Industrial measurement services

3D Scanning & Reverse Engineering

Capture complex geometry, inspect deviations and create reliable digital data for reverse engineering, product development and 3D printing workflows.

Discuss a scanning application View applications

Technician using a handheld 3D scanner on a large industrial component

Industrial capture · Digital geometry

Where it helps

One capture. Multiple engineering uses.

01

3D inspection

Capture surface geometry for dimensional review and comparison against available CAD data.

02

Reverse engineering

Digitise existing components to support replacement, redesign and design improvement.

03

Product development

Obtain accurate reference geometry to speed design iteration and optimisation.

04

3D printing preparation

Create digital geometry for prototyping and additive manufacturing workflows.

Inspection workflow

Capture the part. Compare the geometry.

The physical component is captured from accessible angles, processed into digital geometry and reviewed against the available drawing or CAD reference.

Handheld structured-light scanner capturing a small component — Structured-light capture records the accessible geometry of a small component.

Circular industrial plate used for 3D scan inspection and CAD comparison — The physical circular plate used for scan inspection and geometry review.

CAD comparison highlighting differences between scanned geometry and a drawing — Processed scan data can reveal geometry that differs from or is missing in the available drawing.

Reverse-engineering case study

From an existing cover to a production-ready replacement.

This motor-cover project shows the progression from marker-assisted capture and live scan review to reconstructed CAD geometry and the finished stainless-steel component.

Motor cover being captured with a marker-assisted handheld 3D scanner — Marker-assisted capture of an existing motor cover for reverse engineering.

Laptop displaying live 3D scan data beside the motor cover — Live scan data is reviewed during capture before geometry processing.

Processed CAD model and measured dimensions of a motor cover — Processed geometry provides an engineering reference for redesign and replacement.

Stainless-steel replacement motor cover produced from recreated geometry — A stainless-steel replacement produced after the original plastic cover was recreated.

Typical outputs

Useful data for the next engineering step.

Manufacturing componentsAutomotive partsTooling and mouldsEquipment replacement parts

1

Digital geometry

Processed scan data suitable for review and downstream engineering work.

2

Deviation review

Comparison against available CAD data to identify dimensional differences.

3

Reverse-engineering reference

Geometry that supports part recreation, redesign and improvement.

4

Development support

Digital input for prototyping and 3D printing workflows.

How it works

A clear path from part to output.

01
Share the part and objective
Tell us what needs to be captured, checked, recreated or developed.
02
Scan and capture
The component is prepared and its accessible geometry is digitally captured.
03
Review and process
Scan data is cleaned, aligned and reviewed around the required application.
04
Deliver the required output
You receive the agreed digital output for inspection or engineering use.

Technician scanning a large cylindrical industrial surface — Handheld scanning supports the capture of large equipment and structural surfaces.

Handheld scanner projecting structured light across a large metal surface — Structured light projected across a large metal surface during geometry capture.

Handheld 3D scanner capturing a vehicle design model — Capturing complex vehicle-model surfaces for digital review and development.

Handheld 3D scanner capturing an aerospace model component — Portable scanning can capture complex aerospace-model geometry at close range.

Technician using a handheld 3D scanner on a small aircraft in a hangar — Large-scale aircraft surface capture using handheld and tripod-mounted scanning equipment.

Measured CAD model of a custom threaded metal component — Processed geometry and dimensions support recreation of a custom threaded component.

Custom stainless-steel threaded components produced from recreated geometry — Custom stainless-steel parts produced from the recreated geometry.

Finished custom threaded metal components arranged for inspection — Finished components demonstrate the progression from captured geometry to production output.

Range of custom stainless-steel vacuum and process components — A broader range of custom components supported by measurement and reverse-engineering workflows.

Start with the application

Have a part that is difficult to measure or reproduce?

Share the component, application and required outcome. AKVT will review the scanning approach and next steps.

Discuss a scanning application