3D Engineers - Vehicle re-creation specialists

Reverse Engineering

Key strengths is this specialist area are:

• Extensive experience
• Investment in skills training
• Ability to use a broad range of techniques in order to complete the job in hand effectively and at a competitive cost.
• Only the very best hardware and software used for each given task.
• Development and creation of specialist techniques, equipment and resources that enable us to complete any given car re-creation task to a higher standard and lower cost than other firms.
• Charge a contract rate as opposed to hourly rates like our competitors. Additionally, we charge a variable rate dependent on the skill set required. Another example of how our prices are more focused and competitive.
• Speak to the people that will be re-creating the part/car concerned to ensure that what we manufacture meets their needs.

 

A brief resume of the methods we use is given below.

 

Vehicle & Part Scanning

Scanning a classic vehicle or part is a specialist area and 3D Engineers are world-class innovators in this area of expertise. How many other companies design their own techniques and equipment to ensure the end result for our clients is outstanding?

As a customer, you have three key areas to consider before choosing a scanning firm:

1. What is the specialist area of the firm quoting for your work? Most scanning firms have zero or limited experience of scanning a classic vehicle. Being a specialist area this should worry you. We have a great deal of experience in this area and therefore know the techniques, methods and most importantly have the equipment and programmes to ensure that the scanning of your vehicle goes smoothly and you get the desired result.

Our expertise saves you money!

 

2. Do I choose "white light" or "laser" scanning?

Most scanning firms operate on the back of selling a particular item of hardware or software. Speak to one scanning firm and they recommend "laser" scanning. Speak to another and they recommend "white light" scanning. This is most often because they are selling the item of equipment or programme they want to use.

You, the customer, end up confused. 3D Engineers solves this confusion as we are totally independent and as some contracts are best done by a laser scanning system and some by white light methods, we use both systems and choose the best process for each contract.

3. Who is going to manipulate the scanned data into a form that achieves your aims?

It is a common fallacy that after scanning a subject, the operator switches off the scanning system, presses a button and a perfect surface appears on the computer screen.

This is not correct and scans demand post-processing to mould the data collected into a usable format. This may be of a minor nature, or as is often the case with hand-built cars considerable work is required to make the vehicle symmetrical, eliminate poor surfaces and give the client the output he requires.

3D Engineers both completes this post-processing in-house to ensure that the data the files contain is not sent - and possibly compromised - by third party contractors. In addition, we have created our own methods and use the very best software to ensure that your scan data is processed as economically and effectively as possible.

Working from pictures

Often we only have a couple of grainy pictures to work from taken with an unknown camera.

Once again, we have developed techniques to solve perspective problems, draw out information from a picture that would normally remain invisible and generally make the photographs more useful than they otherwise would have been.

An example of our forward thinking is the constant search for new and improved ways of working. An example of this is Microsoft Photosynth that although definitely in a "beta" phase shows promise and already we have put it to use improving our workflow in innovative ways.

Paper plans or blueprints

Having converted - as an example - over 800 French annotated Bugatti Type 35 plans from c1924 into 3D files it is fair to say that we have un-paralleled experience in the area of 2D to 3D file conversion.

Once again, with this method of working you have to adopt a multi-skilled approach as often you are dealing with copies of copies that may have been stored poorly and therefore need computer skills and programmes to bring out the detail required to reproduce a part.

Templates

It is not unknown for car restorers or owners to have kept paper templates of the panels and features of a car they need to re-create.

Although templates cannot be used as a complete solution, they are helpful towards the end of a project to ensure that the design of a panel or part converges to the correct solution.

Traditional measuring techniques

In some cases, the best way of achieving a the desired result is to use traditional tools such as tape measures, spirit levels and even pieces of string!

As you can see, we are not blinkered into using technology when non-computerised methods can produce the desired result cheaper, more quickly and more effectively.

Drafting

Having extensive drawing office experience along with having passed the relevant Solidworks exams and courses, we can effectively transfer design data into drawing form in whatever drawing standard you require.

Combination of techniques

Often the best solution is a combination of techniques and this is where our extensive skill set really reaps dividends for our clients. With all work carried out in house we control the project from start to finish and steer it towards a successful conclusion using the most effective combination of techniques. Your valuable data will not leave our possession without your express written permission.

The tasks required to complete the contract are therefore completed quicker, cheaper and with in-team collaboration: all benefits to our clients.

An example of this is a recent project to recreate a classic car body where scanning, manual methods, Computer Aided Design, pre World War 1 photographs and obtaining information that was previously unknown to exist via our contacts resulted in the clients project appearing on-time, below his original budget and exceeding his expectations.

In conclusion, by using the best computer hardware and software, coupled with designing our own procedures, hardware and templates all specifically designed to help reproduce vehicles coupled with experience and a flexible multi-skilled attitude means that 3D Engineers offers the best solution for recreating any car or part.