Complete CAD Concept Development - Protective Housing for Garmin GPS Dog Trackers

We are developing a new commercial product for BFA – Black Fella Adventures: a rigid protective housing compatible with the Garmin T20/TT25 GPS dog tracker, specifically for hunting and working dogs.

The product is at initial concept stage. We have:

Genuine Garmin TT25 for physical testing
Existing hard-plastic housing as a functional reference
Reference photos
Bambu Lab P2S for prototype testing

We require an experienced mechanical/product CAD designer, not simply a 3D artist, to develop an original, functional and commercially usable BFA product.

Product Requirements

The housing must protect the tracker during demanding hunting conditions including impacts, heavy scrub, branches, mud, water and repeated field use.

The finished design must:

Securely fit and retain the Garmin T20/TT25
Mount securely to the dog collar
Protect against impacts and vegetation
Maintain required antenna, LED and component clearances
Avoid unnecessary interference with GPS/radio operation
Allow practical tracker installation/removal and required charging/service access
Minimise snag points with smooth/radiused exterior surfaces
Reinforce mounting areas against cracking/failure
Include drainage/clean-out features where beneficial
Avoid sharp edges that could contact the dog
Remain compact, lightweight and suitable for repeated commercial use

The designer should identify and communicate any structural, manufacturing or usability issues and propose improvements where appropriate.

Garmin Geometry & Parametric Design

The initial product must fit the Garmin Alpha T20/TT25, approximately:

81 × 46 × 36 mm

These published dimensions are a starting reference only.

The designer is responsible for researching and establishing the necessary Garmin geometry, interfaces, tolerances and clearances required for accurate fit. Do not rely solely on the published overall dimensions.

We have a genuine TT25 and will physically test the prototype.

Garmin also has other tracker families with different dimensions:

T20 / TT25: approx. 81 × 46 × 36 mm
T5 Mini / TT15 Mini: approx. 78 × 45 × 35 mm
T5 / TT15 / T5x / TT15x: approx. 89 × 44 × 47 mm

We do not want one oversized universal housing.

The first design must be optimised specifically for the T20/TT25. However, the master CAD must be parametric where practical so future BFA variants can be developed for other Garmin trackers without redesigning the complete product.

Relevant parameters should include tracker dimensions/clearance, housing dimensions, wall thickness, mounting locations, retention features, component clearances and branding.

Only the T20/TT25 requires physical validation under this project.

Reference Product

We will provide photos of an existing hard-plastic protective housing used for the same application.

This product is supplied as a functional reference only. We are NOT requesting a cosmetic replica.

The reference demonstrates the use case, protection level, approximate form, mounting concept and tracker retention.

The new product must be an original BFA design. Third-party logos, trademarks, branding and unnecessary cosmetic features must not be reproduced.

BFA Branding

The product will carry BFA – Black Fella Adventures branding.

We want BFA lettering incorporated directly into the exterior geometry, preferably raised/embossed.

Branding must be durable, FDM printable and editable/repositionable within the master CAD.

Design Review

Before completing detailed CAD, the designer must provide screenshots or simple CAD renders showing:

Overall exterior design/proportions
Garmin positioning
Collar mounting arrangement
Tracker retention concept
Major functional features
BFA branding position

We will approve the general design direction before the first printable prototype is completed.

Visual approval does not constitute final acceptance.

FDM Manufacturing

Initial prototypes and potentially early commercial production will be manufactured on a Bambu Lab P2S.

This is intended to be a rigid functional component, not TPU.

The designer must recommend an appropriate rigid engineering filament/material for prototype, field testing and small-batch production.

The design must consider:

Print orientation/layer strength
Wall thickness and impact resistance
Mounting-point reinforcement
Outdoor exposure
Dimensional tolerances
Supports/overhangs
Print time/material usage
Repeatable production

Supports and post-processing should be minimised where practical without compromising strength.

The master CAD should also be suitable for future engineering adaptation to higher-volume manufacturing methods.

Physical Prototype Testing – Critical Requirement

The project is NOT considered complete because the CAD looks correct or successfully slices.

We will print the prototype on our Bambu P2S and physically test it with a genuine Garmin TT25 and actual collar arrangement.

Testing will include:

Tracker fit and retention
Collar mounting
Installation/removal
Antenna/component clearance
Charging/service access
Structural and mounting-point strength
Snag resistance and usability

At least one complete CAD correction/revision cycle following physical prototype testing must be included in the quoted price.

Design-related problems identified during physical testing must be corrected before final handover.

Native CAD Requirement

The native CAD must contain a clean, logically structured and editable parametric feature tree.

A flattened solid, converted mesh, imported STL or otherwise non-editable model will not satisfy this requirement.

We need the master CAD to support future modification and development of other Garmin variants.

Final Deliverables

Following successful prototype testing:

Native editable CAD/source file with clean feature tree
STEP
STL
3MF suitable for Bambu Studio
Dimensioned technical drawing
Parametric master model
Final production-ready T20/TT25 model
Editable BFA branding
Critical dimensions/tolerances
Recommended material and print orientation
Short design/manufacturing note covering material, tolerances, mounting, structural considerations and future manufacturing recommendations

Final geometry must be clean, watertight/manifold and ready for:

Import → Slice → Print

We do not want to repair or modify CAD ourselves before production.

Intellectual Property & Ownership

The commissioned housing must be an original BFA product design.

The designer must not knowingly incorporate third-party proprietary CAD, trademarks, logos, unlicensed commercial models or copied cosmetic features.

Any third-party CAD/assets proposed for use must be disclosed and approved.

Upon final payment, all rights to the commissioned original design, native CAD and associated project files must be assigned to the client for unrestricted commercial use, modification and manufacture.

When Applying

Please answer:

What CAD software do you use?
Provide examples of functional mechanical products/housings you have designed.
What experience do you have designing for FDM?
How will you establish accurate Garmin T20/TT25 geometry rather than relying only on published dimensions?
How will you structure the CAD for future Garmin variants?
What rigid material would you recommend and why?
How would you reinforce the collar mounting points?
Estimated timeframe to first printable prototype?
Confirm physical prototype corrections are included in your price.
Confirm native editable parametric CAD is included.
Confirm full commercial rights are included.

Required skills: Product Design, Mechanical Engineering, CAD/CAM, SolidWorks/Fusion 360, 3D Modelling, 3D Printing, Design for Manufacturing.