Lost your CAD files, bought a product without them, or want an improved version of something you already sell? A reverse engineering service rebuilds the product as editable CAD. This guide covers reverse engineering cost per part, the three ways to start, and how to order.
Reverse engineering cost per part
Published industry ranges for a single part commonly run around $300 to $800 for parts headed to 3D printing, and $800 to $1,500 or more for complex parts headed to injection molding or CNC with full tolerances. Marketplace offers can be much cheaper but usually deliver a basic model without measured drawings.
Our prices:
- Simple part from photos and measurements: $390
- Multi-part product with assembly and drawings: from $1,890
- Rebuild plus a four-render listing set: from $780
See engineering pricing.
What affects the price
- Geometry: flat faces, bores and fillets rebuild fast; freeform organic surfaces take far longer.
- Tolerance: parts that must mate with existing hardware need more measurement.
- Input: a physical sample is most accurate; photos need scaling from known features; 3D scans need cleanup.
- Deliverable: a mesh is cheapest, a parametric model with drawings is most useful.
Three ways to start
From a physical sample
Measured with calipers and gauges, rebuilt feature by feature. Best for replacement parts and mating components.
From photos or video
Clear photos from several angles plus a few measurements are enough for many products. Rolio sent seventeen seconds of phone video; see the Rolio case study.
From a 3D scan
Useful for complex organic shapes. The scan is used as a reference underneath a clean parametric rebuild, not delivered raw.
What you should receive
- Parametric CAD and STEP files
- Dimensioned drawings
- A note of which dimensions were measured and which were estimated
- Print-ready prototype file to compare with the original
- Optional product renders from the same model
Who uses reverse engineering services
- Brands whose supplier stopped responding
- Companies supplying spare parts for discontinued products
- Private-label sellers improving an existing product
- Brands needing marketing renders with no CAD available
A legal note
Rebuilding your own products or parts for repair is routine. Copying another company's product may infringe patents or design rights; confirm you have the right to reproduce the item.
Order reverse engineering
Send photos, a short video and key measurements, or post the sample. You get a fixed quote within one working day. Learn more about our reverse engineering service or request a quote.
