What the work involves
You model real mechanical parts and assemblies in FreeCAD (or a comparable parametric CAD platform) and document them to a standard a machine shop could actually quote from. That means fully constrained sketches, a defensible feature tree, drawings with GD&T that reflects how the part is actually fixtured and inspected, and tolerance stack-ups you can justify. A second stream of work is validation: reviewing models — sometimes model-generated, sometimes another contributor's — and writing up precisely where geometry, tolerancing, or process choice would fail in production.
The deliverable is not just the part. It is the reasoning around the part: why this draft angle, why this bend radius for that material and thickness, why the datum scheme is what it is, why injection molding beats machining at this volume. Written explanations are the training signal, so documentation quality carries as much weight as the CAD itself. Expect review cycles where a technical reviewer pushes back and you revise.
What the platform screens for
micro1's screen is AI-led and conversational, and it follows up. Claims about "advanced assemblies" get tested with specific questions about constraint strategy, external references, and how you keep a parametric model from breaking when a driving dimension changes. Expect probes on process-specific design rules — minimum wall thickness, gate and ejector placement, K-factor and bend allowance, tool access in CNC — and on whether you can read and defend a tolerance stack. No AI or ML background is required or expected.
Logistics
- Fully remote, contractor engagement, largely asynchronous with scheduled review touchpoints.
- You supply your own machine and FreeCAD installation; part-time hours are normal, and many contributors run 10–20 hrs/week alongside other work.
- Volume depends on the customer project, so treat it as variable rather than a guaranteed weekly load.