drawings following BS 8888, the UK's framework for technical product specification, which points to ISO standards such as ISO 128 for presentation and ISO 129 for dimensioning. Tell us whether you work in first angle (common in UK and European practice) or third angle projection, and we will set the projection symbol and views to match.
Each sheet includes a title block, material and finish notes, a general tolerance standard such as ISO 2768 unless you specify otherwise, geometric tolerances where the function needs them, and a revision table. Drawings come as PDF for quoting and DWG for your own files. Simple part drawings are charged at £45 an hour + VAT; larger drawing packs can be fixed-price.
3D CAD models and the right exchange format
Most suppliers now quote from a 3D model. We build 3D CAD models from sketches, samples, measurements or old drawings and export in neutral formats: STEP for machining and injection moulding, IGES for older systems, STL or 3MF for 3D printing, and DXF for flat profiles. If your toolmaker works in SolidWorks, Fusion or Inventor, ask what they prefer and we will supply that.
Where a model needs to carry tolerances and notes itself, STEP AP242 can include 3D product and manufacturing information (PMI), so the model can travel without a separate drawing. Many shops still want a 2D drawing alongside, so we usually supply both. For sheet metal, our fabrication drawings include a flat pattern DXF with bend lines on a separate layer, which is what most laser cutters ask for.
Bring old drawings back to life
Many manufacturers have parts that only exist on paper, microfiche or a scanned PDF. Scanning is not enough: a raster scan cannot be edited or sent to a CNC programmer. Our CAD conversion service redraws them as clean, layered DWG or a 3D model, checks dimensions add up, and flags any that conflict so your engineers can decide. Conversion is charged at £45 an hour + VAT, and a small sample is a sensible first step on a large archive. Tell us which revision is current before we start, because old archives often hold several versions of the same part.
Instruction manuals and product marking
For machinery supplied in Great Britain, the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 require instructions in English that cover how the machine should be used and maintained. We lay out manuals so they are usable on a workshop bench: numbered steps, exploded views drawn from your CAD, warning panels that stand out, a parts list and a contents page. We supply print-ready files and a searchable PDF. You and your technical team remain responsible for the safety content; we make it clear.
Product marking has changed too. UK government regulations made in 2024 mean CE marking is recognised in Great Britain indefinitely for most product regulations, including machinery, electrical equipment and toys, so UKCA is optional for those, while some sectors such as construction products and medical devices follow different rules. We design rating plates and labels with space for whichever marks apply, artwork drawn to the official proportions.
Catalogues, exhibitions and photography
A product catalogue is often the main sales tool for a manufacturer. We design catalogues with consistent product pages, specification tables and part numbers, and can supply templates so new products slot in. For trade shows, exhibition stand graphics are quoted or charged at £45 an hour + VAT, and we work to the stand builder's templates.
We photograph products, processes and people on location in your factory, from £25 + VAT per image for product shots or £295 + VAT for a half day. Travel outside Mansfield and Nottinghamshire is quoted. If your website needs specialist software, such as product configurators or customer portals, our sister company dijitul developments builds them.
What you get
- Dimensioned 2D drawings with title block, tolerances and revision table, as PDF and DWG
- 3D CAD models as STEP, IGES, STL or native formats on request
- Sheet metal flat patterns as DXF for laser, plasma or punch
- Instruction manual and technical data sheet layouts, print-ready and accessible PDF
- Product catalogue design with editable templates
- Factory, process and product photographs as edited high-resolution files
How it works and what it costs
Logos from £150, brochures from £295, photography from £295 a half day and CAD at £45 an hour, all + VAT. You get a fixed price before we start.
Tell us the brief
What it is for, who will see it, where it will be used and any examples you like. Rough is fine.
Fixed price
We confirm the price and what you get, in writing, before any work starts.
First designs
We design, shoot or model it and share the first version for your comments.
Refine
We make the changes, check every detail, and prepare the files properly for print, web or manufacture.
Final files
You get the finished files in the formats you need, ready for your printer, website, social channels or manufacturer.
Frequently asked questions
How much do CAD drawings cost?
dijitul charges £45 an hour + VAT for 2D and 3D CAD work, or a fixed price for a defined drawing pack. A simple single-part drawing takes far less time than an assembly with multiple sheets. Send a sketch, sample photo or existing drawing and we will quote before starting.
Do you draw to BS 8888?
Yes. dijitul lays out drawings following BS 8888 and the ISO standards it references, including ISO 128 for presentation. We use first or third angle projection as you specify, apply your general tolerance standard, and include a title block and revision table on every sheet.
What file format does my manufacturer need?
Ask them, but common answers are STEP for machining and moulding, DXF for laser and plasma cutting, STL or 3MF for 3D printing and PDF for quoting. dijitul supplies all of these, plus DWG and IGES, and can export to native formats where the supplier asks.
Can you convert paper drawings into CAD?
Yes. dijitul redraws paper, microfiche or scanned drawings as editable DWG files or 3D models, checks that dimensions are consistent and flags any conflicts. Conversion is charged at £45 an hour + VAT. Starting with a small batch helps confirm the approach before a full archive is converted.
Do I need UKCA or CE marking on my product?
For many product types, including machinery and electrical equipment, CE marking is now recognised in Great Britain indefinitely, so UKCA is optional. Some sectors, such as construction products and medical devices, follow different rules. dijitul designs rating plates and labels; your compliance team should confirm which marks apply.
Can you design our machine instruction manual?
Yes. dijitul lays out instruction manuals with numbered steps, exploded views from your CAD, warning panels and parts lists, supplied as print-ready files and searchable PDF. Your engineers provide and approve the safety content. Manual layout is charged at £45 an hour + VAT or quoted for a fixed page count.
Related
Get a fixed price
Send a rough brief. You'll know exactly what it costs before we start.