Forensic Engineering Experts & Investigation Teams
For Forensic Engineering Experts & Investigation Teams
The geometry of what failed is evidence. A photograph shows it. A scan measures it — every point on every surface, at 0.025mm, NIST-traceable, before anything is repaired, moved, or disposed of.
Ryan Schimmel is a licensed Professional Engineer in Tennessee with a background that spans precision metrology, hands-on mechanical work, and full-stack engineering design. Most scanning services are operated by technicians. We bring engineering judgment to the geometry — an understanding of how mechanical systems load, wear, and fail that a purely design-oriented engineer or a scanner operator doesn't have. Two instruments cover the range: the HandyScan Black Elite at 0.025mm (0.001") for components, vehicles, and detail work; the HandyScan MAX Elite for large scenes and equipment up to 50 feet. We provide dimensional documentation and technical analysis. Deployable anywhere. NIST-traceable calibration records maintained.
Service Listings
Accident Scene & Evidence Documentation Scan
Rapid deployment to accident scenes, failure sites, and evidence locations for dimensional capture before spoliation. The scene geometry — component positions, clearance distances, point-of-operation measurements, structural condition — is captured as a permanent, NIST-traceable record independent of any subsequent repair, cleanup, or disposal. Deliverable is a complete geometric dataset with calibration documentation suitable for forensic use.
From $1,800
Est. — contact for quote
Failed Component Geometry — Failure Mode Documentation
Fractured, deformed, worn, or failed mechanical components scanned to document failure geometry, fracture surface morphology, wear pattern distribution, and dimensional deviation from design specification. The geometry of a failed part contains information about how it failed — load path, failure initiation site, deformation mode — that photographs cannot convey and that an engineer with hands-on mechanical experience can read from the scan data. Delivered with a technical summary of geometric observations.
From $950
Est. per component
Product Defect Dimensional Verification
Allegedly defective product components scanned and deviation-mapped against the design drawing or nominal CAD model. The report shows where the product was within specification and where it was not — at every point on the surface. Used in product liability matters where the claim involves dimensional non-conformance, material variance in a safety-critical dimension, or a geometric condition at a tolerance boundary. Deliverable includes deviation map, measurement tables, and out-of-specification identification.
From $950
Est. per component
Machinery & Industrial Accident Scene Scan
Industrial equipment, machine guarding geometry, point-of-operation distances, nip points, and surrounding work environment captured after a workplace accident. OSHA standards specify minimum guarding distances and point-of-operation clearances — scanning documents whether those dimensions were met at the time of the accident. Used by forensic engineering firms, plaintiff and defense counsel, and insurance carriers investigating workplace machinery incidents. Deployable to any facility nationally.
From $2,200
Est. — contact for quote
Vehicle Damage Documentation Scan
Vehicle exterior and structural damage geometry captured for accident reconstruction, insurance documentation, and comparative analysis against undamaged reference geometry. Deformation depth, crush distribution, and structural geometry at the damage zone are all captured. Used when the reconstruction theory depends on the precise geometry of the damage pattern, when a pre-repair scan is needed before a vehicle is released for repair, or when comparative analysis between vehicles involved in the same incident is needed.
From $1,400
Est. per vehicle
Comparative Analysis — Failed vs. Nominal Geometry
Failed or damaged component deviation-mapped against a known-good exemplar or the nominal design specification. The deviation map quantifies dimensional departure at every surface point — identifying where the failure component differed from nominal before failure, where deformation occurred during failure, and whether the failure initiated at a dimensional non-conformance or a stress concentration at a geometric transition. Delivered as a color-mapped deviation report with measurement tables referenced to the drawing callouts.
From $1,200
Est. — contact for quote
Evidence Preservation Scan — Pre-Repair & Pre-Disposal Documentation
Damaged equipment, vehicles, and products scanned before repair, refurbishment, or disposal to preserve the as-failed geometry for future litigation or investigation use. When insurance carriers, fleet operators, or equipment owners need to release an item for repair before litigation is fully resolved, a scan preserves the geometric record of the damage condition. The scan data is held in archive and available for use in any subsequent proceeding.
