Mechanical CAD Designer Needed — Functional Sheet-Metal Product Prototype

I am looking for an experienced mechanical CAD designer to develop a functional prototype-level CAD model for a new under-desk cable-management enclosure. This project is for Prototype 1 only. I am not looking for full production engineering, final tooling design, exhaustive GD&T, certification work, or complete mass-production documentation at this stage. The purpose of Prototype 1 is to create a physically fabricatable product that can be installed under a real desk, loaded with real equipment and cables, tested, and revised before final production engineering. ## Product Overview The product is a premium enclosed under-desk cable-management chassis designed for existing desks. Prototype 1 begins with an approximately: * 1270 mm / 50 in overall width * 152 mm / 5.98 in external depth * 102 mm / 4.02 in external height/drop The design consists of two main sheet-metal chassis sections joined at the center. There are exactly two independent front doors, one per section. Major design features include: * Formed sheet-metal construction * Two independent downward-opening front doors * Continuous/piano-style bottom hinges * Passive magnetic door retention * Concealed upper finger-access geometry * Clean front faces with no visible handles or front cable ports * Vertical main door face with a subtle lower chamfer * Four primary cable-routing locations: * Two rear-wall pass-throughs * One left-end pass-through * One right-end pass-through * Prototype-level center joining/alignment mechanism * Under-desk mounting features * Internal cable/equipment retention features The exact production design of several features is intentionally not frozen yet. Prototype 1 exists to test and refine them. ## What I Need From the Designer I am looking for someone who can do more than simply trace drawings. You should have practical mechanical judgment and experience designing parts that can actually be fabricated by a conventional sheet-metal shop. You should be comfortable identifying potential issues involving: * Press-brake bends * Sheet-metal stiffness * Long formed panels * Hinges * Door clearances * Magnetic closures * Fasteners * Brackets * Cable routing * Bend radius * Assembly access * Mounting * Fabrication sequence If an established requirement creates an obvious mechanical or fabrication problem, I want that issue identified and discussed rather than silently redesigned. ## Required CAD Deliverables Final Prototype 1 deliverables will include: * Native editable CAD source files * Complete editable assembly * Individual editable components * STEP assembly export * STEP exports of fabricated parts * Sheet-metal flat-pattern DXFs * Basic prototype fabrication drawings * Assembly reference drawing * Prototype BOM * Purchased-hardware identification * Parameter/assumption list * Revision/decision record The native model must use proper editable sheet-metal features where appropriate. A STEP-only, STL-only, render-only, or non-editable final package is not acceptable. Please state the CAD software and version you intend to use. Fusion 360, SolidWorks, or Onshape may be considered. ## Project Structure I want this project completed as a fixed-price project divided into three milestones. ### Milestone 1 — Basic Chassis Architecture Develop the basic two-section enclosure architecture, primary sheet-metal geometry, overall envelope, four cable-routing locations, preliminary center connection concept, and major clearances. I will review the model before work proceeds. ### Milestone 2 — Functional Features Develop and review: * Doors * Continuous hinges * Magnetic closure/keepers * Concealed finger-access geometry * Lower front chamfer * Door stops/limiters * Center joint * Mounting features * Required hardware * Open/closed door clearances I will review the model again before final prototype release. ### Milestone 3 — Prototype Release Resolve agreed issues and prepare the final Prototype 1 fabrication package, including editable source files, STEP files, flat DXFs, basic drawings, BOM, hardware information, and assembly references. This project includes defined review/correction opportunities at each milestone. It is not intended to be an unlimited-revision engagement. ## What Is NOT Included Please do not include the following in your base quotation: * Final production GD&T * Exhaustive tolerance-stack analysis * Production tooling design * Stamping-die design * Production fixtures * Injection-molding development * Full certification/compliance engineering * Production QC documentation * Final packaging engineering * Development of the complete 60/72/80-inch product family * Final manufacturing cost optimization * Marketing renders or photography These may be addressed in later development stages after the physical prototype is tested. ## Relevant Experience Please provide 2–3 examples of work you personally completed involving one or more of the following: * Fabricated sheet-metal enclosures * Long formed sheet-metal parts * Hinged access panels * Sheet-metal doors * Magnets/keepers * Mechanical brackets * Laser-cut and press-brake assemblies * Prototype fabrication drawings * Sheet-metal flat patterns Actual fabricated mechanical products are more relevant to me than photorealistic rendering work. ## Proposal Format Please include: 1. Your total fixed price for the required Prototype 1 scope 2. Separate pricing for each of the three milestones 3. Estimated duration for each milestone 4. CAD platform and version 5. 2–3 relevant examples 6. Confirmation that native editable source files will be transferred to me 7. Confirmation that STEP and flat DXF files will be supplied 8. Confirmation that purchased hardware will be identified 9. Your rate or method for additional work outside the agreed revision scope 10. Any important assumptions or exclusions A detailed COVE Prototype CAD Brief is attached and controls the actual project scope. Additional master design documentation may be provided later as supporting design context where necessary. Please do not expand the quotation into full production engineering unless specifically requested. I am not selecting solely on the lowest bid. Relevant sheet-metal experience, understanding of prototype development, clean editable CAD, communication, and practical fabrication knowledge are important.