Thermoforming Reverse Engineering — Shirley K’s
Have a part but no drawings? Shirley K’s can reverse-engineer it into a production-ready thermoformed tool.
Thermoforming Reverse Engineering — Send a Part, We Build the Tool
If you have a plastic part that needs to be reproduced but no longer have the tooling, drawings, or CAD files — Shirley K’s can reverse engineer it. Send us a physical sample and we design and build a new thermoforming tool from scratch.
Submit a Reverse Engineering Request
Call: (740) 868-8140
Reverse engineering product context
WHEN TO USE REVERSE ENGINEERING
- Original tooling was lost, damaged, or destroyed
- Original vendor is no longer in business
- Tooling documentation was never maintained
- You acquired a product that includes a plastic component with no source
- The original part manufacturer won’t share tooling documentation
HOW IT WORKS
- Send us a physical part (mail to 1150 Newark Road, Zanesville, OH 43701)
- We evaluate the part — material, geometry, and features
- We provide a quote for tooling and production
- Upon approval, we design and build the thermoforming tool
- First articles are produced for your review and approval
- Production begins
Note: Scanning or measurement capabilities will be confirmed during your project review. Contact us to discuss your specific part.
WHAT TO SEND
- Physical part (as many samples as you can spare)
- Any other parts that this one mates up to
- Description of what the part is and how it’s used
- Any known material specifications
- Target production volume
Mail to: Shirley K’s, 1150 Newark Road, Zanesville, OH 43701
Or contact us first: (740) 868-8140 | orders@shirleyks.com
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Start a Reverse Engineering Project
Common Questions About Reverse Engineering Plastic Parts
What does reverse engineering a plastic part involve?
Reverse engineering recreates a manufacturable design from an existing physical part when drawings, models, or original tooling are unavailable. Dimensions are captured from the sample, a model is built from those measurements, and tooling is then produced from the model.
When is reverse engineering needed?
It is typically needed when a legacy component is still in service but the original supplier or tooling is gone, when documentation was never created or has been lost, or when a part that is no longer commercially available must continue to be supplied for installed equipment.
Can a plastic part be reproduced without the original drawings?
Yes. A physical sample carries the geometry needed to rebuild a model. Material identification and any functional tolerances usually require additional review, since the sample alone does not communicate which dimensions are critical to fit or function.
What affects how closely a reproduced part matches the original?
Sample condition matters most. Parts that have warped, worn, shrunk, or been damaged in service may not represent original dimensions, so worn features often need to be interpreted rather than copied directly. Providing several samples helps distinguish wear from design.