Open Source GA Open Source GA
Book a consultation

Scan it two ways.

Rent the scanner and do it yourself, or ship the part to our bench. Either way you get an STL file of the part, ready to clean up in your CAD software.

Rent the Creality Pika.

$80per day, or $280 for the full week. A $200 refundable deposit is due with each reservation. You pay shipping both ways.
  • Scanner, calibration board, and hard case
  • Your week starts the day it arrives
  • Shipping both ways is paid by you
  • Scans save to the scanner. We export them after return and email your STL files
  • Nothing to install. Creality's software stays with us
  • Quick-start video from our YouTube channel
  • $200 deposit returned when the scanner comes back in working condition, or ships on to the next customer
Reserve dates How a rental works

Mail in your part.

From $100per part for small parts, up to a 20-inch cube. Larger or more complex geometry is quoted from your description and photos. Bulk discounts for several parts in one shipment. You pay shipping both ways.
  • Request a quote first, agree on a price, then ship
  • One STL file per part
  • Scan passes aligned and merged into a single mesh
  • One-week turnaround from the day the part arrives
  • Part returned insured, with shipping both ways paid by you
  • Help cleaning it up in CAD available by the hour
Request a quote How a mail-in works

You get an STL file.

Both services deliver one STL per part. An STL is a mesh, not parametric CAD, so expect to clean it up in SolidWorks, Fusion 360, FreeCAD, or Blender before you can edit features or make drawings. We can help with that by the hour.

The software stays here.

Rentals don't include access to Creality's scanning software. Scans are stored on the scanner itself, and we export your STL files once it's mailed back and checked in.

Scans belong to Open Source GA.

Every scan made with our scanner or on our bench, and the intellectual property in the resulting files, becomes the property of Open Source GA. You get the STL for your own use, and the scan may join the repository for other projects.

Creality Pika handheld 3D scanner

The scanner.

The Creality Pika is a handheld scanner with two modes: seven parallel blue lasers for fine detail on small parts, and near-infrared structured light for larger pieces like panels, doors, and fairings. It captures with enough accuracy to machine from, and it doesn't need a workstation to run.

  • ModelCreality Pika, handheld
  • Scanning modes7 parallel blue lasers, or NIR structured light
  • AccuracyUp to 0.03 mm laser, 0.1 mm NIR
  • 3D resolution0.1 to 2 mm laser, 0.15 to 2 mm NIR
  • Scanning speedUp to 110 FPS on PC, 40 FPS on phone (laser)
  • Minimum scan volume10 mm cube laser, 150 mm cube NIR
  • Working distance160 to 400 mm laser, 140 to 1000 mm NIR
  • Color mappingYes
  • Best part sizeSmall hardware to a 20-inch cube
  • What you receiveSTL file per part
  • Scanning softwareStays with Open Source GA
  • Ships withCase, calibration board, cables

See the scan quality for yourself.

Three real Pika scans from a Beechcraft Bonanza. Drag to turn them, scroll or pinch to zoom, and switch on the mesh to see how dense the triangles are. This is not the full level of detail you get. Large scans are compressed here to keep the page quick, so the files we deliver are sharper than what your browser is showing you.

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Aileron rib, Beechcraft BonanzaRaw Pika scan, untouched
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Yoke closeout, Beechcraft BonanzaRaw Pika scan, untouched
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Alternator, Beechcraft BonanzaPika scan, reduced for the web

Drag to rotate. Scroll or pinch to zoom. Right-drag or two-finger drag to pan. Dimensions are the raw scan extents. The alternator is reduced from 342,000 triangles so the page stays quick; the file we deliver is the full-resolution scan.

How a rental works.

Four steps from booking to sending it back. Most owners scan everything they've been meaning to scan in the first two days.

  1. Reserve your dates.

    Pick a start date on the calendar. We ship two days ahead so the scanner arrives when your week begins. Outbound shipping is billed with your reservation.

  2. Unbox and check calibration.

    Five minutes with the calibration board. The quick-start video walks through it, and the software checks your result.

