Desktop Application Modernization
Consolidate and modernize desktop interfaces so your team ships faster with less maintenance overhead.
Legacy UI consolidation and modernization
Cross-platform compatibility for CAD environments
CAD Guardian LLC · Service categories
CAD platform .NET service lines.
The offer is intentionally narrow: CAD automation, Autodesk platforms, PLM/PDM readiness, AEC/BIM administration, manufacturing data systems, desktop .NET, and workflow systems that need clear seams, bounded execution, and enough engineering judgment to keep modernization from turning into disruption.
TL;DR
CAD Guardian service pages help engineering and IT buyers choose the right entry point for Autodesk Vault, Inventor automation, AutoCAD plugin work, MicroStation workflows, SolidWorks automation, PLM/PDM readiness, AEC/BIM platform administration, manufacturing IT data automation, CAD workflow automation, or .NET desktop modernization.
Positioning cues
Founder-led boutique. Architecture plus execution.
Enterprise-safe modernization partner for CAD-hosted and workflow-heavy systems.
Remote-first by default, with disciplined scoping and change control.
Boutique today, scalable later.
Enterprise buying map
Enterprise firms organize services around the way clients search for help. CAD Guardian does the same: start with the operating concern, then route to the smallest service lane that can prove value.
Concern 01
PLM and engineering change readiness
Systems
Teamcenter, Windchill, Vault, SolidWorks PDM, EBOM, MBOM, engineering change, UAT, hypercare
Expose migration blockers, lifecycle risk, document ownership, and adoption gaps before rollout.
Open service →Concern 02
AEC/BIM platform administration
Systems
ACC, BIM 360, Forma, Revit, Civil 3D, ProjectWise-adjacent records, SSO/MFA, CADD/BIM standards
Make permissions, naming, folders, standards, and project data handoff support real delivery.
Open service →Concern 03
Manufacturing IT and reporting
Systems
Power BI, MES, ERP, SCADA-context data, SQL, production dashboards, OEE-style reporting
Connect engineering data to production decisions without making dashboards depend on manual exports.
Open service →Concern 04
Data migration and document control
Systems
ACC, BIM 360, Forma-ready planning data, SQL, Revit context, file shares, document libraries
Retire old records without losing permissions, naming, history, validation, or handoff clarity.
Open service →Concern 05
CAD standardization and library governance
Systems
Inventor Content Center, Vault, templates, iProperties, AutoCAD standards, drawing outputs
Turn CAD standards into an operating model that survives real project and production pressure.
Open service →Concern 06
Platform automation and plugin rescue
Systems
AutoLISP, AutoCAD API, Inventor API, MicroStation, SolidWorks, WPF, C#/.NET
Preserve host-specific behavior while moving shared logic into maintainable boundaries.
Open service →Concern 07
Workflow modernization
Systems
Quote, BOM, drawing packages, PDFs, DXFs, labels, ERP, product metadata, production handoff
Make CAD, data, operations, and reporting agree before scaling automation.
Open service →Demand-aligned taxonomy
The consulting lane is organized around high-value opportunity clusters: CAD automation, Autodesk platform governance, PLM/PDM transformation, AEC/BIM administration, .NET modernization, and manufacturing data systems. The public language stays summarized and private-safe.
AutoCAD + AutoLISP
AutoCAD / AutoLISP / .NET CAD automation
AutoCAD drawing creation, legacy AutoLISP triage, drafter-ready updates, standards enforcement, and production .NET plugin delivery.
AutoCADAutoLISPAutoCAD .NET APIC#
Open matching lane →Inventor + Vault
Autodesk Inventor / Vault / ACC / APS / Forma
Inventor automation, Vault governance, ACC/Forma migration readiness, document management, and Autodesk data integration.
Inventor APIVaultACCAPS
Open matching lane →CAD workflow automation
SolidWorks / PDM / drawing workflow modernization
SolidWorks parts, assemblies, drawings, templates, archive/search friction, product metadata, PDM readiness, and production handoff.
SolidWorksPDMdrawing workflowproduct metadata
Open matching lane →Revit automation
Revit API / C# Add-ins / BIM automation
Revit automation, custom Revit Ribbon Add-ins, automated sheet setup, parametric data auditing, and enterprise BIM data orchestration.
Revit APIC#.NETBIM automation
Open matching lane →AEC/BIM platforms
Revit / Civil 3D / BIM and AEC platform administration
ACC/BIM 360, Forma, Revit/Civil 3D collaboration, ProjectWise-adjacent document control, permissions, SSO/MFA, and CADD/BIM standards.
