Industry

Aerospace 3D Laser Scanning Services

Accurately Capture Complex Shapes to Produce CAD Drawings

What can be scanned?

There are a great variety of different parts and objects that can be scanned including: molds, tools, jigs, fixtures body panels and even complete aircraft. If you don’t have digital 3D drawings of your tooling, or any drawings at all, 3D scanning is a way to capture them and preserve their shape using precise 3D scanning technology. No prior 3D experience is required for you to start taking advantage of 3D scanning. Output files are provided in neutral standard formats that you can provide to your engineers to utilize. 

3D laser scan aircraft
Entire Aircraft
3D laser scan aircraft
Landing Gear Hardware
3D laser scan aircraft
Access panel

How accurate are the results?

3D scanning is typically accurate to within +/- .005 for most applications, but depending on which scanner is used, accuracy in the .001″ range is achievable.  We select the most efficient 3D scanning method that can meet your minimum accuracy requirement. By identifying the least amount of accuracy that you can live with, we can optimize the process to save you money. 

Why do aerospace companies use 3D scanning?

Common reasons include: 

  • To archive or reproduce molds, fixtures and tooling
  • Document and preserve hand-built designs
  • Reverse-engineer a part that has no drawings
  • For FAA repair stations to create replacement parts
  • Duplicate a part
  • Re-create a part using new methods such as 3D printing
  • Inspect parts for accurate manufacturing
  • Create drawings and prints for government certification
  • Obtain models for FEA and CFD simulation
  • Create a new mold for forming tool for a part
3D Model of Powered Parachute
Point Cloud

What can you do with a 3D model created by reverse engineering services?

Because of the high quality models produced during the reverse engineering process, the models happen to be very versatile. Among the many things that are possible:

  • Machining & molding
  • 3D printing
  • Making changes to the design
  • Create 2D Drawings 
  • Exploded 3D visualizations and animations
  • Comparisons with other parts or scans
  • Can be used to design mating parts or packaging
  • Drawings can be sent overseas for manufacturing instead of the part

Alternatively, you can just keep the 3D model for safekeeping as documentation for future reference knowing, should the part ever be lost or destroyed, that you have sufficient information build another one. The sky is the limit as to what you can do once the object is in its digital form.

Are there limitations on size?

Great news! With different laser scanners, it is possible to scan parts as small as 1/4 inch to huge aircraft and everything in between. Most of our scanners are portable, therefore we are able to scan larger sized objects at your location. But if your item is very small,  we may refer you to one of our scanning partners. This is because our scanners are optimized to scan larger items quickly and economically.

Tail Fin
3D laser scan cockpit
Cast Airplane Cylinder Head

Interested in aerospace 3D scanning services?

aircraft 3D scanning services

call 866-687-7784 or email [email protected] to get started with your aerospace-related project.

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