Mechanical Design Engineer / CAD Designer Needed

Mechanical Design Engineer / CAD Designer Needed for Mining Robot Drill Head, Gimbal & X-Y Slide Assembly **Project Overview** I am developing a compact underground mining robot and need help turning the drill head positioning system into CAD and technical drawings. The current focus is only the drill/gimbal/X-Y slide assembly, not the entire robot. The system will position and stabilize a rock drill inside a small mine drift. I need a practical mechanical designer or mechanical engineer who can help convert rough sketches, photos, dimensions, and functional requirements into a workable CAD concept with manufacturable parts. This is an early prototype / concept engineering project. I am not looking for a cosmetic 3D model. I need someone who understands mechanical design, linear motion, pivots/gimbals, brackets, bearings, rails, actuators, drilling loads, and rugged field equipment. **Scope of Work** Design a preliminary CAD assembly for: * Drill mounting bracket / carriage * Gimbal or pivoting drill mount * X-Y positioning slide * Linear rail, screw, actuator, or motor-driven movement concept * Mounting interface to the robot frame * Protective considerations for dust, vibration, impact, and serviceability * Basic bill of materials for major components * 2D technical drawings for key fabricated parts * STEP files and native CAD files The drill will likely be similar in size and force to an SDS-Max / small rock drill system. The robot is intended for narrow-vein underground mining, so compactness, ruggedness, simplicity, and field repairability matter more than elegance. **Desired Experience** Please apply only if you have experience with at least some of the following: * Mechanical design for machinery, robotics, tools, mining, construction, agricultural, or industrial equipment * SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Inventor, Onshape, or similar CAD software * Linear motion systems * Gimbals, pivots, slides, carriages, or drill/tool positioning systems * Welded/fabricated steel or aluminum assemblies * Prototype design, not just drafting * Basic load thinking and design-for-manufacturing **Deliverables for Phase 1** 1. Initial design discussion and review of sketches/images/specs 2. Concept CAD assembly of drill/gimbal/X-Y slide system 3. 2D drawings for main fabricated parts 4. Suggested off-the-shelf components where appropriate 5. Basic bill of materials 6. STEP files and native CAD files 7. Short notes explaining assumptions, weak points, and what should be engineered further before fabrication **Important Notes** This is a confidential prototype. I will require an NDA and work-for-hire / IP assignment agreement before detailed disclosure. This first phase does not need to be perfect final engineering. I want a practical design package good enough to review with fabricators and decide what needs further engineering. I am trying to avoid a pretty CAD model that cannot be built. I want a rugged, simple mechanical concept that a small fabrication shop could understand. **Budget** I am posting this as a fixed-price Phase 1 project at **$1,500**. That said, please feel free to quote a different amount if your experience, proposed approach, or time estimate suggests the project should be scoped differently. I am open to paying more for the right person if they can bring real mechanical design judgment, not just CAD drafting. For the right designer or engineer, there may be follow-on work involving refinement of the drill assembly and other parts of the mining robot. **Application Questions** Please answer these briefly: Please answer these briefly: 1) What similar mechanical assemblies have you designed? 2) Have you designed linear slides, pivots, gimbals, drill mounts, tool-positioning systems, or rugged machinery? 3) What CAD software do you use? 4) Would you recommend starting with a rough concept CAD package before deeper engineering? 5) What information would you need from me to produce a useful first design? Please include one or two examples of mechanical design work, not just renderings.