RevitCivil 3DBIM 360ACC
Open matching lane →PLM + document management
Teamcenter / Windchill / PLM transformation
Teamcenter, Windchill, PLM/PDM readiness, engineering change workflows, EBOM/MBOM handoff, test planning, and post-go-live stabilization.
TeamcenterWindchillPLMEBOM
Open matching lane →.NET engineering software
Engineering software / CAD API development
CAD API systems, desktop engineering apps, configurators, drawing/BOM generation, validation, deployment, and handoff runbooks.
CAD APIadd-insconfiguratorsengineering software
Open matching lane →Manufacturing data systems
Manufacturing IT / Power BI / MES / ERP / SCADA
Power BI, MES, ERP, SCADA-context data, OEE-style reporting, production dashboards, SQL integration, and shop-floor handoff.
Power BIMESERPSCADA
Open matching lane →Service overview
CAD Platform Recovery
Stabilize Inventor, Vault, AutoCAD, MicroStation, SolidWorks, and adjacent workflow systems when uptime, reliability, or version drift starts costing your team money.
Upgrade and compatibility hardening
Workflow governance and controls
Legacy .NET Application Modernization
Modernize legacy desktop applications without forcing a reckless rewrite that interrupts the people who already depend on them.
.NET Framework to modern .NET migration
Legacy WPF and WinForms restructuring
Workflow and Data Integration
Connect your CAD, ERP, PLM, Vault, SQL, and reporting systems so data flows reliably and costly workflow errors disappear.
Reliable data synchronization
System integration architecture
Fast-start offers
These lanes translate prior Inventor API, CAD package, BOM, label, configurator, and desktop tooling work into reviewable consulting starts. Each one can stand alone or become the first phase of a larger CAD Guardian modernization.
Fast lane 01
Inventor automation rescue audit
Parameters, iProperties, drawings, PDFs, DXFs, BOMs, or Pack-and-Go automation is brittle.
Fast lane 02
CAD-to-BOM starter pipeline
Model metadata does not reliably become cut lists, crate lists, accessories, or Excel outputs.
Fast lane 03
Drawing package automation sprint
Repeat submittal or shop-pack drawings still need manual open, update, export, and folder work.
Fast lane 04
Recursive DXF export utility
Fabrication DXFs are exported by hand from nested assemblies or inconsistent flat patterns.
Fast lane 05
Product configurator modernization
Product families depend on manual parameter edits, feature control, or job-specific CAD cloning.
Fast lane 06
Quote-to-production workflow map
RFQ, quote, CAD, BOM, labels, folders, lifecycle status, and handoff do not agree.
Fast lane 07
Label/BOM Excel automation cleanup
Excel tables, labels, print layouts, barcode assets, and BOM merges are maintained by hand.
Fast lane 08
Desktop engineering software deployment review
Internal WinForms/WPF tools need safer release, update, feature-toggle, or support workflows.
Reusable operating model
CAD Guardian is intentionally not a staffing bench. The scalable pattern is a reusable first-phase system: choose the smallest useful output, prove the automation boundary, then decide whether a larger modernization is worth funding.
Accelerator 01
Audit
Use when
The team knows a CAD or .NET workflow is painful but does not know the automation boundary yet.
Buyer receives
Current-state map, risk register, go/no-go recommendation, and scoped first sprint.
Accelerator 02
Prototype
Use when
A buyer needs evidence that an API, data source, export path, or host adapter can work before funding more.
Buyer receives
Thin working slice, acceptance notes, known constraints, and implementation estimate.
Accelerator 03
Utility
Use when
A repeat manual action can be isolated into a bounded tool: export, rename, validate, package, or report.
Buyer receives
Small production-ready utility with runbook, validation surface, and handoff notes.
Accelerator 04
Modernization kit
Use when
A brittle workflow needs to become maintainable across CAD versions, teams, releases, or data systems.
Buyer receives
Reusable seams, deployment pattern, documentation, support model, and next-phase roadmap.
Service cards
shared ui boundaries
Desktop Application Modernization
Consolidate and modernize desktop interfaces so your team ships faster with less maintenance overhead.
Legacy UI consolidation and modernization
Cross-platform compatibility for CAD environments
Phased rollout that keeps operations running
autodesk recovery
CAD Platform Recovery
Stabilize Inventor, Vault, AutoCAD, MicroStation, SolidWorks, and adjacent workflow systems when uptime, reliability, or version drift starts costing your team money.
