From Screen to Steel: How We Engineer for Fabrication Success
In engineering, a drawing is never the final destination — it’s just the beginning of the journey from idea to reality. At ProCore Engineering, we’ve seen it time and again: a clever, efficient, and beautifully detailed design that looks flawless on a CAD model can suddenly run into delays, rework, and unexpected costs when it hits the fabrication floor.
The problem? Designs that aren’t engineered with fabrication realities in mind.
Why Design for Fabrication Matters
When engineers work in isolation from the people who actually cut, weld, and assemble the product, small oversights can turn into costly bottlenecks. A bolt hole placed too close to a weld seam, a tolerance tighter than any shop’s equipment can hold, or a material choice that’s hard to source — these little details can derail timelines and budgets.
At ProCore, we take a “design-to-fab” approach from the very first conversation. That means we don’t just think about how something should look and function; we think about how it will be built, transported, installed, and maintained.
Material Choices That Make Sense
Early in the process, we help clients choose materials that are not only fit for purpose but also practical for fabrication. For example, a high-strength steel may offer fantastic performance, but if it’s difficult to weld or prone to distortion during cutting, it can drive up labour hours and rework. We balance performance requirements with availability, workability, and long-term durability to ensure the project runs smoothly.
Tolerances That Work in the Real World
On paper, it’s easy to specify a tolerance to the nearest tenth of a millimetre. In the shop, those tolerances might require special fixtures, slower processes, or more skilled labour — all of which cost time and money. We set tolerances that are tight enough to ensure quality and safety, but realistic enough to match the fabrication methods available.
Communication Is Everything
One of the biggest advantages we offer is direct collaboration with fabricators. We talk to the people who will actually make the product, incorporating their input into the design before a single piece of material is ordered. This simple step prevents headaches and ensures a smoother workflow.
Real-World Results
Recently, we worked on a structural fabrication project where the original design called for complex angled cuts and non-standard material sections. By re-engineering the design with the fabrication team’s input, we simplified several connections, swapped out a hard-to-source profile for an off-the-shelf section, and reduced welding time by over 20%. The end product was exactly what the client needed — delivered faster and at a lower cost.
The ProCore Difference
Our role doesn’t end with the drawing package. We make sure our designs are shop-ready, installation-friendly, and built to last. Whether it’s a one-off structure or a production run, we bridge the gap between engineering theory and fabrication reality.
If you’re planning your next project, bring us in early. Together, we’ll make sure your design flows smoothly from screen to steel — saving time, reducing costs, and avoiding the pitfalls that can slow down great ideas.