Automotive · Jul 2025
Tacoma Solid-Axle Swap: Full Scan, CAD Design and Build
A 1st-gen Tacoma was 3D scanned from frame to floorpan, then a front solid axle and rear 4-link were designed on the scan and the rear 4-link was built.
3D Laser Scanning
3D laser scanning services in Reno, from a shift knob to a full vehicle
Revv Engineering scans parts, vehicles and aircraft sections with handheld blue-laser and structured white-light 3D scanners, with accuracy up to 0.03 mm (0.0012 in). Drop your part off at our Reno shop, ship it in, or have us scan it where it sits. You get a clean STL, OBJ or PLY mesh you can design to, inspect against or archive.
What you get
What sets our work apart
Geometry a tape measure can't give you
A scan records curved panels, mounting points, hole patterns and hard-to-reach surfaces in one dataset. Your design starts from the part as it really is, not from a page of hand measurements.
The right scanner for each surface
Blue laser is our choice for vehicles, frames, large parts and difficult surfaces. Structured white light is quick on smaller parts with fine detail. We choose per job based on size, finish and the detail you need.
A clean mesh, not raw data
Before delivery we merge the scan passes, remove noise and stray geometry, fill small gaps and align the model to a useful coordinate system, such as a vehicle centerline or a mounting face.
Three ways to get scanned
Drop the part off in Reno (same-day scanning can be arranged), ship it to us, or book an on-site visit for anything that can't travel.
See the detail
Inspect a real scan yourself
This is scan data straight from our handheld scanners, reduced for the web. Rotate it and zoom in on the surfaces.
Loading 3D scan…
Drag or use the arrow keys to rotate, scroll or pinch to zoom. The buttons do the same.
Process
How the work runs
Send photos and your goal
Tell us the rough size, send a few photos and say what the scan is for. A design reference, a reverse-engineering job and an inspection each need different coverage and resolution. The instant estimate gives you a starting number.
Prep the surface
We place positioning targets so the scanner always knows where it is, and mist shiny, dark or clear areas with a sublimating scanning spray. The spray disappears on its own and the targets peel off afterward.
Scan
Handheld passes cover every face the job needs. The mesh builds live on the laptop, so gaps get filled while the part is still in front of us.
Process the mesh
Passes are merged, cleaned and reduced to a workable file size without rounding off edges or holes, then aligned to a coordinate system that suits your next step.
Deliver
You get a download link to the finished mesh. If you need editable CAD or a comparison against a model, the same scan feeds our scan-to-CAD and inspection services.
Typical jobs
Where it pays off
Vehicle bodies, cabs and frames
Scan a truck on the lift, a stripped cab or a bare frame, then design chassis, suspension, cages and bumpers around the real geometry.
Small parts and components
Brackets, knuckles, housings, pedals and shift knobs. A small, simple part can take about half an hour to scan, which keeps Reno drop-off jobs quick.
Aircraft sections and engines
Cockpits, instrument panels, fairings and engines scanned where they sit, giving your engineers a reference for retrofits, tooling and documentation.
Interiors
A stripped cab or cockpit covered in targets becomes a full interior model for dashboards, consoles, seat mounts and roll cages.
Large and unusual objects
A large metal horse sculpture and a bus undercarriage scanned from a creeper both came out as complete meshes. If you can walk around it or crawl under it, we can usually scan it.
Archiving one-off parts
Capture a hand-built or irreplaceable part before it's modified, damaged or sold, so you can remake it later.
Proof
3D Laser Scanning projects
Industrial · Feb 2025
Large Sculpture 3D Scan: Life-Size Horse to Full Mesh
A life-size metal horse sculpture captured with a handheld blue-laser scanner and positioning targets, then processed into a complete 3D mesh.
Aerospace · Jul 2026
Jet Engine 3D Scan On Site: CFM56-Series Turbofan
On-site 3D scanning of a CFM56-series turbofan on its transport stand, capturing the engine's geometry for an aviation customer's engineering team.
FAQ
3D Laser Scanning questions
How much does 3D scanning cost?
It depends on the size of the part, how complex its surfaces are and what you need delivered. Use the instant estimate for a starting number, or send photos and request a quote.
How accurate is 3D laser scanning?
Our scanners are specified for accuracy up to 0.03 mm (0.0012 in). Real results depend on part size, surface finish and setup, so we'll tell you what to expect for your part before we scan.
Can you 3D scan a whole car or truck?
Yes. We've scanned complete trucks, cabs, frames and underbodies. You can also scan just the area you're changing, like a front end or bed, which takes less time.
How long does it take to 3D scan a part?
As a guide: about 30 minutes for a small simple part, about an hour for something like a helmet or steering rack, 2 to 3 hours for complex surfaces, 4 to 6 hours for a medium-to-large complex object, and 8 to 12 hours for a complete vehicle inside and out. Processing and any CAD work come after.
Can you scan shiny, black or clear parts?
Yes. We apply a light coat of sublimating scanning spray so the scanner can see the surface, and it disappears on its own after the scan.
Do I have to bring my part to Reno?
No. You can drop it off at our Reno shop, ship it to us, or have us come to you anywhere in the US. Things that can't move, like aircraft and installed machinery, are scanned on site.
Guides
Further reading
Guides · 6 min read
How Much Does 3D Scanning Cost?
What drives 3D scanning cost: size, surface finish, deliverable, location and quantity. See typical scan times, ways to lower your price and get an estimate.
Technology · 5 min read
Blue Laser vs. Structured Light 3D Scanning
Blue laser vs. structured light 3D scanners: how each captures data, where each works best, what accuracy and resolution specs mean, and how we pick per job.
Guides · 5 min read
How to Prepare a Part or Vehicle for 3D Scanning
How to prepare for 3D scanning: clean the part, clear loose items, flag critical features, plan for targets and spray, and prep vehicles, sites and shipments.
More services
Other ways we can help
Start a project
Ready to scan? Get a number in two minutes.
Tell us the size, complexity and what you need back. The instant estimate gives you a budget range now. Then we review the details and send a firm quote.