Why 3D Scanning Matters Before Mining Equipment, Conveyor and Chute Upgrades

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Reducing fabrication uncertainty, improving equipment fit-up and supporting mining shutdown planning. The Challenge of Modifying Existing Mining Equipment Mining processing plants rarely remain exactly as they were originally designed. Over time, conveyors are modified, transfer chutes are replaced, platforms are installed and mechanical equipment is upgraded to meet changing production requirements. Unfortunately, the original engineering drawings may not reflect these modifications. For maintenance superintendents, project engineers and shutdown planners, this creates an important question: How can new equipment be designed and fabricated to fit an existing mining plant when the installed geometry is uncertain? One practical solution is to use 3D LiDAR scanning before engineering design begins. Hamilton By Design combines 3D scanning, point cloud processing, mechanical engineering and CAD modelling to support mining equipment modifications across Australia. Read the full engineering ...

Every Shutdown Matters — How FARO LiDAR As-Builts Save Time, Money and Risk

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 Every Shutdown Matters — How FARO LiDAR As-Builts Save Time, Money and Risk

Shutdowns are expensive, tight windows where every minute and every decision has a cost. Yet so many shutdown teams still rely on outdated drawings, manual measurements and guesswork — rather than knowing exactly what exists in the plant before design and fabrication begin.

That’s where FARO LiDAR as-built scanning makes a dramatic difference.

If your shutdown project expects components to “just fit” without an accurate as-built model, you’re risking rework, delays and blown budgets.



Why As-Builts Matter

Plants evolve over time:

  • steel moves under load

  • pipework gets rerouted

  • emergency repairs change geometry

  • modifications go undocumented

  • equipment swaps don’t make it back to CAD

By the time you plan a shutdown, the drawings on file are often not representative of the real plant conditions. Designing from legacy data is a setup for site clashes and costly fixes during the outage.

FARO LiDAR Captures What’s Really There

Laser scanning captures the true as-built plant geometry in high-resolution point clouds. This becomes the single source of truth for:

✔ accurate design
✔ clash detection
✔ fabrication-ready models
✔ installation sequencing
✔ reduced site rework

Suddenly, ambiguity disappears — and confidence increases.

How This Helps Shutdowns Fit Together

Instead of relying on assumptions or outdated plans:

  • designers work in real coordinates

  • fabricators build to actual conditions

  • site crews install with confidence

  • shutdown risk is reduced

  • costs stay under control

Scanning before design is not an unnecessary add-on — it’s foundational to predictable shutdown outcomes.



Read the Full Guide

We’ve published a detailed article explaining how FARO LiDAR as-builts support every stage of shutdown planning and execution:

👉 Every Shutdown Matters — FARO LiDAR As-Builts
https://www.hamiltonbydesign.com.au/every-shutdown-matters-faro-lidar-as-builts/


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3D scanning services button with LiDAR scanner and point cloud wireframe model

Mechanical engineering services button with pump system CAD model and industrial wireframe design


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