Industrial Designer / Mechanical Engineer Needed for Floor Stool Design/Models (DFM-Ready CAD)
Project Overview I’m developing a low-profile rolling floor stool designed for parents and grandparents to sit on while interacting with young children at floor level. The stool must roll smoothly but also prevent wheels from contacting fingers/toes, using a rubber bell-shaped shroud that snaps onto a rigid ring around each caster. I need an experienced industrial designer or mechanical engineer to produce manufacturable CAD models, drawings, and design-for-manufacturing documentation suitable to send directly to factories. This is not a simple 3D-visualization job — I need someone with experience designing consumer products, snap-fit mechanisms, rubber + plastic interfaces, and metal/plastic hybrid assemblies. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ What You’ll Be Designing Core Product Structure - A steel tube frame (structural) with circular/rounded-square top ring supporting the seat, and four welded steel leg stubs, each mounting a caster. - A rubber bell-shaped shroud around each wheel that snaps onto a welded steel flange ring and fully hides the caster. Maintains 2–3 mm floor clearance. Functions as a safety skirt. - A simple upholstered seat on top (cushion + seat board). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Key Features - 3" swivel polyurethane casters fully enclosed by rubber shrouds - Rubber shrouds attach via interference-fit groove over a rounded steel bead/flange - Stool height: ~10" - Seat diameter: ~12" - Designed load: 300+ lb - Aesthetic can be minimal/functional (does NOT require full plastic shell) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Deliverables Required 1. Full 3D CAD Models - Steel frame (tubing, weldments, caster mounts) - Rigid flange rings for shrouds - Rubber bell shrouds (TPE/TPU, Shore A 60–70) - Seat assembly (with cut list, board geometry, attachment points) - 3" caster modeled with standard dimensions - Format: STEP + native CAD (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or Onshape) 2. Engineering Drawings (2D) - Dimensioned drawings for: - Steel frame + weldments - Shroud flange ring - Rubber shroud with internal groove dimensions - Seat board / fastening points - Tolerances appropriate for metal fabrication and injection molding 3. DFM Notes - Tube sizing, bend radii, weld guidelines - Rubber shroud draft angles, wall thickness, groove/bead geometry - Recommendations for manufacturability and cost reduction 4. Exploded Views + Assembly Instructions - Every component clearly called out - Notes on shroud installation - Bill of materials (BOM) with materials and thicknesses 5. Optional (nice to have) - Simple photorealistic renders - Alternate concepts for the frame or shroud geometry - Prototype-friendly simplified version (for 3D printing) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ What I Will Provide - A detailed product spec sheet with dimensions - Sketches + section diagrams - Clear explanation of the rubber snap-fit system - Reference casters or exact caster dimensions - Video call walkthrough if needed ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Who I’m Looking For Please respond only if you have experience in: - Consumer product design for manufacturing - Plastic + rubber part design (snap fits, interference fits, grooves, beads) - Metal fabricated frames (welded tube assemblies) - Design for injection molding and/or compression molding - Creating documentation that factories can immediately use ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bonus if you’ve designed: - Caster-mounted products - Chairs, stools, mobility aids, or carts - Rubber boots, seals, shrouds, or grommet-style features ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Project Timeline - Initial concept refinements: 1 week - First full CAD assembly: 1–2 weeks - Final parametric files + drawings: 2–3 weeks - (Timeline flexible based on your process.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Budget Please estimate cost for: - Full CAD + drawings + DFM - Optional photorealistic renders - Open to fixed price or hourly. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ How to Apply Please include: - Portfolio examples relevant to DFM, plastic/rubber interfaces, or metal frame products - The CAD software you use - Your estimated timeline - Your proposed budget or hourly rate - One brief sentence showing you understand the rubber-shroud + flange snap-fit concept. Apply tot his job