Upgrade and compatibility hardening
Workflow governance and controls
Operational troubleshooting and recovery
dotnet renewal
Legacy .NET Application Modernization
Modernize legacy desktop applications without forcing a reckless rewrite that interrupts the people who already depend on them.
.NET Framework to modern .NET migration
Legacy WPF and WinForms restructuring
Production-safe release sequencing
workflow integration
Workflow and Data Integration
Connect your CAD, ERP, PLM, Vault, SQL, and reporting systems so data flows reliably and costly workflow errors disappear.
Reliable data synchronization
System integration architecture
Built-in validation and error prevention
Specialized service pages
Autodesk Vault Consulting
Stabilize and modernize Autodesk Vault.
Vault and ADMS consulting for enterprise engineering teams: governance recovery, lifecycle and category controls, SQL integration, and stabilization through controlled upgrades. Founder-led, US-based, remote-first.
See service page →Autodesk Inventor Automation
Inventor automation that survives upgrades.
Autodesk Inventor consulting for engineering and manufacturing teams: iLogic rules, Inventor .NET API plugins, configurators, and CAD-to-data pipelines. Built for upgrade resilience and operational throughput.
See service page →AutoCAD Plugin Development
AutoCAD automation built for production.
AutoCAD .NET API plugin development and AutoLISP-aware CAD automation modernization, delivered in bounded scopes (60-hour engagements typical). Best fit when legacy AutoLISP, AutoCAD customization, drawing standards, and structured engineering data need a safer bridge into production C#/.NET workflows.
See service page →Desktop Application Modernization
Modernize .NET desktop without breaking production.
.NET desktop modernization for production engineering software: .NET Framework 4.8 → .NET 8 migration, WinForms / WPF restructuring, shared UI boundary extraction. Production-safe sequencing, no rip-and-replace.
See service page →ACC / Forma / Revit Data Systems
Move old project data into governed Autodesk workflows.
Autodesk Construction Cloud consulting: ACC API integration, BIM 360 to ACC migration, retired data-system migration, Forma-ready planning datasets, Revit document context, document management, database normalization, CAD standards, RFI/submittal/issue pipelines, and field-to-office system connectivity. Founder-led, remote-first.
See service page →CAD Workflow Automation
Automate the path from request to drawing.
CAD workflow automation for engineering teams across SolidWorks, AutoLISP, AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor API, and MicroStation contexts: structured intake, SolidWorks drawing/PDM readiness, product metadata cleanup, CAD configurators, parameter/iProperty updates, quote/BOM/drawing/PDF/DXF workflows, labels, Excel outputs, and request-to-output automation. Replace manual open/update/export/copy/merge steps with governed, repeatable workflows.
See service page →PLM / PDM Transformation Readiness
Make PLM migration safer before the platform decision hardens.
PLM and PDM transformation readiness for teams modernizing engineering records, document control, CAD metadata, EBOM/MBOM handoff, change workflows, test plans, and adoption support across Teamcenter, Windchill, Vault, or adjacent engineering systems.
See service page →AEC / BIM Platform Administration
Turn BIM platform administration into a controlled operating system.
AEC and BIM platform administration support for ACC, BIM 360, Forma, Revit/Civil 3D collaboration context, document management, permissions, SSO/MFA, ProjectWise-adjacent handoff, standards, and migration governance.
See service page →Manufacturing IT / Data Automation
Connect engineering data to production decisions.
Manufacturing IT data automation for engineering and operations teams: SQL-backed workflows, ERP/MES/SCADA context, Power BI reporting, production dashboards, OEE-style metrics, drawing/BOM handoff, and shop-floor visibility.
See service page →.NET Enterprise Automation
.NET automation for enterprise engineering systems.
.NET enterprise automation: C# backend services, SQL workflow automation, and enterprise integration for engineering and manufacturing organizations. Production-safe delivery, bounded scope.
See service page →Fit filter
Strong fit
Best when the buyer needs durable leverage, not disposable labor.
Legacy desktop systems that must keep shipping while they are modernized.
CAD-hosted tooling where host-specific behavior and shared behavior need a durable seam.
Workflow-heavy environments where data quality, governance, and uptime materially affect delivery.
Buyers who want a founder-led specialist instead of a handoff chain.
Not the target
Better to be explicit than overpromise.
Commodity staff augmentation with no architectural leverage.
Pure brand-new greenfield web marketing builds.
Public case-study disclosure that crosses confidentiality lines.
Trust proof
CAD Guardian should feel easy to evaluate: published rate, bounded discovery, case-study proof, and an operating model built around controlled modernization.
