PRECISION
3D SCANNING
Brisbane-based industrial 3D scanning service — structured-light and laser scanners for reverse engineering, quality inspection and digital archiving. Accuracy to ±0.05mm. On-site scanning across QLD, NSW, VIC, WA.
Scan an existing part to reconstruct it as a parametric CAD model — ideal for obsolete components with no original drawings.
Compare a manufactured part against its CAD nominal to identify deviations. Colour deviation maps and dimensional reports.
Capture the as-built geometry of plant, equipment or structures for documentation, BIM integration or modification planning.
Our portable scanners can be brought to your site anywhere in Australia — for large fixed machinery that cannot be moved or shipped.
3D SCANNING TECHNOLOGIES
Different scanning technologies suit different parts. We select the right one for your accuracy requirement, part size and surface.
Structured Light Scanning
Structured-light scanners project a pattern of white or blue light onto the object and use cameras to measure the distortion of that pattern. They are the most accurate desktop scanning technology, reaching ±0.01–0.05 mm on parts up to roughly 1 metre. Best suited to precision engineering parts, tooling, moulds and small-to-medium industrial components.
Laser Line Scanning
Handheld laser scanners project a laser line onto the surface and track their own position using reference targets, letting the operator move around large or awkward objects freely. Accuracy is typically ±0.05–0.1 mm — well suited to medium and large parts, heritage objects, and plant or equipment scanned in situ.
Photogrammetry
Photogrammetry reconstructs 3D geometry from overlapping photographs taken at multiple angles. It scales to very large objects — vehicles, buildings, mine faces — and can be combined with laser scanning for large-area coverage. Accuracy is lower than structured light or laser, but sufficient for heritage documentation, construction verification and site surveys.
ACCURACY & OUTPUT FORMATS
| Technology | Typical Accuracy | Best Part Size | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structured light (desktop) | ±0.01–0.05 mm | 10 mm – 1,000 mm | Point cloud, mesh, STEP, IGES |
| Handheld laser | ±0.05–0.1 mm | 100 mm – 5,000 mm | Point cloud, mesh, STEP |
| Photogrammetry | ±0.5–5 mm | 1 m – 100 m+ | Point cloud, mesh, orthophoto |
Output formats we deliver: point cloud (E57, LAS, PTX), polygon mesh (STL, OBJ, PLY), CAD-ready surfaces (STEP, IGES), AutoCAD DWG for 2D cross-sections and layouts, and Revit RVT for building documentation. As-built scans can be converted to a Revit or AutoCAD model for refurbishment design and facility management.
HOW 3D SCANNING WORKS
3D scanning is the process of capturing an object’s physical geometry using structured light or laser technology to create a precise digital 3D model. The scanner projects a pattern of light onto the object and measures the distortion to calculate millions of surface points — producing a dense point cloud accurate to fractions of a millimetre.
At 3Dmatic, we use metrology-grade structured-light scanners capable of capturing geometries to ±0.05mm accuracy. The resulting point cloud is processed into a polygon mesh, which can then be delivered as a STEP, IGES, STL or native SolidWorks file — ready for reverse engineering, inspection, manufacturing or archival use.
INDUSTRIES WE SCAN FOR
Our 3D scanning services support engineers and businesses across Australia in a wide range of industries. In aerospace and defence, we scan legacy components for which no CAD data exists, enabling replacement part manufacture without original drawings. In mining and resources, we capture as-built geometry of plant and equipment for modification planning and BIM integration.
For automotive and motorsport clients, we perform quality inspection by comparing scan data against the original CAD nominal, generating colour deviation maps that highlight out-of-tolerance surfaces. In heritage and archiving, our scanning creates permanent digital records of artefacts, sculptures and architectural features at sub-millimetre resolution.
Our portable scanners can be transported anywhere in Australia — particularly useful for large fixed machinery, infrastructure or structures that cannot be moved to a laboratory. We regularly travel to QLD, NSW, VIC and WA for on-site scanning projects.
3D SCANNING IN BRISBANE
Our 3D scanning facility is based in Milton, Brisbane — servicing engineering, manufacturing and resource clients across Greater Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and regional Queensland. We bring parts to our Milton lab for high-precision structured-light scanning, or take portable scanners on-site for fixed plant, equipment and structures that can’t be transported.
Brisbane sectors we regularly scan for: mining and resources (Bowen Basin, Surat Basin equipment scanning for shutdown maintenance), marine (Moreton Bay vessel components and propellers), aerospace and defence (Amberley-area legacy parts and tooling), automotive and motorsport (Queensland Raceway and Lakeside teams), and manufacturing (West End, Eagle Farm, Yatala industrial estates).
Brisbane response times: same-day quote within business hours, on-site scanning typically within 3-5 business days for Brisbane metro and 7-10 days for regional QLD. NDA included as standard for all sensitive work.
BRISBANE AREAS COVERED
Inner Brisbane (CBD, Milton, South Brisbane, Fortitude Valley, West End), Northside (Eagle Farm, Hendra, Geebung, Northgate), Southside (Yatala, Loganholme, Acacia Ridge, Rocklea), Western suburbs (Wacol, Darra, Richlands), Bayside (Wynnum, Cleveland, Capalaba), Greater Brisbane (Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, Moreton Bay).