CAD Design & 3D Printing Services Sheffield
At Starweld Engineering, we combine 80 years of Sheffield fabrication expertise with modern CAD design and 3D printing services. From initial concepts through to finished metal components, we deliver complete digital-to-physical engineering for clients across Sheffield, Yorkshire and the wider UK — under one ISO 9001:2015 certified workflow.
Professional CAD Design — From Concept to Manufacture
Our in-house CAD design team works closely with you to develop accurate, production-ready models tailored to the job. We handle both ground-up design and reverse engineering, optimising for strength, cost, weight and manufacturability — with the advantage that our designers work alongside the people who’ll actually fabricate or machine the part.
CAD capabilities
- 2D and 3D modelling — DWG, DXF, STEP, STL and IGES file formats supported
- Parametric design for metal fabrication and CNC machining
- Design for additive manufacturing (DFAM)
- Conversion of hand-drawn sketches and scanned parts to CAD
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and tolerance checks on request
We support designs in mild steel, aluminium, stainless steel, and exotic alloys — whether for batch production, one-off prototyping, or structural fabrication.
3D Printing Sheffield — Rapid Prototyping & Custom Parts
Need functional parts fast? Our Sheffield 3D printing service brings CAD designs to life with high-strength, complex components that traditional machining can’t easily produce. We run in-house 3D printers, with trusted additive manufacturing partners for specialist materials and larger formats where required.
What we offer:
- High-quality resin printing — high strength, fine detail and minimal clean-up
- PLA filament printing — strong, fast and cost-effective for prototypes
- Fast turnaround for prototypes, tooling, jigs, fixtures and low-volume parts
- Post-processing — heat treatment, machining, finishing and inspection
- Build envelope up to 285mm (W) × 153mm (D) × 155mm (H) for in-house printing, with multiple colour options
From custom jigs and fixtures to end-use mechanical parts, our Sheffield engineering team makes sure your project meets technical, functional and visual standards — without the cost of dedicated tooling.
Starweld runs the latest software from SolidWorks and Autodesk, with plotting up to A1 paper size. Use our service as part of a full design-and-build fabrication package, or as a standalone CAD or 3D printing service.
Our Full CAD & 3D Service List
3D Drafting Service
Visualise your concept as a finished product before it’s built. Our design engineers spot defects, refine the design, and use rendering to place 3D models in realistic environments for client approval.
2D Drafting Service
From drawing revisions through to entire design projects — we produce views, elevations and site layouts to your exact requirements.
Engineering Design Analysis (FEA)
We use simulation to analyse design strength under multiple loading conditions — testing for durability, static and dynamic loads, and heat transfer. Catching weaknesses at the design stage saves both time and money before any metal is cut. See our heat treatment furnace build portfolio for a worked example.
2D-to-3D Conversion & Redraw Service
Old paper drawings and 2D CAD files modelled and saved in modern 3D format. In a world where 3D CAD is the industry standard, this future-proofs your design library — and makes legacy parts easier to manufacture, modify or reproduce.
Tooling Design
Our designers have experience designing forging dies, press tooling, casting moulds and machine tooling. Where worn tools need rebuilding rather than replacing, this can run alongside our hardfacing repair service for a complete tool-life solution.
Turnkey Design
Starweld offers a turnkey project design service — we can also quote to manufacture finished products through our trusted group of fabricators, machinists and electrical contractors, giving you a single point of contact from sketch to delivered product.
Plotting Services
Print sizes up to A1 available from our Sheffield office.
3D Rapid Prototyping
3D printed parts in a range of colours, with maximum dimensions of 285mm (W) × 153mm (D) × 155mm (H) on in-house printers. Larger or specialist material prints available through our partner network.
Why Choose Starweld for CAD & 3D Printing?
- In-house CAD designers with real-world fabrication insight — our designers sit next to the people who’ll build the part
- Seamless transition from digital model to physical part — design, profile cutting, fabrication, welding and final machining under one Sheffield roof
- 80 years of Sheffield engineering heritage — Starweld founded in 1944, with parent-group heritage running back to 1770
- Local service for Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster and the wider Yorkshire region
- ISO 9001:2015 certified — traceable, quality-first workflow on every job
CAD & 3D Printing FAQ
What 3D printing technologies do you offer in Sheffield?
We run both resin and PLA filament 3D printing in-house. Resin printing gives high-strength, fine-detail parts with minimal clean-up; PLA filament is fast and cost-effective for prototypes, jigs and fixtures. For specialist materials such as metal 3D printing, or for larger build envelopes, we work with trusted additive manufacturing partners.
What's the maximum part size you can 3D print?
Our in-house printers handle parts up to 285mm (W) × 153mm (D) × 155mm (H). For anything larger, we can split the design across multiple prints, or route the job through our partner network for larger-format additive manufacturing.
What CAD file formats do you accept?
We work with all standard CAD formats — DWG, DXF, STEP, STL and IGES. If you've only got hand-drawn sketches, scanned drawings or a physical sample, we can produce CAD files for you through our drafting and reverse-engineering service.
Can you reverse engineer parts when no drawings exist?
Yes — reverse engineering is a routine part of our CAD service. Bring us a worn or obsolete component, hand-drawn sketches, or scanned 2D paper drawings, and we'll produce accurate 3D CAD models ready for manufacture. This is especially useful for legacy plant where original drawings have been lost.
Do you offer Finite Element Analysis (FEA)?
Yes — we offer engineering design analysis using FEA simulation. We can test designs against multiple loading conditions including durability, static and dynamic loads, and heat transfer. Catching weaknesses at the design stage saves time and money before manufacture begins.
Can you take a project from CAD design all the way through to a finished metal part?
Yes — that's one of our differentiators. Design, profile cutting, fabrication, welding and precision machining all happen in the same Sheffield workshop, under one ISO 9001 quality system. You get one point of contact and one supply chain instead of co-ordinating multiple vendors.
Do you design tooling, dies and moulds?
Yes — our designers have experience with forging dies, press tooling, casting moulds and machine tooling. Where worn tools need rebuilding rather than replacing, this can run alongside our hardfacing repair service for a complete tool-life solution.
Where are you based and what areas do you cover?
We're based at Harleston Street, Sheffield, S4 7QB, and serve clients across Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster, Chesterfield and the wider Yorkshire region. For UK-wide projects we offer collection, delivery and full project co-ordination.
How do I get a quote for CAD or 3D printing work?
Send us your drawings, a sketch, or even just a description of what you need. Give us a ring on 0114 272 0283, email sales@starweld.co.uk, or call into the Sheffield workshop, and we'll come back with pricing and timings.
Get Started Today
Whether you’re designing a new prototype, reverse-engineering a legacy part, or need a strong, accurate 3D print, Starweld is your CAD and 3D printing partner in Sheffield.
Call 0114 272 0283 or email sales@starweld.co.uk to discuss your CAD design or 3D printing project with our engineering team.
Starweld Sheffield — Precision. Strength. Reliability.