Kate van Tonder
Solidworks Mechanical Designer
Welcome to my Engineering Portfolio. I’m thrilled to invite you to peruse my work, skills and professional experience, and get to know a bit more about me. It’s my firm belief that a good challenge offers an opportunity to develop and improve, which is why I make a point of seeking out new ones in the professional realm as well as in my personal life. Take a moment and look around, and contact me directly to learn more.
About Me
I'm a Solidworks Mechanical Designer based in Cape Town, working fully remote with clients across mining equipment, energy generators, product design, furniture, and custom trailer manufacturing.
My job is turning a concept — a sketch, a rough idea, a half-formed spec — into a full manufacturing package: 3D models, drawings, BOMs, FEA, exploded views. The kind of documentation a workshop can actually build from without coming back to you with questions.
My background includes reverse-engineering armored military vehicle systems, taking a Custom Power Generator from initial design concept through to full manufacturing documentation, and developing Commercial Custom Trailers from concept through registration. Across all of it, the throughline is the same: I catch the problems before they hit the factory floor, not after.
I also run an Anycubic 3D Max Desktop — one of the largest desktop resin printers available — so prototyping isn't just theoretical on my end. Design, validate, print, iterate, all before it ever reaches your workshop floor.
If you need someone who can take an idea and make it buildable, that's the work I do.
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Accountability
All types of CAD work can be undertaken, including, but not exclusively;
Converting sketches and drawings to 3D models, or converting AutoCAD to SolidWorks / freehand orthogonal sketching for concept designs.
Modifying existing 3D models.
Creating assemblies from new and existing models.
Producing drawings for manufacture and accurate BOM's.
Creating 3D part and assembly illustrations for product documentation.
Creating 3D part and assembly photorealistic renders and animations.
Reverse engineering.
Run Finite Element Analysis to help improve parts and assemblies.
Using advance SolidWorks techniques to speed up the design process such as Design Tables.
Design plans using computer-aided design and drafting SOLIDWORKS software
Review and analyze specifications, sketches, drawings, ideas, and related data to assess factors affecting component designs and the procedures and instructions to be followed.
Compute mathematical formulas to develop and design detailed specifications for components or machinery, using computer-assisted equipment
Modify and revise designs to correct operating deficiencies or to reduce production problems.
Help design products with engineering and manufacturing techniques
Specify dimensions, materials, and procedures for new components with accurate precision.
Coordinate with and consult other team members to design, lay out, or detail components and systems and to resolve design or other problems.
Produce draft designs and diagrams according to the given specifications
Work from rough sketches and specifications created by engineers
Position instructions and comments onto drawings.
Revise drawings and layouts to accommodate changes and enhancements
Accommodate safety procedures and issues in installation and construction drawings
Assist and provide guidance with regard to design related issues on the Factory floor.
Understand client’s project requirements from a design perspective and design and draw according to the customer specification.
