Traditional DFM review depends on an engineer reading a drawing front to back. That still happens here — but the first pass is now assisted: the drawing is parsed for dimensions, the geometry is reconstructed, and the manufacturability checks are run before an engineer signs anything off.
What the tool does
- Reads the drawing — extracts dimensions, notes and title-block data from a PDF, DXF/DWG or STEP file.
- Builds a parameter set — diameters, wall thickness, heights and depths, radii, flange geometry and hole positions, so the part exists as numbers rather than a picture.
- Checks formability — draw severity, thinning and cracking risk, wrinkle risk, and whether the tolerances on the drawing suit the process being proposed.
- Estimates the material envelope — blank or strip size, blank mass and finished mass, which is what the material cost is built from.
- Flags the gaps — anything needed to define the part that the drawing does not state.
What it deliberately does not do
It does not invent missing dimensions. If a wall thickness or a diameter is not on the drawing and cannot be derived from the ones that are, the review says so and asks. A part that is built on an assumed dimension produces a confident, wrong answer — the accuracy matters more than the speed.
It also does not replace the engineer. Every output that reaches a customer is reviewed by Balford engineering, and the process route, tooling approach and quotation are signed off by a person.
Where it fits
- Upload — a PDF, DXF/DWG, STEP/IGES or image drawing, with material and quantity.
- Extract and analyse — dimensions, geometry, formability and material envelope.
- Engineer review — a person confirms the reading, the route and the risk assessment.
- Report and quote — process route, DFM findings, tooling and piece price, with the assumptions stated.
Start with the online estimator for an indicative figure, or send the drawing straight to engineering for a full DFM review.
Frequently asked
What file formats are supported?
PDF, STEP/STP, IGES/IGS, DXF, DWG and image files (PNG, JPG, WEBP). Vector PDFs and CAD files give the most reliable dimension extraction; scans are read but may need manual confirmation of a few values.
Can it analyse a drawing with no dimensions at all?
No, and it will tell you rather than guessing. Scale-only or undimensioned drawings cannot define a part uniquely, so the review lists which values are needed before the analysis can be completed.
Are my drawings kept?
Files sent to the estimator are processed to produce the estimate and are not retained on the estimation server. Drawings sent for a quotation are treated as confidential engineering information and used only to quote and, if you order, to manufacture. We can work under NDA before you send anything.