Matthew L.

I turn mechanical product ideas into manufacturable hardware. With 25+ years of mechanical engineering and product-development experience, I help clients take a sketch, existing part, prototype, or poorly defined mechanical problem through SolidWorks design, DFM, structural analysis, prototyping, and manufacturing-ready development. My background spans automotive, defense, specialty vehicles, prototyping, and manufacturing, with extensive experience developing products from concept through validation and production. Unlike a CAD-only freelancer, I combine professional engineering experience with hands-on manufacturing capability. I use SolidWorks for design and have in-house 3D printing, CNC routing, welding, and metal fabrication capabilities. I design around how parts will actually be manufactured, assembled, and used—not just how they look on screen. How I can help * SolidWorks parts and assemblies * Mechanical product design and development * DFM/DFA and manufacturing optimization * Jigs, fixtures, assembly aids, and tooling * Functional 3D-printed components * CNC-ready designs and DXF files * Welded/fabricated prototypes and fixtures * Reverse engineering * Engineering drawings and documentation * GD&T, tolerance, and fit analysis * Mechanical packaging and component integration * Material and manufacturing-process selection * Design simplification and cost reduction * Troubleshooting and root-cause analysis From CAD to physical hardware One of my key advantages is the ability to go beyond CAD. I can develop functional prototypes, fixtures, jigs, brackets, mounts, frames, and low-volume components using combinations of 3D-printed parts, CNC-routed components, fabricated/welded structures, and commercial hardware. This allows me to support the complete process: Requirements → Concept → SolidWorks → Engineering Analysis → DFM/DFA → Prototype → Test → Design Refinement Engineering experience that matters My professional experience includes high-volume injection-molded plastics, steel stampings, welded structures, mechanical fastening and joining systems, mixed-material assemblies, vehicle components, and specialty mechanical systems. I evaluate designs around function, strength, tolerances, manufacturing variation, assembly, durability, serviceability, material selection, cost, and real-world use. I’m also comfortable starting with incomplete information. You don’t need a finished specification. A sketch, photograph, existing component, prototype, or description of the problem may be enough to get started. Good projects for me I’m particularly interested in mechanical product development, prototypes, fixtures and jigs, brackets and mounting systems, functional 3D-printed products, CNC components, automotive/vehicle hardware, low-volume specialty products, reverse engineering, and improving existing designs. If you need someone who can understand the problem, engineer the solution, create the SolidWorks design, and help turn it into physical hardware, I can help.