Reverse Engineering Services

Over 25 years experience in providing high quality 3D reverse engineering services enables us to create detailed 3D CAD models from your physical item. We turn 3D scanning data into 3D CAD models for your legacy parts, protecting your business continuity and capturing your current components and prototypes ready for future development. From capturing 3D measurement though to achieving full 3D design intent CAD models, our services can be tailored to your needs.

We will digitalise your component using our available range of contact and non-contact 3D scanning technologies. From the scanned data we can create both a meshed model (STL) and detailed CAD model (Surfaces / Solid). Having created the 3D CAD model we can provide you with colour deviation maps showing the comparison of the actual components scan data to the reverse engineered CAD model. Finally, if required, our engineers can produce detailed 2D drawings tailored to your requirements.

Picking the right tools for your reverse engineering project is essential. The main considerations are cost, accuracy, and ability to access features. By taking the time to understand your application, our engineers will recommend the most suitable tools. Utilising non-contact scanning (laser, structured light, CT) or contact measurements (CMM, hand tools) we will accurately measure your component. Where applicable we can combine multiple methods to yield the optimum solution.

• Non-contact 3D scanners are ideal tools for complex, or freeform reverse engineering projects.
• Our CMMs have the highest accuracy and are ideal for critical prismatic features.
• Hand tools can be a cost effective solution for simple prismatic components.
• Optical projection at up to x50 magnification enables accurate measurement and assessment of small features.

Where 3D scanning has been used, we will take the point cloud output and triangulate it. This produces a mesh which is typically output as an STL model. The mesh is an exact digital replica of the component, including any manufacturing variation and damage in the physical part, which will need to be accounted for when creating the final CAD model.

Using all the data obtained in Step 1 & 2, our highly skilled CAD engineers will create a full design intent 3D CAD model of your component and detailed 2D drawings as required. Any undesirable features in the sample part can be removed at this stage.

The CAD model can be provided in your required format. Universal formats include STEP & IGES. Native formats include SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD, and Fusion 360. You can check compatibility of some common formats with your software, by downloading some of our example CAD files.