日本語English简体中文繁體中文
Contact

Drawings

CAD conversion guide

Your old machines still run todayAre the drawings all there?

We turn old machines into accurate CAD drawings and BIM, even without drawings
If something breaks, the parts you need are easier to make

DiO conducts the interviews
CAD and BIM production is carried out with our production partners

Free online consultation

Online consultations and interviews are free
The actual costs of the on-site survey are borne by the customer

  • Paper drawings → CAD → BIM
  • No drawings? We start from interviews, photos and hand measurement
  • From BIM, output accurate, dimensioned part drawings

Footage and images are prototypes for illustration

Overview

Preserving old machines,drawings and all

With or without paper drawings, we start from what you have
We build a BIM model and create CAD drawings of the parts you need

Problems

Sound familiar?

The longer a special-purpose machine has been in service, the bigger the impact when it stops, and the harder it is to replace

  • 3D image of a generic machine with a frame, rollers, a drive unit and a control panel
    Old machines, still in serviceMachines that have run for decades are still at the heart of your production
  • An old hand-drawn drawing spread on a desk (sample, fictional part)
    Only hand drawings remainAll you have are paper drawings from decades ago, never digitized
  • A faded drawing with a torn edge (sample, fictional part)
    Faded, incomplete drawingsSome dimensions are illegible
    Drawings were lost, or never existed
  • 3D image of a gear, a machine part
    If it breaks, no one can make the partThe manufacturer is gone and the people who know the machine are retiring
    Tracking down drawings and arranging parts takes time, so a breakdown can mean a long stop

While the machine is still running, now is the time to preserve its shapes and dimensions as data

How it works

With drawings or without

We start from whatever you have
Either way, you end up with a BIM model of the entire machine, and CAD drawings of the parts you need, whenever you need them
DiO conducts the interviews; CAD and BIM production is carried out with our production partners

1

You have paper drawings

Paper drawings → CAD → BIM

  1. An old hand-drawn-style part drawing (sample, fictional part)
    PaperRead the drawings that remainFaded dimensions and notes are checked one by one
  2. A hand-drawn-style sample drawing next to the CAD drawing redrawn from it
    CADRedraw them in CAD firstDimensions, materials and gear specifications are organized as data
  3. BIM model of a generic machine, with labels such as Frame, Roller, Drive unit and Control panel
    BIMAssemble the parts into a BIM model of the whole machineEvery part becomes data, down to its shape and material
2

You have no drawings

Interviews, photos, hand measurement → BIM

  1. A DiO staff member in a suit explaining to two workers in front of a machine
    InterviewTalk to the people who know the machineWe ask how it is used, where it wears, and which parts have been replaced
    The interview can also be held online
  2. Two people checking a tablet and a clipboard on site
    Photos & measurementPhotograph, measure, sketchWe take photos, measure with calipers and scales, and note dimensions on sketches
  3. BIM model of a generic machine
    BIMBuild the BIM modelFrom the measurements and photos, the entire machine is modeled in 3D together with our production partners
CAD part drawing of a gear (sample, fictional part)
BIM → CAD

From BIM, CAD drawingsof the parts you need, anytime

With a BIM model of the whole machine, you can pull out a CAD drawing of the part you need when you need it, in a form that is easy to hand to a machine shop for a quote or fabrication

3D image of rollers and gears
Benefit

If it breaks, parts are easier to make

When an old machine breaks, most of the time is lost searching for drawings and fitting new parts to the original by trial and error
With part drawings on hand as data, you can request the part more easily, which can help keep downtime short

* Images are prototypes for illustration
Drawings are samples of a fictional part and are not official manufacturing drawings
Depending on the machine and the information available, some cases may be difficult to handle
Please see the FAQ* Online consultations and interviews are free
The actual costs of the on-site survey are borne by the customer (see “How we work” and the FAQ)

Process

How we work

We start with an online consultation and interview (free)
Two DiO staff members visit for the on-site survey
CAD and BIM production is carried out with our production partners

