Open Source GA Open Source GA
Book a consultation

Scan it two ways.

Ship the part to our bench, or rent the scanner and do it yourself. Either way you get an STL file of the part. Cleaning it up into editable CAD is separate, billable time.

Mail in your part.

From $80per part for small parts. 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
  • CAD cleanup and reverse engineering are separate, billed by the hour through Consultation
  • Repository members save 10-20% depending on plan
Request a quote How a mail-in works

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 and hard case
  • Your week starts the day it arrives
  • Shipping both ways is paid by you
  • Scan with the free Creality Scan app on a recent iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or Android tablet
  • No compatible device? We can send one with the scanner
  • Export your own STL files as you go, and send us a copy for the community repository
  • 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

You get an STL file.

Both services deliver one STL per part — that's it. An STL is a mesh, not parametric CAD. Cleaning it up into editable CAD, or a full reverse engineering project, is separate, billable time through Consultation, not included with the scan.

Scan from your phone or tablet.

The Pika runs from the free Creality Scan app on a recent iPhone or Android phone, or an iPad or Android tablet. A laptop works too, though installing the desktop software takes more setup. Don't have a device you trust for scanning? We can send one with the scanner.

Scans are shared with the community.

The intellectual property in any part we scan stays with the original parts manufacturer. You get the STL for your own use, and the scan may be hosted here in the repository so other owners can use it too.

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.

Explore the Pika at Creality

Full specs, accuracy figures, and sample scans are on Creality's product page.

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.

Three 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. Install the free Creality Scan app before it arrives, or tell us if you'd like us to send a device.

  2. Scan your parts.

    Small brackets to cowling sections. Scans save in the Creality Scan app, and you export STL files whenever you're ready.

  3. 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. Send us a copy of your scans and they'll join the community repository.

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 $80. 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. Renters export their own STL files from the Creality Scan app. Cleanup help is available by the hour.

What do I need to run the scanner?

A recent iPhone or Android phone, or an iPad or Android tablet, with the free Creality Scan app installed. You can use your own laptop instead, but installing and setting up the desktop software takes more effort. If you're not sure your device is up to it, tell us when you reserve and we'll send a phone or tablet with the scanner.

How is mail-in scanning priced?

Small parts start at $80 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. Repository members save 10% on the Hobbyist plan, 15% on Owner, or 20% on Shop. Shipping both ways is paid by you. Nothing ships until you've agreed to the price.

What's the largest part you can scan?

Send the dimensions with your quote request and we'll tell you what's practical. Cowlings, doors, and seat frames are all scannable, and on mail-ins the shipping is usually the deciding factor, not the bench.

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?

The intellectual property in the part stays with the original parts manufacturer, and Open Source GA does not claim it. You receive an STL file for your own use, and the scan may be hosted in the repository so other owners can use it in their projects. If a rights holder asks us to take a file down, we do.

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 and can leave gaps in a scan. If you're not sure how a part will scan, ask us before your 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