CAD Design & Drafting Services · Wisconsin

CAD Design & Drafting Services in Wisconsin

2D drafting, 3D modeling, and discipline-specific CAD production for Wisconsin architects, engineers, contractors, and manufacturers - architectural, structural, mechanical, MEP, and civil work, built in AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D, and SolidWorks, and checked against the codes and standards each drawing type actually has to answer to.

Project Marker

WI‑CD‑01

CAD Production Record

Jurisdiction

Wisconsin DSPS

Code Reference

SPS 361–366 / UDC

Software

AutoCAD · Revit · Civil 3D

Output

DWG · DXF · PDF · RVT

QA Pass

Dimension & Layer Audit

Status

Ready for Issue

  • 2014

    Founded in Austin, TX

  • A+

    BBB Accredited Rating

  • 50

    States Served, incl. WI

  • 12+

    CAD Sub-Disciplines

Serving:

  • Milwaukee
  • Madison
  • Green Bay
  • Appleton
  • Waukesha
  • Racine
  • Kenosha
  • Eau Claire
  • Oshkosh
  • La Crosse
  • Sheboygan
  • Wausau
  • Fond du Lac
  • Janesville
  • Beloit
  • West Allis
  • + all of WI

Why This Page Exists

CAD work built around how Wisconsin's projects actually run

Wisconsin's CAD demand spans a wider range than most states: architecture and engineering firms in Milwaukee and Madison producing full construction document sets, manufacturers across the state's deep industrial base needing SolidWorks and Inventor machine design, and civil engineers, land surveyors, and municipalities running Civil 3D site, grading, and utility plans for everything from subdivision development to WisDOT-adjacent infrastructure work. Drafting Buddies covers that range from one production queue - 2D drafting and 3D modeling, architectural and structural CAD, mechanical and MEP CAD, civil and site CAD, plus PDF-to-CAD conversion for the stacks of legacy paper drawings still circulating through Wisconsin municipal archives and manufacturing plants.

Every drawing is produced in the software your team already standardizes on, checked against the code framework relevant to that drawing type, and delivered as an editable file, not a flattened image.

  • 2014

    Drafting Buddies founded in Austin, Texas

  • A+

    Better Business Bureau rating

  • 50

    U.S. states served, Wisconsin included

  • 12+

    CAD design and drafting sub-services

Why Choose Us

A CAD partner that covers the whole drawing set, not one discipline

Six reasons Wisconsin firms, contractors, and manufacturers route CAD work through Drafting Buddies.

  • 01

    One vendor, every discipline

    Architectural, structural, mechanical, MEP, and civil CAD all run through the same production queue, so a multi-discipline project doesn't mean coordinating five different vendors.

  • 02

    Code-aware by drawing type

    Commercial sheets are checked against DSPS's SPS 361–366 code, residential sheets against the Uniform Dwelling Code, and civil sheets against applicable DNR stormwater and municipal zoning requirements.

  • 03

    Native files, not flattened PDFs

    Deliverables come back as editable DWG, DXF, or RVT files that plug directly into your existing project set, not static images your team has to redraw.

  • 04

    Legacy drawing conversion

    PDF, scanned, and hand-sketched drawings are converted into clean, layered CAD files - a common need across Wisconsin's older municipal and manufacturing archives.

  • 05

    Built for outsourcing at scale

    Whether it's one drawing set or a standing monthly workload, projects are tracked under one point of contact instead of scattered across freelancers.

  • 06

    National scale, local focus

    Founded in 2014, A+ BBB rated, and serving all 50 states - with production capacity dedicated to Wisconsin's current architecture, manufacturing, and civil project volume. See our portfolio.

Sub-Services · Section Index

Every CAD discipline, one production queue

From 2D drafting to civil site plans, each sub-service below is staffed by drafters who specialize in that discipline and work in the software your project already standardizes on.

CD-01 · 2D DRAFTING

2D CAD Drafting Services Wisconsin

Flat, dimensioned 2D CAD drawings - plans, elevations, sections, and details - produced for permit submittal, construction documentation, and shop-floor reference. Every sheet uses consistent layer standards, line weights, and dimension styles so your team or your AHJ can open the file and immediately understand scope. Covers architectural, mechanical, structural, and general technical drawing needs for Wisconsin projects of any size, from single-sheet details to full multi-sheet document sets ready for plan review.

