( Service ) — castings, patterns and foundries

Casting and Foundry 3D Scanning and Inspection in India

VShark Solutions Pvt Ltd, Coimbatore, 3D scans castings, patterns, core boxes and cast wear parts and checks them against your CAD, with the difference shown as a deviation colour map. Where a pattern or a cast part has no drawing, we rebuild it as an editable STEP CAD model. We work at our Coimbatore facility or at your foundry or plant across India. Send a photo of the casting or pattern for a written quote.

3D scan data of a cast centrifugal pump volute casing, the starting point for casting inspection or CAD

What we do for castings and foundries

JobWhat you get
First casting from a new or repaired patternThe scan compared with the casting CAD, so errors show before the full batch is poured
Patterns and core boxesA check for wear, a damaged core print or a wrong allowance, against the CAD or a master
Rough castings before machiningThe scan aligned to the finished-part CAD, so you see the stock left on each face
First-article and sample inspectionA PDF report: deviation colour map, dimensions and GD&T callouts
Rejected or disputed castingsThe part measured against the CAD that was agreed, with a colour map both sides can read
Pattern or cast part with no CADA scan rebuilt as a clean STEP model your pattern shop can work from (see spare part with no drawing)
Worn cast wear partsCAD of the part so a replacement can be made again

Items we can scan: sand, die, investment and gravity castings, forgings, wooden or metal patterns, core boxes and cast wear parts. Our scanner maker lists automotive, rail, aerospace, energy, mould and machinery manufacturing among the industries the scanners are used in, so parts from these fields can be scanned.

3D scan data of a cast engine cylinder head
3D scan data of a cast engine cylinder head

How a casting job runs

  1. Brief. You send a photo, the approximate size and weight, the material and what you want: an inspection, CAD or both. Send the casting CAD and drawing if you have them.
  2. 3D scan. Handheld blue-laser scanning suits small to medium castings and patterns; optical-tracking scanning suits large castings and patterns. We scan at our Coimbatore facility or where the casting stands, so heavy items need not be moved. Very shiny machined faces can change the method, so tell us the surface.
  3. Mesh cleaning. The scan is merged, cleaned and checked for gaps. The mesh can be delivered as STL or PLY.
  4. Compare or rebuild. For inspection, the scan is aligned to your CAD and shown as a deviation colour map. For a part with no CAD, we rebuild the surfaces as clean, editable CAD from sections and features, not as a copy of the rough mesh. We do not promise a tolerance until we have seen the casting and its job.
  5. Report. Inspection reports are normally delivered in 2 to 3 days.
  6. Delivery. A PDF report, plus STEP (IGES or Parasolid on request) and the mesh if you want them.
Reverse-engineered CAD model of a cast pump volute casing rebuilt from a 3D scan
Reverse-engineered CAD model of a cast pump volute casing rebuilt from a 3D scan

Shrinkage allowance, gating and pattern design stay with your foundry or pattern shop. We supply the scan data, the CAD and the inspection report.

Scan, CMM arm or both

A cast surface rarely sits exactly where the drawing puts it. A 3D scan covers the whole casting, so a thin wall, core shift or parting-line mismatch shows in colour, not only at a few probe points. For datum-based features, bores and tight machined dimensions, a portable CMM arm is the better tool, and some checks suit both. See our CMM inspection services.

Portable CMM arm scanning an aluminium housing, a cast part checked against its CAD
Portable CMM arm scanning an aluminium housing, a cast part checked against its CAD

What decides the cost

We quote per job and do not publish a price list. The main drivers are:

  • the size, weight and number of castings or patterns,
  • how complex the shape is,
  • the tolerance or allowance you work to,
  • the output (a colour map is quicker than a full CAD model),
  • on-site work, travel and accommodation.

Send a photo and a short description and we reply with a written quote.

Why scan first

A scanner captures the whole casting, including freeform surfaces that are hard to measure by hand, and shows variation across the surface instead of at a few points. The JINUOSH Vertex handheld blue-laser scanners we distribute are specified by the maker at up to 0.020 mm (Vertex3D and Vertex3D Pro) and 0.025 mm (Vertex Tracker). That is a scanner specification, not a guarantee for every casting; we tell you the expected accuracy for your part before we start. See the JINUOSH Vertex scanners.

Part of a wider service

This is one use of our 3D scanning services in India and reverse engineering services in India. For tools rather than castings, see mould and die 3D scanning. For vehicle parts, see automotive 3D scanning and reverse engineering. Wondering what it will cost? Read 3D scanning cost in India: what decides the quote. In Tamil Nadu? See reverse engineering in Tamil Nadu. In Coimbatore? See 3D scanning services in Coimbatore. Choosing a provider? Read how to choose a 3D scanning service, or compare JINUOSH Vertex with other scanner brands. Need a printed copy or fit-check of a scanned part? See 3D printing from your 3D scan. For how a scan becomes an editable model, read scan to CAD in SolidWorks. Not sure which file to ask for (STL, STEP, IGES, Parasolid or the PDF report)? Read what files you get from a 3D scan.

About us

  • Operating since December 2019, based in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu; we travel to your site across India and serve the UAE as a service area.
  • Distributor of JINUOSH Vertex 3D scanners in India, so we know the equipment we use.
  • One team for scanning, reverse engineering, scan to CAD and inspection.
  • Office hours 9 AM to 7 PM.

Send a photo and a short description of your casting or pattern for a quote or email info@vsharksolutions.com.

Last reviewed:

FAQ

Common questions.

Can you 3D scan a casting and check it against CAD?

Yes. We scan the casting, align it to your CAD and send a PDF report with a deviation colour map, dimensions and GD&T callouts. Reports are normally delivered in 2 to 3 days.

Can you check machining allowance on a rough casting?

Yes. We align the scan of the rough casting to the finished-part CAD, and the colour map shows the stock left on each face, including any face that would clean up short.

Do you inspect patterns and core boxes?

Yes. We scan a wooden or metal pattern or core box and compare it with its CAD, so worn corners, damaged core prints and allowance errors can be corrected before the next mould is made.

Can you make CAD of a pattern or casting that has no drawing?

Yes. We scan the item and rebuild it as an editable STEP model, then check the model against the scan. Shrinkage allowance and pattern design stay with your pattern shop or foundry.

Can you come to our foundry?

Yes. We scan at your plant anywhere in India, so heavy castings and large patterns need not be moved. Travel and accommodation are quoted with the job.

What castings can you scan?

Sand, die, investment and gravity castings, forgings, patterns, core boxes and cast wear parts. Send a photo and we tell you the best method.

How accurate is the scan?

It depends on the scanner, the casting and the tolerance agreed. The JINUOSH Vertex scanners we distribute are specified by the maker at up to 0.020 mm. We confirm the expected accuracy for your casting before we start.

How much does casting scanning and inspection cost?

It depends on the size, complexity, tolerance, output and location, so we quote per job. Send a photo and a short description and we reply with a written quote.

Send us your casting.

Send a photo and a short description of your casting or pattern and we will quote the job in writing. We serve Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India and the UAE.

India +91 95142 48525 · UAE +971 52 248 6238