I have pictures of an antique hand-operated confectionery starch press that needs to be captured in digital form so it can be reproduced and potentially improved. Your task is to envision the physical machine, measure every critical feature, and recreate it as a precise 3-D model. The final model must be supplied in STEP format, and it has to preserve the original dimensions and overall functionality exactly as they exist on the shop floor. I need full mechanical detail in the CAD work—every shaft, handle, linkage, spring, fastener and bearing has to appear in the assembly. If a part is hidden or awkward to access, I will provide photos or videos on request to help you model it correctly. Where tolerances or fits are unclear, flag them and we can confirm before drawings are frozen. Note that there are less than a handful of these machines still in existence and getting physical access to one will be impossible. Even getting pictures of a museum piece is difficult. You will be helping to bring back to life legacy candy making equipment. Starch Trays hold cornstarch in a level uniform tray. This cornstarch is then imprinted using a stamp of the design and shape required of the final candy. The stamp is then removed. Using a funnel these voids are then filled with the desired confectionery mixture and allowed to set. The candies are then removed from the tray, remove any excess cornstarch, and then final coatings or glazes are applied. Inside dimensions: length 30 3/4", width 15", starch depth 1" Outside dimensions: length 32", width 15 3/4", height 2 1/4" Practical starting dimensions (based on your tray) Tray outer: 820 × 400 × 55–60 mm Recommended machine envelope: Bed plate: ~950 × 550 mm Clear press width: ≥ 840 mm Working height to tray surface: ~900–1000 mm Stroke: 120–150 mm (more than enough for die insertion + imprint) Die carriage travel: ~500–650 mm Hybrid design concept What the customer sees (antique look) Cast-iron style frame silhouette (heavy legs, arched braces, “foundry” vibe) Brass/bronze die plate Wooden base cabinet (like your photos) Hand crank with that serpentine handle Exposed springs and rods (classic look) What makes it actually work (modern mechanics) Precision guide rods + linear bushings (no wobble) True parallel platen movement Hard depth stop (repeatable imprint depth) Kinematic die locating + cam lock (die swaps repeat perfectly) Replaceable wear surfaces (UHMW/Delrin gibs) Hidden fasteners + concealed structure for stiffness Key subsystems (what we will model in Fusion) 1) Frame + “antique skin” Internal welded steel tube “skeleton” (stiff + cheap) External cosmetic plates/brackets to mimic cast iron Wood cabinet wraps the lower structure Fusion approach: separate structural component + cosmetic component. 2) Moving platen and guide system (the heart) 2 or 4 vertical precision rods (recommend 4 for zero twist) Linear bronze bushings or polymer linear bearings Upper platen is a rigid plate (ground flat) This is what fixes the “old press problems” (racking / uneven depth). 3) Toggle linkage + hand crank (heritage feel) Crank → shaft → two link arms → toggle pair to platen Over-center or near-over-center action at bottom for big force Springs assist the return (like the original photos) Goal: same “feel” and speed as the antique press, but smoother. 4) Die carriage + perfect re-registration (your MUST-have) You described: a lever locks the die so it goes back into the exact same place every time. Modern way to do that (but still antique-looking): Kinematic locating: 2 dowel pins + 1 diamond pin (standard precision method) Hard stop shoulder: Die carriage hits a machined stop face Cam lever lock: Pull a lever, cam clamps the carriage into the pins/stops Optional: engraved “die ID” plate so you can repeat setups This gives “swappable dies” without recalibration. Deliverables • Complete parametric 3-D assembly in STEP • Fully detailed 2-D manufacturing drawings for each component plus an exploded assembly sheet • Basic bill of materials listing standard parts (bolts, bearings, etc.) with spec references Acceptance criteria: the STEP file should re-assemble flawlessly in common CAD packages, dimensions on the drawings must match the physical press within ±0.1 mm, and a short run-through animation of the handle stroke should show the press operating exactly like the real unit. If this sounds straightforward to you and you’re comfortable reverse-engineering legacy machinery, let’s talk schedule and any additional information you require.