  • Plans, elevations, sections & details
  • Consistent layers & dimension styles
  • Permit & construction document sets

CD-02 · 3D MODELING

3D CAD Design & Modeling Wisconsin

Spatial 3D CAD models for architectural, mechanical, and product design applications, built in Revit, SolidWorks, or Inventor to support visualization, clash detection, and downstream 2D sheet generation. Includes solid and surface modeling, 2D-to-3D conversion of existing drawings, and model-derived documentation. Used by Wisconsin design firms for design review and by manufacturers for product development, prototyping coordination, and CNC-ready geometry ahead of production.

  • Revit, SolidWorks & Inventor models
  • 2D-to-3D conversion
  • Clash detection & CNC-ready geometry

CD-03 · ARCHITECTURAL

Architectural CAD Drafting Wisconsin

Residential and commercial architectural CAD drafting covering floor plans, elevations, building sections, and full construction document sets ready for permit submittal. Drawings are coordinated with structural and MEP backgrounds and checked against Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code for residential work or the DSPS commercial building code for larger projects. Serves architecture firms, home builders, and design-build contractors across Wisconsin's residential and commercial markets.

  • Floor plans, elevations & sections
  • UDC & DSPS commercial checks
  • Permit-ready construction documents

CD-04 · STRUCTURAL

Structural CAD Drafting Wisconsin

Structural CAD drawings covering foundation plans, framing layouts, beam and column schedules, and structural steel and concrete detailing produced from your engineer's calculations and design intent. Sheets carry the dimensional accuracy and annotation structural engineers, fabricators, and building inspectors expect. Supports Wisconsin's active industrial, data-center, and commercial construction pipeline where structural documentation has to move quickly without sacrificing accuracy.

  • Foundations, framing & schedules
  • Steel & concrete detailing
  • Industrial & data-center support

CD-05 · MECHANICAL

Mechanical & Machine CAD Design Wisconsin

Mechanical CAD design and machine drawing services for product development and manufacturing applications, produced in SolidWorks, Inventor, and AutoCAD. Includes machine design, assembly and detail drawings, tolerancing, and 2D-to-3D or reverse-engineering conversion. Built to support Wisconsin's manufacturing sector, from equipment OEMs to component fabricators, with drawings that translate directly into production and quality documentation.

  • SolidWorks, Inventor & AutoCAD
  • Assemblies, details & tolerancing
  • OEM & fabrication production files

CD-06 · MEP

MEP CAD Drafting Wisconsin

Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing CAD drawings covering HVAC layouts, ductwork and piping routing, and electrical plans, coordinated against architectural and structural backgrounds to catch above-ceiling conflicts before construction. Sheets document equipment locations, panel schedules, and fixture layouts to the level contractors need for installation. Supports Wisconsin's healthcare, education, manufacturing, and data-center project markets where MEP coordination directly affects schedule.

  • HVAC, ductwork & piping routing
  • Panel schedules & fixture layouts
  • Above-ceiling coordination

CD-07 · CIVIL

Civil 3D & Site CAD Drafting Wisconsin

Civil 3D and site CAD drafting covering site plans, grading and drainage plans, utility layouts, and topographic and ALTA survey drawings for land development, municipal, and infrastructure projects. Drawings are coordinated with applicable DNR stormwater and erosion-control requirements and local zoning standards. Serves Wisconsin municipalities, utilities, environmental consultants, and developers working through subdivision, site development, and DOT-adjacent civil review.

  • Site, grading & drainage plans
  • Utility & ALTA survey drawings
  • DNR stormwater & zoning awareness

CD-08 · CONVERSION

PDF-to-CAD & Blueprint Conversion Wisconsin

PDF, scanned, and hand-sketched drawing conversion into clean, editable DWG or DXF files with accurate layers, line weights, and dimensions. Covers raster-to-vector conversion, legacy drawing digitization, and format conversion between DWG, DXF, and other CAD formats. A frequent need across Wisconsin's older municipal archives, manufacturing plants, and building portfolios still holding paper or flattened-PDF drawing sets that need to become working files again.