  3. Scan your parts.

    Small brackets to cowling sections. Scans save to the scanner itself. A light dusting of scanning spray helps on polished or black surfaces.

  4. Send it back.

    Repack it in the case and ship it back to us at your cost, insured. Once it's checked in working condition, your $200 deposit returns and we export and email your STL files.

Reserve dates

How a mail-in works.

Every mail-in starts with a quote, so there are no surprises when the part lands on the bench.

  1. Request a quote.

    Fill in the quote form below with the part and its rough dimensions. Small parts start at $100. Larger or more complex geometry is quoted by size and detail, with discounts for several parts at once.

  2. Agree and ship.

    You get a quote within a business day. Once you accept, we send shipping instructions and reserve bench time. Wrap the part, include your quote number, and ship it at your cost.

  3. We scan and clean.

    Multiple passes, aligned and merged, exported to a single STL file.

  4. Files and part come home.

    Download link within a week of arrival. The part ships back insured the same day, with return shipping billed to you.

Request a quote

Request a mail-in quote.

Tell us about the part and we'll reply within a business day with a price and shipping instructions. Nothing ships until you've agreed to the quote.

No part number? Describe it as best you can. We'll reply by email, and you can attach photos to that reply.

Shipping both ways is paid by you. Scans become Open Source GA property; you receive the STL.

Got it. We'll reply to your email within a business day with a quote.

Questions owners ask.

What files do I get?

One STL file per part. STL is a mesh, not parametric CAD, so most parts still need cleanup in SolidWorks, Fusion 360, FreeCAD, or Blender before you can edit features or make drawings. Rentals don't include Creality's software: the scanner stores the scans and we export the STL files after it's returned. Cleanup help is available by the hour.

How is mail-in scanning priced?

Small parts start at $100 each. Send the quote form with the part and its rough dimensions, and we'll quote by the size of the part and the complexity of its geometry. Several parts in one shipment get a bulk discount. Shipping both ways is paid by you. Nothing ships until you've agreed to the price.

What's the largest part you can scan?

Mail-in parts need to fit inside a 20-inch cube. Rentals aren't limited by our bench, so cowlings, doors, and seat frames are fair game as long as you can walk around them.

Can I install a 3D printed copy on my airplane?

That depends on the part and the aircraft. Owners of certificated aircraft may be able to produce parts for their own airplane under the FAA's owner-produced parts provision in 14 CFR 21.9, but the decision and the sign-off belong to your A&P or IA. We provide the data and can walk you through the documentation in a consultation. We do not approve parts.

Do you scan parts for PMA or certification projects?

Yes. Engineers use our scans as the starting point for PMA packages, STC work, and repair design. We'll capture the datum features you care about and note the scan setup so your report can cite it. You receive the STL; the CAD rebuild is yours, or ours by the hour.

Who owns the scan?

Open Source GA does. Every scan made with our scanner or on our bench, and the intellectual property in the resulting files, becomes the property of Open Source GA. You receive an STL file for your own use, and the scan may be added to the repository so other owners can use it in their projects.

What if the scanner is damaged during my rental?

Normal wear is expected. Damage beyond that comes out of the $200 deposit up to the repair cost. If it's a total loss, you're responsible for replacement value. Full terms are in your booking confirmation.

What scans poorly?

Chrome, glossy black paint, and clear plastic confuse structured light. A light coat of washable scanning spray fixes nearly all of it. We include a can with every rental.

Who pays for shipping?

You do, both ways, for rentals and mail-ins. Outbound shipping for the scanner is billed with your reservation, and you ship it back insured at your cost. For mail-ins, you ship the part to us and we bill return shipping with the scan. We'll always tell you the carrier and the estimated cost before anything moves.

Do you ship outside the continental United States?

Not yet. Rentals and mail-ins are limited to the lower 48 states so we can keep shipping predictable and insured. Shipping both ways is paid by the customer.

Not sure which way to go?

Email us a description of the part and a photo or two. We'll reply with a recommendation: book a full consultation, mail the part in, or have the scanner sent to you.

Contact us Request a quote