  1. Consultation (online, free)Tell us about the machine and what's troubling you, by email or online
  2. 1st visit: site check & estimateTwo DiO staff members visit, check the machine on site and prepare an estimate
    The actual costs of the on-site survey are borne by the customer
  3. 2nd visit: interview, photos & measurementWe ask how the machine is used and where it wears, take photos, measure with calipers and scales, and read any remaining drawings
    The interview can also be held online
    Depending on distance and the work involved, an overnight stay may be needed (actual cost)
  4. CAD & BIMCarried out with our production partners
    Parts are modeled in CAD and 3D, then assembled into a BIM model of the whole machine
  5. Part drawingsWe deliver CAD drawings of the parts you need
    More can be added later
  6. Delivery & useWe hand over the data and help you use it for maintenance and parts procurement
Our idea

Making the analog worldclear in digital

All of DiO's work grows from one idea: turning information that lives on paper and in people's memories into a digital form anyone can understand

  • Ichigen-choSoftware anyone can use to bring information together in one place
  • BIM/3D × equipment databasesConnecting 3D models with equipment databases to make facility information easy to see
  • CAD & BIM for legacy machinesTurning old machines without drawings into CAD drawings and BIM
    (This page)
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can you work with machines that have no drawings at all?
Yes, please consult us
We build a BIM model from interviews, photos and hand measurements, then provide CAD drawings of the parts you need, with our production partners handling CAD and BIM production
The approach and how much we can cover depend on the machine’s condition and the information available, so please tell us about it first
Is the consultation free? What will it cost?
Online consultations and online interviews are free
The actual costs of the on-site survey of your machine (visits for the site check, photos and measurement) are borne by the customer
Please contact us for the amounts and breakdown
How does the on-site survey work? Will it involve an overnight stay?
Two DiO staff members visit for the survey
On the first visit we check the machine on site and prepare an estimate; on the second visit we conduct the interview and take photos and measurements
The interview can also be held online
Depending on distance and the work involved, an overnight stay may be needed (actual cost)
Who does the work?
DiO conducts the interviews and the on-site survey
CAD and BIM production is carried out with our production partners
Please send your inquiries to DiO
Do you need special equipment for measurement?
No
We work mainly with hand measurements using calipers and scales, together with photos and sketches
There is no need to bring large equipment on site
Will the machine need to be stopped for photos or measurement?
It depends on the machine and what needs measuring
We agree on timing and any stoppage in advance to keep the impact on production to a minimum
Can you use old hand drawings, even faded ones?
Yes
We take legible dimensions from the drawing and fill in the rest by measuring the actual part
We also make clear which values were estimated
We have rough drawings made from photos, or drawings meant only as a guide　Can you turn them into accurate drawings?
Yes
We use those rough drawings and photos as a starting point, then confirm dimensions through on-site hand measurement and interviews to produce accurate CAD drawings
CAD and BIM production is carried out with our production partners
Will our drawings and data be kept confidential?
Yes
All drawings and data you provide are treated as confidential
We are happy to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before starting
What kinds of machines do you cover?
We take inquiries about long-serving special-purpose machines and other production equipment
Some cases, such as precision machinery, can be difficult to handle (see the next question)
Feel free to ask even if you are not sure whether your machine qualifies
Can you handle precision machinery, or machines with no manufacturer information?
For precision machinery, there are cases that are difficult to handle, for example when information from the manufacturer (specifications, dimensions, materials, etc.) cannot be obtained
Please consult us first
We will tell you, after hearing the details, whether we can handle your machine as it stands today
Contact

Making the analog world clear in digital

Let's talk about your machine

Not sure whether your machine qualifies? Please get in touch
Online consultations and interviews are free; the actual costs of the on-site survey are borne by the customer

Free online consultation

Online consultations and interviews are free
The actual costs of the on-site survey are borne by the customer

Email　mail@dio-meta.com Phone　+81-75-432-8180