  • Raster-to-vector conversion
  • Legacy archive digitization
  • Editable DWG / DXF delivery

CD-09 · AS-BUILT

As-Built & Existing Conditions CAD Wisconsin

As-built and existing-conditions CAD drawings built from field measurements, point clouds, or redlined construction sets, documenting a building or site as it actually exists rather than as originally designed. Includes existing floor plans, measured building surveys, and record-set conversion at project closeout. Used across Wisconsin renovation, tenant improvement, and facilities-management projects where current conditions have to be accurately captured before new design work begins.

  • Field measurements & point clouds
  • Measured building surveys
  • Record-set conversion at closeout

CD-10 · SHOP DWGS

Shop Drawing & Fabrication CAD Wisconsin

Fabrication-ready CAD drawings for architectural millwork, cabinet shops, structural and miscellaneous steel, and CNC-programmed components, dimensioned for the shop floor rather than design review alone. Includes cut lists, weld symbols, and finish call-outs cross-checked against approved design sets. Supports Wisconsin fabricators and manufacturers producing custom assemblies for construction, industrial, and product applications alike.

  • Millwork, steel & CNC components
  • Cut lists, welds & finish call-outs
  • Shop-floor dimensioning

CD-11 · SOFTWARE

CAD Software Modeling & Conversion Wisconsin

Cross-platform CAD production and file conversion across AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D, SolidWorks, Inventor, MicroStation, SketchUp, and Tekla Structures, so your project isn't limited by which software a drawing originated in. Includes model rebuilding, format migration, and standardizing legacy files to current layer and naming conventions. Built for Wisconsin firms managing mixed BIM and CAD software environments across architecture, engineering, and manufacturing teams.

  • AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D & more
  • Model rebuild & format migration
  • Layer & naming standardization

CD-12 · OUTSOURCING

CAD Outsourcing & Remote Drafting Support Wisconsin

Ongoing CAD production support for architecture firms, engineering offices, contractors, and manufacturers who need overflow drafting capacity without hiring in-house staff. Work is scoped per project or as a standing monthly workload, with one point of contact tracking every drawing to completion. A common arrangement for Wisconsin firms managing seasonal project surges or long-term production gaps across our full drafting services.

  • Per-project or monthly retainers
  • One point of contact
  • Seasonal overflow capacity

Sectors & Industries

CAD production across Wisconsin's real project mix

From municipal civil work to manufacturing floor design, Wisconsin's CAD demand runs wider than architecture alone - our teams cover the full range.

  • 01 / Manufacturing

    Manufacturing & Product Design

    Mechanical and machine CAD for Wisconsin's deep manufacturing and equipment OEM base.

  • 02 / Tech Infrastructure

    Data Centers & Technology Campuses

    Structural, MEP, and civil CAD supporting the state’s hyperscale data-center buildout.

  • 03 / Public Works

    Civil, Municipal & Utilities

    Site, grading, and utility CAD for municipalities, utilities, and environmental consultants.

  • 04 / Design

    Architecture & Real Estate

    Full construction document CAD support for architecture firms and developers.

  • 05 / Healthcare

    Healthcare & Life Sciences

    Architectural and MEP CAD for hospital, clinic, and pharmaceutical facility projects.

  • 06 / Food & Bev

    Food, Beverage & Dairy Processing

    Mechanical and civil CAD for Wisconsin's processing and production facilities.

  • 07 / Education

    K-12 & Higher Education

    Architectural and MEP CAD for school and campus construction and renovation.

  • 08 / Logistics

    Warehouse & Distribution

    Structural and civil CAD for Wisconsin's expanding logistics and distribution corridor.

  • 09 / Marine

    Marine & Shipbuilding

    Mechanical and structural CAD supporting Wisconsin's Lake Michigan shipbuilding industry.

  • 10 / Residential

    Residential & Home Building

    UDC-aware architectural CAD for home builders and residential design-build firms.

Wisconsin Codes & Standards

CAD drawings checked against the code that governs each drawing type

Wisconsin runs several code frameworks in parallel depending on what's being drawn - commercial buildings, homes, and civil site work each answer to a different set of rules.

