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I’m looking to scan an out-of-production bronze rudder bracket for a small sailing dingy. The maximum dimension is about 12’’.

Can anyone recommend a scanning service in the Boston area?

Thanks

Bruce

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Hey Bruce, if you go on the Online 3D Printing Service | Instant 3D Printing Quotes | Hubs page, fill in your location and click the Advanced Options button, you get the option to also choose scanning services. This will result in all Hubs in the area that might be able to help with your scan. Hope this helps!

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For mechanical, practical things like this it’s usually much better to have someone with some calipers recreate it using their eyes and brain and cad software. Something like a rudder bracket should be straight forward. If you scan it then it will be lumpy and won’t meet any reasonable tolerances.

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“If you scan it then it will be lumpy and won’t meet any reasonable tolerances.” ← not if you use a QUALITY scanner! I have a nextengine laser scanner and can scan items of this size down to ± 0.015" resolution. Here are some sample personal scans I’ve done: 3-D Laser Scans | Flickr . I also can go from mesh to CAD (i.e. solidworks) with the software I have (RapidWorks). gr5org might be confusing an off the shelf, consumer scanner. These are typically IR based and yes provide, “blobby” results. The higher end scanners > $25k actually can do what you want very easily, although a good CAD modeler can often provide geometry almost as quickly. It really comes down to curvature with these sorts of items (i.e. mechanical objects). Spending time to figure out the curvature or just scanning it. Something that is hand made and needs to be duplicated exactly this is not always possible without a ton of pre (i.e. measurement) and post (i.e. verification) effort in CAD.

EDIT: I just re-read the post, and it’s the BRACKET. gr5org is probably right (about the CAD workflow), unless the bracket is something very intricate. Post a pic of the item? Modeling it in CAD is probably easier then spending time scanning it. I’d be interested in knowing what would be faster though. Measuring the part and modeling it, or just scanning and outputting it.

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3D Printsmith in Allston does high quality structured light scanning and can reverse engineer to CAD from scan if you need it. Talk to Sean O’Reilly http://www.3dprintsmith.com/

Whether you want to scan it or model directly, depends on:

a) complexity of curves (in particular, are they simple arcs or more complex splines)

b) end use (graphics, design modification, simulation, 3D printing, CNC, etc.)

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Bruce,

We’re not in the Boston area, but we’d be able to help with the project if you’re able to box the part and ship in to Milwaukee. We started our 3D scanning and reverse engineering company a few months ago and we’re still looking to give deals to new customers. Feel free to send me an email (below) to discuss the project.

Best Regards,

Steve Hartig

CEO, Into3D LLC

hartigs@into3dllc.com

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Bruce, did you want to fabricate the rudder bracket in metal? or were you thinking of something else? I could set you up to a metal cast, or possibly carbon fiber since it will most likely endure a lot of stress. Posting a pic that has geometry and size would go along way to define the best way to scan, possibly print, cast, or machine the part. Do you have a budget? That would also play into the path you take to make something work (well).

Let me know.