What scan to CAD reverse engineering delivers
A scan is a dense cloud of points or a triangle mesh. It is great for inspection, but you cannot easily change a hole size, add a draft angle or produce a drawing from it. Scan to CAD rebuilds the part as real geometry: extrudes, revolves, holes, fillets and freeform surfaces that follow the scan within an agreed tolerance.
We choose the approach to suit the purpose. For parts that will be redesigned or machined, we build a design-intent model – nominal sizes, true perpendicular faces, standard hole sizes. For organic shapes or exact replicas, we build an as-built model with surfaces that follow the scan closely. Either way you get a colour deviation map showing how the model compares with the scan.
This service is for parts, products and equipment. For buildings and plant rooms captured with laser scanners, see point cloud to BIM modeling. Drawings for manufacturing can follow through our mechanical drafting service.
Deliverables you receive
- Parametric native model (SolidWorks, Inventor) or neutral STEP/IGES
- Design-intent or as-built modeling, as agreed
- Deviation report / colour map against the scan
- Assembly structure for multi-part scans
- 2D manufacturing drawings on request
- Clean STL for 3D printing if needed
What we need from you
- Scan data: STL, OBJ, PLY or point cloud (E57, PTS, XYZ)
- Photos and any known dimensions of the part
- Purpose: replica, redesign, inspection or drawings
- Required accuracy and target software
Who orders this service
- Manufacturers replacing obsolete parts
- Product designers working from prototypes
- Automotive and aftermarket parts makers
- Maintenance teams without original drawings
Software and file formats
Input: STL, OBJ, PLY, 3MF and point clouds (E57, PTS, XYZ, LAS). Output: SolidWorks (SLDPRT/SLDASM), Inventor (IPT/IAM), STEP, IGES, Parasolid (X_T) and PDF drawings. We do not perform the scan ourselves; we work from the data your scanning provider or in-house scanner produces.
3D Scan to CAD Service standards in the USA, UK, Canada and Australia
We set up every project on the standard of the country where it will be built or manufactured. These are the references we work to most often:
| Country | Standards and codes we draft 3D scan to CAD service to |
|---|---|
| USA | ASME Y14.5 tolerancing and ASME Y14.41 model-based definition for the final model and drawings |
| UK | BS 8888 and ISO GPS for manufacturing drawings from the rebuilt model |
| Canada | CSA B78.2 / ASME drawing practice for parts supplied into North American manufacturing |
| Australia | AS 1100.201 and ISO GPS tolerancing for drawings from the rebuilt model |
How our 3D scan to CAD service process works
- 1Send your files
Upload sketches, PDFs, markups, photos, scans or a model through the quote form. Tell us the standard (US, UK, Canada or Australia) and the deadline.
- 2Fixed quote in hours
We review the scope and reply with a fixed price, the deliverables list and a delivery date. Nothing starts until you approve it.
- 3Drafting & modeling
Your project is drawn in AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D, SolidWorks or the software you use, on your title block, layers and templates.
- 4QA check
A second drafter checks dimensions, annotations, layer standards, sheet numbering and cross-references against your input before anything is sent.
- 5Delivery & revisions
You receive native files plus PDFs. Comments come back as markups and we revise them quickly until the set matches the brief.
Turnaround and pricing
A simple prismatic part typically takes 1–2 business days; complex freeform or multi-part assemblies are quoted after we review the scan. Every job is priced as a fixed quote after we review your files, so you know the cost and the delivery date before work starts. See how our pricing works, or send your files through the quote form for a quick estimate.
Related services
3D Scan to CAD Service projects often need mechanical drafting services, 3D CAD design services and point cloud modeling services as well. You can order them together on one quote, or browse every option in our CAD services.