Commercial

Commercial building code (SPS 361–366)

Administered by the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), Wisconsin's commercial code is now based on the 2021 International Building Code following a 2025 update and a transition grace period that closed April 1, 2026. Home-rule municipalities, including Milwaukee, can layer on additional local amendments. Architectural, structural, and MEP CAD for commercial projects is drafted with this framework in mind.

Residential

Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC)

One- and two-family dwellings fall under Wisconsin's separate Uniform Dwelling Code rather than the commercial code, governing structural, energy, and life-safety requirements for residential construction. Residential architectural CAD drafting is prepared with UDC submittal requirements in mind for home builders and residential design-build teams.

Civil

DNR stormwater & erosion control

Site and civil CAD work - grading plans, drainage design, and utility layouts - is prepared with awareness of Wisconsin DNR stormwater management and construction-site erosion control requirements, which apply on top of local municipal zoning and subdivision ordinances for land development projects.

Local AHJ

Local zoning & municipal review

Beyond state-level codes, individual Wisconsin municipalities administer their own zoning, setback, and site-plan review requirements. Civil and architectural CAD sets are formatted to match the submittal expectations of the specific municipality handling plan review.

Planning context, not a stamp

This summary is provided for general project-planning context and is not legal or code-compliance advice. Confirm current requirements with DSPS, your local municipality, or the DNR as applicable, and route final code compliance and any required professional stamp through your project's licensed architect, engineer, or land surveyor.

Wisconsin Coverage

CAD design and drafting services across every Wisconsin market

A remote production model means the same drafting team, turnaround, and code awareness whether your project sits in Milwaukee or Eau Claire.

  • Milwaukee

    Architecture & industrial hub

  • Madison

    Institutional & state capital

  • Green Bay

    Paper & food processing

  • Appleton

    Paper & industrial base

  • Waukesha

    Suburban commercial growth

  • Racine

    Manufacturing & tech corridor

  • Kenosha

    Logistics & distribution

  • Eau Claire

    Western WI regional hub

  • Oshkosh

    Manufacturing & aviation

  • La Crosse

    Mississippi River corridor

  • Sheboygan

    Lakeshore manufacturing

  • Wausau

    North-central WI hub

  • Fond du Lac

    Industrial & agricultural

  • Janesville

    Data-center redevelopment

  • Beloit

    Southern WI manufacturing

  • West Allis

    Milwaukee metro industrial

Software & Production Stack

Drafted in the CAD platforms your team already runs

Native files, not flattened exports - so your drawings plug straight into your existing project environment.

  • AutoCAD

  • Revit

  • Civil 3D

  • SolidWorks

  • Autodesk Inventor

  • MicroStation

  • SketchUp

  • Tekla Structures

  • Navisworks

  • Bluebeam Revu

How We Work

From reference material to issued CAD set

  1. 01

    Intake & scope review

    Send your reference drawings, sketches, PDFs, or existing CAD files. We confirm discipline, sheet count, software, and code jurisdiction before quoting.

  2. 02

    Discipline assignment

    Your project is routed to drafters who specialize in the relevant discipline - architectural, structural, mechanical, MEP, or civil - rather than one generalist covering everything.

  3. 03

    Drafting & modeling

    Drawings are produced in AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D, or SolidWorks with consistent layer standards, dimensioning, and annotation matched to your project's conventions.

  4. 04

    Internal QA & dimension audit

    Sheets are checked for dimensional accuracy, layer consistency, and cross-discipline coordination before anything is issued for your review.

  5. 05

    Review & revision cycle

    You review the set and mark up changes; we incorporate revisions until the drawings are approved for permit submittal, construction, or production.

  6. 06

    Delivery

    Final files are delivered as native CAD (DWG/DXF/RVT) plus PDF, ready to plug into your project set or submit to your AHJ.

Spec Notes

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. We deliver remote CAD design and drafting across Wisconsin, including Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Appleton, Waukesha, Racine, Kenosha, Eau Claire, Oshkosh, La Crosse, Sheboygan, Wausau, Fond du Lac, Janesville, Beloit, and West Allis. The same production team, turnaround, and code awareness apply statewide.

Ready to Issue Your Set

Ready

Send your reference drawings. Get an issued CAD set back.

Architectural, structural, mechanical, MEP, civil, or a full multi-discipline set - tell us the scope and we'll return a fixed quote and schedule for your Wisconsin project. Contact our team to get started.