Reverse engineering
No drawing? We rebuild the part as a model and a drawing
When a part has no drawing, or the drawing no longer matches what is in the machine, we measure it, model it in SolidWorks and deliver a fabrication drawing and a STEP file. You get a part you can re-order from any supplier, with the dimensions we measured separated from the ones we inferred from function.
What we deliver
| Deliverable | Files and formats |
|---|---|
| Measurement record | PDF · measured dimensions, method and instrument for each critical feature |
| 3D model | SLDPRT / SLDASM · STEP · IGES |
| Fabrication drawing | PDF + native · tolerances proposed from fit and function |
| Open questions list | PDF · features that could not be measured or depend on the mating part |
Drawings in mm, inches or dual-dimensioned (mm / in), to the standard on your title block.
How it works
- 1
Tell us about the part
Photos, what it mates with, material if known, and how many you need.
- 2
Measure
You measure with our checklist, or you send us a 3D scan. We say which features must be measured, and how.
- 3
Model and tolerance
Nominal geometry from the measurements, tolerances from the fit with the mating parts.
- 4
Review with you
We go through the open questions before releasing the drawing.
Who it's for
- Maintenance teams replacing a worn or broken part on a machine with no documentation
- Shops asked to quote a part from a sample
- Manufacturers whose original supplier closed or stopped making a component
Who it's not for
- Copying parts protected by patents or design rights you do not hold
- Freeform surfaces that need high-density scanning and surfacing (castings with sculpted shapes, ergonomic plastic housings) unless you provide the scan
Measured versus inferred
Every reverse-engineered drawing mixes two kinds of numbers: dimensions measured on the sample, and dimensions decided by the engineer because the sample is worn, deformed or simply does not show them (draft, thread class, surface finish). We keep them apart in the measurement record, so whoever approves the drawing knows which numbers carry risk.
| Feature | Usually measured | Usually inferred |
|---|---|---|
| Overall dimensions, hole positions | ✓ | |
| Bearing and shaft fits | Diameter | Fit class and tolerance |
| Threads | Pitch and major diameter | Thread class |
| Worn running surfaces | Nominal from the mating part | |
| Material | If marked or certified | Otherwise proposed for approval |
When the material is unknown, we say so on the drawing and propose one for you to confirm. We do not guess a grade and present it as fact.
FAQ
Do I have to ship the part to Brazil?
Usually not. For prismatic and turned parts, measurements taken by your team with calipers, micrometers and a height gauge, following our checklist and photos, are enough. For complex geometry, a 3D scan from a local scanning service works well and we model from the mesh.
How do you decide tolerances on a worn part?
Wear tells you where the part was, not where it should be. We take nominal sizes from unworn areas and from the mating parts, and set tolerances from the fit (clearance, transition or interference) the assembly needs.
Can you reverse engineer an assembly?
Yes. We model each part and the assembly, and deliver a BOM along with the drawings.
Related
Send photos of the part
Three photos, a ruler in the frame and a line on what it mates with is enough for us to tell you how to measure it and what the scope costs.
Send a drawing or photos