3D Scanning

We scan parts and turn them into 3D models and prints. Most enquiries come from people whose part has broken and who can’t buy a replacement for it any more.

Bring the part in, we’ll scan it, and you get back a mesh file or a CAD model you can edit. We can print the finished part for you as well.

What people bring us

• Brackets and mounts from older machinery
• Handles, knobs and trim pieces for cars and appliances
• Parts where the manufacturer has gone or the spare is discontinued
• Items to be copied, or scaled up

Some parts scan better than others

Dark, shiny and transparent surfaces are the difficult ones, with black plastic and chrome the usual culprits. Those get a coat of matte scanning spray first. It lifts off by itself after a few hours and leaves no residue on the part.

Very fine detail and deep internal cavities don’t come out reliably. Sometimes it’s quicker to measure the part and draw it from scratch, and we’ll tell you if that’s the better route.

Accuracy is well suited to replacement parts, reproduction and general fit-up work. If your job needs certified tolerances, say so at the start and we’ll let you know whether we can help.

A scan isn’t a photocopy

Worth knowing before you bring something in. A scan captures the part as it is now, so if it’s worn or cracked, or has a piece missing, that’s what ends up in the file. It has no idea what the part looked like when it was new.

Raw scan data also needs tidying up before anything can be printed from it. Flat faces come out slightly uneven and sharp corners soften. Small holes often close over altogether.

For something decorative, or a part that only has to sit in place, that’s rarely an issue. If it has to thread into something, clip shut, or seal against another surface, it normally needs redrawing in CAD before it will work properly.

So it isn’t a case of scanning it and hitting print. Most jobs need a bit of work in between. We’ll tell you how much once we’ve seen the part.

Mesh, CAD or 3D Print

A scan produces a mesh. That’s fine if you want to print a copy, but it isn’t editable in any practical sense.

If you need to change a dimension, or design something that fits around the part, we redraw it in CAD from the scan. That takes longer and costs more, but the file is properly workable afterwards.

Either way, we can print the part for you when the file is ready. It’s all done in the same workshop, so you’re not chasing one place for a scan and another for the printing. Which material and finish makes sense depends on what the part has to do, and we’ll go through that with you.

If you’re not sure which you need, tell us what you’re trying to do and we’ll point you the right way.

What it costs

It depends on the part. Size, how awkward the surfaces are, and whether you want a mesh, a full CAD model, or the printed part as well.

Send a photo and rough dimensions and we’ll come back with a price.

Where we are

Unit 6, Ballincollig Commercial Park, Link Road, Ballincollig. Drop-off your part or ship it to us after calling us or booking online.