![\"\"](\"https:\/\/tetravision.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/case_featured-1.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWho is behind this project?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Cedric Van Molle<\/strong> is a full-time technical draftsman who works with Inventor and Catia V6 on a daily basis. In his spare time, he and Efi Veys<\/strong> of Veyzer BV are building a handmade cross-buggy to race. The frame is constructed from hand-bent and hollowed-out Cromoly tubes, and the Hayabusa engine is being fitted with a turbocharger to turn it into a true powerhouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The project has been underway for some time and is being put together outside of working hours, with attention to every detail. It\u2019s exactly the kind of project where a solid foundation at the start saves all the design iterations down the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With a custom build based on an existing engine, the challenge isn\u2019t the engine itself, but everything that needs to fit around it. In Catia, Cedric and Efi had to design the following, among other things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For each of these components, you need the exact external dimensions of the engine block, including all cooling fins, housings, and mounting surfaces. A simplified model is not sufficient, because even the slightest deviation will mean having to go back to the drawing board later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A 3D scan was the logical place to start. The only question was: how do we create one that integrates seamlessly into Catia?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cedric and Efi dropped by with the engine block. For projects like this, where the item is valuable or the owner doesn\u2019t want to let it out of their sight, we organize the scan so that the customer can take the item back the same day. We scan it on-site, the customer waits in our office with a cup of coffee and Wi-Fi so they can keep working in the meantime, and the engine block leaves our building in the same condition as when it arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The entire scanning session took about two hours. After that, we processed the data, and by the time Cedric and Efi got home, the download link was ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this project, we used our ZEISS ATOS III Triple Scan<\/strong>, a mobile structured-light 3D scanner that captures maximum detail on complex geometries such as cooling fins, threads, and internal connections. An engine block has many reflective and metallic surfaces, which poses a challenge for optical scanners. We therefore used AESUB evaporating scanning spray<\/a> to temporarily neutralize the reflection. The spray evaporates on its own within a few hours, so we return the engine block without any residue or post-processing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What Cedric and Efi received from us was a complete digital twin of the engine block. The key figures:<\/p>\n\n\n\n That last point deserves special mention. Importing a raw STL file into CAD is not a viable starting point. We ensure that the scan is properly aligned to a logical coordinate system, so that the customer can start designing right away without first having to spend an hour on repositioning and alignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Providing two STL versions is standard practice for us. The original scan contains all the captured detail, but a 350 MB file can be slow to load in some CAD environments. The filtered 150 MB version offers smoother performance without losing any relevant detail. If the client is working on a high-end system, they\u2019ll use the original scan; otherwise, they\u2019ll opt for the lighter version. If necessary, we can filter the data further upon request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The detailed images below immediately show why a high-quality optical scan makes all the difference here. Every cooling fin, thread, and mating surface is captured in its entirety. Nothing has been smoothed out or interpolated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cedric later confirmed that the STL file allowed him to immediately start modeling around the engine block in Catia. Catia, along with Siemens NX, is one of the few professional CAD packages that handle STL data very well. In other CAD environments, an intermediate step is often required (fitting geometric features and exporting to IGES or STEP), but in this case, the STL was sufficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe challenge: designing without CAD data<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Our approach: scanning while you wait<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Technology: ATOS III Triple Scan with evaporating scanning spray<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The result: a digital twin with an accuracy of \u00b10.05 mm<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA detail that speaks for itself<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n