3D-Scanned Endoscope Fixture Unlocks Opposite-Side Repair Access

An endoscope-repair shop already had a substantial machined-metal service fixture, but it solved only one orientation. When technicians needed access from the opposite side of the instrument, there was no matching support and retention geometry on the back.

Instead of replacing the original tooling, TECHNAST used 3D scanning to capture the reverse-side shape and developed a complementary 3D-printed fixture. The new fixture lets technicians rotate the complete control body 180 degrees and secure it in the opposite orientation on the existing metal base.

The tooling gap: access stopped at one side

The customer's original fixture located and supported the instrument for work on one face. It was durable, but the customer reported that producing this type of tooling in metal was expensive, and the fixture did not provide an equivalent way to hold the instrument when it was turned over.

The engineering target was therefore not a generic stand. It was a fitted negative of the back-side geometry, with the support surfaces and attachment features needed to use the other side of the same work platform.

Capturing the real geometry

The reference instrument in the scan footage is marked CF-Q160AL. The U.S. FDA's public 510(k) record identifies the EVIS EXERA CF-Q160 AL/I as a colonovideoscope. That model identification was used only to describe the physical reference shown here; the project itself was workshop tooling for equipment servicing.

Scanning let us work from the actual part rather than relying on nominal dimensions or a simplified outline. The captured geometry provided the starting point for the matching negative surfaces in CAD.

Developing the complementary cradle

The first printed geometry was used to inspect the captured form and refine the regions that locate around the control body. This is the useful middle step in scan-to-CAD work: the scan records the shape, while the fixture model turns that shape into intentional contact, clearance and mounting features.

Adding a second side without discarding the first

The completed printed assembly complements the original blue metal fixture. Its shaped circular cradle follows the reverse-side geometry, while the long body and mounting openings integrate with the existing workholding layout.

The final result: secured 180 degrees in the opposite orientation

The finished fixture does more than provide general access from another direction. The complete control body can be rotated 180 degrees and secured in the complementary cradle. That reverses which face is exposed, allowing technicians to work on the opposite side while the instrument remains supported on the same base.

What changed for the repair workflow

• True 180-degree repositioning: the complete control body can be flipped and secured in the opposite orientation.
• Opposite-side access: the face that previously lacked support can now be presented for servicing.
• Existing tooling retained: the original metal fixture remains useful rather than being replaced.
• Geometry-driven fit: the new cradle was developed from a scan of the real instrument geometry.
• Low-volume manufacturing: the complementary fixture could be produced as custom tooling without commissioning another fully machined metal assembly.

Why scan-to-CAD and additive manufacturing fit this job

The method matches established uses of additive manufacturing. The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology notes both low-volume repair/customization economics and customized jigs and fixtures among practical additive-manufacturing applications. NIST also describes additive workflows as beginning with 3D CAD data or a scan of an existing part.

Sources: FDA 510(k) record for the CF-Q160 AL/I; NIST overview of additive-manufacturing applications; and NIST scan/CAD workflow overview.

Application boundary: this project concerns workshop tooling used while servicing equipment. It is not a patient-contact, implantable or clinical-use component.

Have tooling that works from only one direction?

TECHNAST provides 3D scanning, reverse engineering, CAD and custom 3D printing in Markham, Ontario. If an existing fixture, jig or repair tool needs a fitted counterpart, talk to the TECHNAST team or send us your project details.