Fabrication Design
Design for the workshop, not just the screen
Element Mechanical Design produces weldment models, fabrication drawings and complete documentation packages for industrial fabrication. We can design pressure vessels, transport skids, bunded pallets, fluid handling structures and engineered steel assemblies. Also, we design for the way people actually build things, considering weld access, fit-up sequence and material handling from the first sketch.
Drawings that work in the workshop
Fabrication drawing quality is one of the most direct levers on workshop cost. Clear weld symbols, correct joint details, proper fit-up dimensions and a logical part numbering scheme save time at every stage: cutting, fitting, welding and inspection. Conversely, ambigous drawings cost time at all of them.
We produce industrial fabrication documentation with the workshop in mind. We check weld access in the 3D model before we issue drawings. Also, we consider nozzle orientations, manway positions and fit-up sequences at the design stage. Cut lists and DXF outputs are ready for the saw and the plate cutter without manual re-entry.
A weld symbol on a drawing is a commitment. If the joint is in a place where you physically cannot get a welder and an electrode, that commitment is worthless. We check every joint in the model before it goes on a drawing.
Daniel Berti, Mechanical Engineering Team Leader
What we design and document
Pressure vessels and tanks
We design and document pressure vessels, storage tanks and process vessels to AS 1210 and AS 1692. Fabrication drawings cover shell plates, heads, nozzle reinforcements, manways and support saddles. Where design registration is required, we produce the full certification package alongside the fabrication documentation. For more information, see Certification.
Transport and process skids
We design skid frames for pumping units, compressors, generators, chemical dosing systems and other process equipment packages. Skid design accounts for equipment loads, forklift pocket positions, transport tie-down loads, lifting lug placement and maintenance access. Drawings include base frame details, equipment hold-down bolt patterns and all connection details.
Bunded pallets and fluid containment
We design bunded pallets, drip trays and secondary containment structures for hazardous fluids, lubricants, chemicals and fuel. Bund capacity calculations are included in the documentation, and drain point positions, grating layouts and forklift access are all detailed in the drawings. We design to applicable spill containment requirements and site-specific specifications.
Weldment models and structural assemblies
We build complete 3D weldment models in SolidWorks and Inventor. Member profiles, lengths and orientations are fully parametric. Therefore changes propagate through to drawings and cut lists automatically. Assembly models include every structural member, gusset, bracket and connection plate, and cut lists are generated directly from the model.
Fabrication drawings and documentation
We issue general arrangement drawings, detail drawings and sub-assembly drawings produced to AS 1100. Every drawing carries correct weld symbols to AS/NZS 2980, surface finish callouts, fit-up dimensions and material specifications. Drawings are issued in PDF for the workshop and DXF for CNC cutting where required.
Certification documentation
Where the fabricated structure requires design registration or certification, we produce the engineering calculations, FEA evidence and drawing package to meet the requirements of WorkSafe WA, DMIRS or the applicable standard. The certification documentation comes from the same model as the fabrication drawings. No separate redraw. See Certification.
From fabrication design to manufacturing
Once your fabrication drawings are complete, Element Manufacturing, our sister division in Malaga, Perth, can take the design directly to production. Because they are part of the same group, the handover requires no re-briefing, no file translation and no reinterpretation of design intent. Consequently, the fabricator receives the DXF files, cut lists and drawings we produced, ready to run.
Element Manufacturing fabricates in mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium and structural sections, and it also offers powder coating and anodising finishing in-house. In addition, it produces CNC machined components for nozzles, flanges, bosses and precision features on the same site.
The best fabrication drawings are the ones the fabricator never has to call you about. Everything is on the drawing — weld sizes, fit-up sequence, material grade, nozzle orientation, surface finish. They pick it up and build it. That’s the standard we work to.
Daniel Berti, Mechanical Engineering Team Leader
Fabrication design capabilities
| Software | SolidWorks Weldments, Autodesk Inventor, Fusion 360 |
| Vessel standards | AS 1210 (pressure vessels), AS 1692 (steel tanks), AS/NZS 3992 (pressure equipment welding) |
| Drawing standards | AS 1100, ISO, ASME — weld symbols to AS/NZS 2980 |
| File outputs | PDF drawings, DXF for laser/plasma/waterjet, STEP, native formats, cut lists in CSV or Excel |
| Member types | RHS, SHS, CHS, UB, UC, PFC, angles, flat bar, plate, pipe and tube sections |
| Integrated with | Structural Design, FEA, Certification — analysis and documentation from the same model |
How a fabrication design engagement works
- Briefing: We review the fabrication type, design pressure or load requirements, material preferences, applicable standard and any transport or site constraints. Of course, we confirm the drawing deliverables and file formats required.
