Unavailable spare part: custom remanufacturing

When a part is missing, everything stops

A car off the road for an unavailable part, a vintage motorcycle stopped by a cracked casing, a boat missing a fitting, a machine halted for a gear no longer produced: the part is often small, but its absence blocks everything. When the manufacturer no longer makes it and used parts are unavailable or overpriced, the solution is to remake it.

Car part unavailable: what can you do?

Before remaking a part, it's worth searching: manufacturer network, scrapyards, clubs, second-hand sites. If the part stays unavailable, if used parts are too worn or their price no longer makes sense, custom remanufacturing becomes the safest and often most durable solution.

How a remanufacture works

1. Part survey — from the original part, even broken or worn, from photos and dimensions, or by 3D scanning when the shape requires it.
2. CAD reconstruction — the part is cleanly redrawn, allowing for wear and distortion to recover the working dimensions.
3. Manufacturing choice — material and process (machining, 3D printing, sheet metal…) chosen according to the part's use, the loads it carries and your budget.
4. Execution — manufacturing followed through to the finished part, or handover of the files and drawings so you can have it made yourself.

Identical… or better

Remaking a part is also a chance to correct its known weaknesses: an area that always breaks in the same place, a complicated fitting, a plastic part that ages badly. Every change is proposed and explained; nothing is changed without your agreement.

For a classic car or vintage motorcycle, see also parts for collector vehicles. When there is no original part at all, the work is rather a matter of reverse engineering ou de la custom design. For a boat, see marine parts.

What you need to get started

• a few photos of the part or where it goes, from several angles;
• one or two reference dimensions (a ruler next to the part is enough);
• the vehicle or machine concerned, its year and the intended use;
• the original part if you have it, even broken.

Frequently asked questions

The original part is broken or incomplete: is it still possible?

Yes, in most cases. The broken pieces, the neighbouring parts and the mounting dimensions often make it possible to rebuild the geometry. Feasibility is checked from the very first conversation.

How much does it cost to remake a part?

It depends on the complexity of the part, the material, the process and the quantity. After a first conversation and a look at your photos, you receive a costed proposal before committing to anything.

Can I get the 3D files of my part?

Yes. The CAD files and drawings can be part of the deliverables, so you can have the part made again later without starting from scratch.

I don't live nearby: is that a problem?

No. Much of the work is done remotely, from photos and dimensions. If the part needs to be examined, we agree together on how to proceed.