Reverse engineering 3D scanning allows engineers, designers, manufacturers, and technicians to capture the geometry of an existing physical part and convert it into a digital model for CAD development, redesign, prototyping, replacement parts, and product improvement.
3D scanners can capture complex shapes, curves, surfaces, and physical dimensions that can be difficult or time-consuming to measure manually. Depending on the scanner and workflow, captured data can be converted into meshes, compared against CAD models, or used as the foundation for creating a new design.
Common Reverse Engineering Applications
- Recreating obsolete or unavailable components
- Developing replacement parts
- Capturing existing products for redesign
- Creating CAD models from physical components
- Automotive and mechanical component development
- Product design and development
- Prototyping and design validation
- Tooling and fixture development
- Digitizing legacy components
- Comparing physical parts with digital designs
The right scanner depends on the size, surface, accuracy, and complexity of the object being captured. Portable handheld scanners can be useful for large or complex components, while higher-accuracy systems are better suited to detailed engineering and industrial workflows.
3D Printing Canada offers SHINING 3D scanning solutions for applications ranging from general-purpose reverse engineering and product development to advanced industrial scanning and scan-to-CAD workflows.