- 3D model: We build the weldment or vessel model in SolidWorks or Inventor. For pressure vessels, we confirm nozzle schedules, shell thickness and head geometry at this stage. We check weld access throughout.
- Structural or pressure analysis: Where required, we run FEA or pressure vessel calculations and size all components against the applicable standard. See Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Certification.
- Drawing package: We issue general arrangement, sub-assembly and detail drawings with full weld symbols, dimensions, material callouts, nozzle schedules and surface finish specifications.
- Cut list and DXF outputs: Cut lists and flat patterns are generated from the model and issued alongside the drawings. Of course, DXF files are checked against the model before issue.
- Revision support: If the design changes during fabrication, we update the model and reissue affected drawings and cut lists. In the event that changes revert, we track revision history on all drawings.
Frequently asked questions — fabrication design
About the service
We design and document pressure vessels, storage tanks, transport skids, bunded pallets, secondary containment structures, fluid handling assemblies, equipment frames and general industrial weldments. If it is welded steel with a structural or containment function and needs a drawing package, we can produce it. For items that require design registration, we also produce the full certification documentation alongside the fabrication drawings. For example: pressure vessels and classified plant.
Yes. We produce pressure vessel designs and fabrication documentation to AS 1210. This includes shell and head thickness calculations, nozzle reinforcement design, saddle and support design, weld joint efficiency, and the full fabrication drawing package including a nozzle schedule, weld map and material traceability references. Where design registration with WorkSafe WA or DMIRS is required, we produce the complete certification package alongside the fabrication drawings. See our Certification page.
A bunded pallet design covers the structural steel frame, bund walls, floor plate, drain point, grating layout and forklift pocket or lifting lug positions. Firstly, we calculate the bund capacity against the volume of the largest container being stored. Then, we can confirm the drain valve and blank-off arrangement. And lastly, we detail the corrosion protection specification for the fluid being contained. Drawings include all dimensions required for fabrication and a bill of materials.
Technical and file questions
We deliver PDF drawings as standard for the workshop, DXF files for CNC laser, plasma or waterjet cutting, STEP files for downstream machining or simulation, and cut lists in CSV or Excel format for procurement. Native SolidWorks or Inventor files are supplied on request. If your fabricator or CNC operator requires a specific format, let us know at the briefing stage and we will set the project up to deliver it correctly.
Yes. We can import existing STEP, IGES, Parasolid or native SolidWorks and Inventor files and produce fabrication documentation from them. If the existing model is not suitable for direct use — poorly structured geometry, missing features or incorrect assumptions — we will flag this at the start and discuss the most efficient path forward. We also work from P&IDs, sketches and hand drawings for new designs.
Yes. All fabrication drawings carry weld symbols to AS/NZS 2980. For pressure vessels and certified structures, weld joint categories and efficiencies are documented on the drawings in accordance with AS 1210 and AS/NZS 3992. Also, where the project requires a formal weld procedure specification (WPS) or a welding inspection plan, we can reference or incorporate these into the drawing package.
Project and process questions
Yes. Where the fabricated item requires design registration or certification — pressure vessels, classified plant or lifting equipment — we produce the engineering calculations, FEA evidence and compliance documentation as part of the same engagement. The certification report is produced from the same model as the fabrication drawings, so there is no risk of inconsistency between what was analysed and what was drawn. See our Certification page.
Yes, and this is the most efficient path for Perth-based projects. Element Manufacturing — our sister division in Malaga — receives the DXF files, cut lists and PDF drawings we produce and can proceed directly to fabrication without re-briefing or file conversion. Their CNC plate cutting, rolling, forming and welding capability covers the majority of industrial fabrication requirements. Visit elementmanufacturing.com.au for their full capability.
A bunded pallet or simple skid frame with a straightforward drawing package takes two to four days. A pressure vessel with a full certification drawing package takes one to three weeks depending on complexity, nozzle count and registration requirements. A multi-item fabrication package for a process skid or fluid handling assembly takes two to four weeks. We give you an honest timeline at briefing.
Need industrial fabrication design?
Send us your sketch, your existing model or a description of what you need built. We will come back with a scope and a quote — usually within one business day.