- $165/hr
- published consulting rate
- 24%
- average cost reduction cited in proof
- 75%
- drawing throughput lift cited in proof
- 60 hr
- bounded migration case-study scope
Service chooser
Buyers do not need to diagnose the architecture before reaching out. Use the production symptom to choose the most likely first lane, then discovery confirms scope, risk, and acceptance criteria.
Vault, lifecycle, permissions, or metadata drift keeps creating repeat issues.
Governance, property control, lifecycle states, and operational runbooks need one owner.
Old databases, document libraries, file shares, CAD standards, Revit context, or project records need to move into ACC or Forma-ready workflows.
Retiring old systems requires source inventory, field mapping, permissions, validation gates, and document-management governance before data moves.
Inventor, AutoCAD, MicroStation, or SolidWorks add-ins are brittle, outdated, or blocked by host-version changes.
Host-specific API calls need a clean adapter boundary around shared business logic.
Teamcenter, Windchill, Vault, SolidWorks PDM, EBOM/MBOM, engineering change, UAT, or adoption risk needs technical readiness before rollout.
PLM programs fail when data ownership, document control, lifecycle states, and representative engineering workflows stay ambiguous too long.
ACC, BIM 360, Forma, Revit/Civil 3D context, ProjectWise-adjacent documents, permissions, SSO/MFA, or CADD/BIM standards are creating administration drag.
Platform administration needs document governance, permissions, standards, and migration boundaries before integrations scale.
Revit documentation chores (sheet setup, tagging) are taking too long, or Dynamo scripts are too fragile for firm-wide standards.
Solving the "BIM Manager Bottleneck" needs robust Revit API Add-ins, automated auditing, and data orchestration.
Power BI, MES, ERP, SCADA-context data, production dashboards, OEE-style metrics, or shop-floor reports depend on manual exports.
Dashboards only hold up when CAD, SQL, ERP/MES context, production goals, and source ownership are made explicit first.
SolidWorks parts, assemblies, drawings, templates, drawing requests, DXF outputs, BOM data, product metadata, PDM readiness, or CAD metadata still move through manual handoff.
The first phase should expose the SolidWorks/drawing-to-data boundary before automating output.
Inventor parameters, iProperties, CAD configurators, quote tools, BOMs, drawings, PDFs, DXFs, labels, project tracking, and production handoff do not agree.
Manufacturing software needs a governed boundary from CAD model to quote, BOM, drawing package, tracking, and handoff.
Legacy WPF, WinForms, or .NET Framework tools are too risky for a rewrite.
Modernization should be staged around compatibility, tests, deployment, and user continuity.
FAQ
Service questions
FAQ
Start with the service page closest to the production system causing pain. Vault governance belongs under Autodesk Vault consulting, CAD add-ins and CAD-hosted automation belong under Inventor, AutoCAD, MicroStation, SolidWorks, or CAD workflow automation, and legacy .NET desktop work belongs under desktop modernization.
Yes. Many engagements combine Autodesk automation, MicroStation or SolidWorks workflow work, plugin modernization, and workflow integration. The service pages clarify the entry point; discovery turns that into a bounded phase plan.
Yes. Discovery, architecture review, migration, and stabilization work can be scoped into named phases with acceptance criteria before implementation begins.
Yes. CAD Guardian can scope fast-start lanes such as an Inventor automation rescue audit, CAD-to-BOM starter pipeline, drawing package automation sprint, recursive DXF export utility, product configurator modernization, quote-to-production workflow map, label/BOM Excel automation cleanup, or desktop engineering software deployment review.
Both. CAD Guardian remains founder-led consulting, but the first phases are packaged into reusable accelerator modes: audit, prototype, utility, or modernization kit. This lets buyers start with a bounded output before committing to a larger Autodesk, SolidWorks, MicroStation, AutoCAD, CAD workflow, or .NET modernization effort.
Usually no. The strongest fit is architecture-led execution where a defined system boundary, modernization risk, or workflow constraint needs owner-level judgment.
Start from the business symptom: Vault governance issues, CAD add-in failures, manual drawing workflow, Inventor API automation gaps, Content Center or CAD standardization drift, PLM/PDM migration readiness, Teamcenter or Windchill transformation support, ACC/BIM/Revit platform administration, CAD configurator or quote/BOM/drawing/PDF/DXF package gaps, label generation, product metadata cleanup, document management, database migration, manufacturing BI/MES/ERP data handoff, legacy desktop risk, or CAD-to-data handoff. The services page maps those symptoms to a first service lane, proof route, and inquiry path.