3D Laser Scanning & Reverse Engineering in Nashville
What is the difference between AEC scanning and high-precision mechanical 3D scanning?
AEC scanning firms in Nashville typically use LiDAR for architectural site surveys where inch-level accuracy suffices. In contrast, Schimmel Engineering provides high-precision mechanical metrology. Utilizing blue-light scanners, we achieve 0.025mm (.0009") accuracy, making us the Nashville experts for reverse engineering, machine part alignment, and GD&T checks where microns matter more than feet.
Our Creaform handheld blue-light scanner captures details at 1.8 million points per second. Our software allows us to extract the design intent from your original geometry, ensuring high-fidelity CAD models for critical mechanical applications.
Does 3D laser scanning provide machine-ready CAD models?
Standard 3D laser scanning produces "point clouds," which are not inherently machine-ready. However, Schimmel Engineering specializes in converting raw scan data into fully parametric, machine-ready CAD models in Nashville. Our process ensures that your 3D models are accurate, editable, and ready for CNC machining, 3D printing, or immediate industrial production.
Where can I find mail-in and drop-off 3D scanning services in Nashville?
Schimmel Engineering offers professional mail-in and drop-off 3D scanning services in Nashville, TN, to eliminate costly mobilization fees. Simply ship your brackets, housings, or engine components to our lab for precision reverse engineering. We deliver high-accuracy digital twins within 72 hours, providing a cost-effective 3D scanning solution for small parts across Middle Tennessee and nationwide.
How does 3D Laser Scanning identify and eliminate part failure modes?
Schimmel Engineering integrates professional engineering with 3D laser scanning in Nashville to identify and eliminate part failure modes. Unlike basic scanning services that replicate wear, our Design Intent Reconstruction analyzes damaged geometry to determine original specifications. We don't just recreate parts; we optimize the design to ensure your replacement components perform better than the original.
Locally Owned and Operated 3D Scanning in Nashville
Conveniently located in the HEART of Nashville, Schimmel Engineering provides rapid-response 3D scanning with quick transit times to Mt. Juliet, Franklin, Brentwood, Hendersonville, Murfreesboro, and Spring Hill. As a locally owned firm, we offer Middle Tennessee businesses personalized engineering expertise and high-precision reality capture services right in their backyard.
We do architecture too, but focus on historical preservation
We provide comprehensive building scans, but our true specialty is in the fine details. If you need plaster molding, capitals, friezes, espagnolettes, lintels, pediments, or ornamental tiles reproduced, our metrology-grade technology captures every nuance. Our extensive experience in theming and entertainment makes documenting Nashville's historic cornices, finials, and porticos a walk in the park.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Single object for mail in starts at $130.
Site visits start at $390 within a 50 mile radius of 37206 zip code.
If you require further processing beyond a mesh, a single part is typically $250-$500 for a parametric solid model from mesh data.
Manufacturing drawings for machining, plan to spend an additional $500-1000 over the base scanning fee for machinist ready drawings.
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Yes, and no.
We only sell you what you need. The raw output from laser scanning is an OBJ or STL triangular mesh, and is not something you can work with in a parametric CAD program. Depending on your needs, processed scan data can be good enough for 3D printing without reverse engineering. Raw scan data cannot be used for subtractive machining (CNC mill/lathe).If you need parametric cad, our design and engineering services are very competitive. While there is no seamless automated bridge from mesh > parametric CAD, we have experience processing terabytes of scan data to parametric models for engineering, machining and fabrication. Scanning is becoming more common, leveraging the data properly is less common.
We are highly versed in manufacturing and engineering, and can help you select the right level of spend and effort for your needs. -
We are here to provide data to you for your own reverse engineering efforts, all the way up to sourcing packaged and branded product for your warehouse or amazon store.
Regardless your need, our experience is vast, and at your disposal. -
Our equipment fits in hand carried cases, operates from battery, and can be carried into facilities, inside equipment and remote locations.
Setup takes minutes, and the sample rate is 1.8 million points per second. Reflective and black surfaces are not an issue, and do not require scanning spray. We cannot scan glass, water, or clear plastics without surface treatment. Chrome, and gloss black paint are not an issue.
Our professional scanning equipment and experience allows us to get in, and get out, with high quality data. Most projects focused on a single object take between 10-45 minutes to collect data.
Lasers are class 1, and eye safe. -
The laser scanner we operate is metrology grade, and NIST traceable certified. It costs more than a sports car… It’s not as fun as driving a sports car, but you can use it to modify one!
Our handheld scanner has the following specs:
Accuracy:0.025 mm (0.0009 in)
Volumetric accuracy:
0.020 mm + 0.015 mm/m (0.0008 in + 0.00018 in/ft) with Accu+ Kit
Measurement resolution:
0.025 mm (0.0009 in)
Measurement rate:
1,800,000 measurements/s
Part size range (recommended):
0.05 – 4 m (0.15 – 13.1 ft)
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We don’t just operate laser scanners. We offer the unique perspective of mechanics, machinists, fabricators and makers into a professional engineering environment and team. We aren’t just clicking buttons in cad - we get greasy, build, and break the things we make.
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Our founder sets the tone, and you can read about him here.
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Blue light 3D scanning projects structured fringe patterns onto objects, using dual-camera triangulation to capture X, Y, Z coordinates. Creaform scanners utilize specific blue-wavelength filters to eliminate ambient light noise, achieving $0.025 mm accuracy even on shiny surfaces. This high-fidelity "point cloud" is then converted into "machinist-ready" CAD models (STEP/IGES) for precise reverse engineering and quality control.
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We’re a predominantly 3D company. If you have a 2D drawing set (pencil or digital) we will first need to convert it to a 3D model. Inventor, Catia, Solidworks, NX, and Revit are a few major players in the 3D CAD world.
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We have extensive experience in manufacturing, automotive, quality, machine building, and entertainment.
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3D scanning provides rapid, non-destructive measurement with 0.025 mm accuracy. It eliminates manual error, capturing complex geometries for "machinist-ready" CAD models. This accelerates reverse engineering and quality control, saving Nashville businesses significant time and cost during product development and manufacturing.
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YES! More than likely we can. Once you start extracting geometry from a part, the design intent often times becomes clear. Planes of symmetry, whole millimeter, centimeter, inch, decimal or fractional inch dimensions often pop out of a typical reverse engineering workflow.
Broken parts require a little more effort, but it’s something we’re very experienced working with. -
Our scanning equipment is NIST traceable certified metrology equipment and undergoes periodic calibration.
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Head over to our contact form, where you can tell us about your project or schedule a time with us to meet virtually or in person!
https://schimmelengineering.com/scanningcontact -
Absolutely. We specialize in low volume and one off designs (and clients). While we love our regulars, we also offer bespoke one time service.