From $1,400
Est. — contact for quote
Deployment & Response
We deploy to accident scenes, evidence storage facilities, industrial sites, and vehicle inspection locations nationally. Equipment is battery-powered carry-in cases — no infrastructure required at the scene. NIST-traceable calibration records are maintained and available for discovery. Within 50 miles of Nashville, same-day deployment is possible depending on schedule. All pricing is estimated — contact us with the nature of the incident, location, and timeline.
| Within 50 miles of Nashville 37206 | Included |
| 51–150 miles | +$180 |
| 151–300 miles | +$295 |
| 300+ miles | Quoted individually |
| National travel | Contact for quote |
Investigation Contexts
Scenario — Product liability
A component allegedly failed due to a dimensional defect. The manufacturer says it was within print. The claim requires objective dimensional data.
A safety-critical fastener failed in service. The plaintiff claims it was undersized. The manufacturer's QC records show it passed inspection. We scan the failed component and exemplars from the same production run, deviation-map each against the engineering drawing, and produce a report showing exactly what each component measured at every surface point. Whether it was within print is no longer a matter of competing assertions — it's a matter of objective geometry.
Scenario — Workplace machinery accident
A worker was injured at a machine. The guarding geometry and point-of-operation distances are disputed.
A punch press injury where the guard geometry and point-of-operation distance from the hazard zone are central to the liability question. OSHA standards specify minimum distances. The as-installed guard geometry and the actual point-of-operation clearance need to be documented before the machine is modified or the guard is replaced. We deploy to the facility, scan the machine in its post-incident condition, and document every relevant dimension — guard position, opening dimensions, point-of-operation distance, and the surrounding work environment.
Scenario — Failure mode analysis
A shaft fractured in service. The forensic engineer needs to understand whether the geometry of the fracture is consistent with the proposed failure mechanism.
A drive shaft fracture under investigation for fatigue versus overload failure mode. The fracture surface geometry, the location of the failure initiation site relative to keyways and geometric stress concentrations, and the dimensional condition of the shaft at the failure zone all inform the failure mode analysis. We scan the failed shaft and deliver geometry and observations to the forensic engineer of record — an engineer who has rebuilt engines and driven machines alongside formal engineering analysis, not just modeled them.
Scenario — Vehicle accident reconstruction
The reconstruction theory depends on the geometry of the structural damage. The vehicle needs to be scanned before it is released for repair.
A collision reconstruction where the deformation pattern — crush depth, crush distribution, and the geometry of the damage zone — is needed to support or refute the proposed reconstruction. The vehicle is at a storage facility and will be released for repair in 72 hours. We deploy, scan the vehicle, and deliver a complete damage geometry dataset before the vehicle leaves storage. The reconstruction expert has objective dimensional data for the damage condition as it existed post-incident.
Scenario — Evidence preservation
An equipment owner needs to release a damaged machine for repair before litigation is resolved. Counsel wants the damage condition preserved.
A damaged industrial machine that the owner needs operational — the downtime cost is significant and the repair needs to happen before the litigation timeline allows for a joint inspection. Counsel agrees to release it for repair provided the damage condition is documented first. We scan the machine in its damaged condition, preserve the geometric record of the failure mode and damage extent, and the repair proceeds. The scan data is held in archive and available to all parties in the subsequent proceeding.
Scenario — Wear pattern analysis
A failed bearing shows an unusual wear pattern. The question is whether it reflects a manufacturing defect, an installation error, or an overload condition.
A bearing failure under investigation. The wear pattern on the race and rolling elements tells a story about how the bearing was loaded — misalignment produces a characteristic pattern, overload produces a different one, material defect produces another. A scanner operator captures the geometry. An engineer who has assembled and disassembled bearings in the field alongside formal engineering training reads the geometry and can describe what it indicates about the failure mechanism. That distinction matters in a deposition.
Questions from Forensic Engineers & Attorneys
Are you a licensed Professional Engineer?
Yes. Ryan Schimmel holds a Professional Engineer license in Tennessee. The PE credential represents engineering education, examination, and experience requirements that establish the holder's technical competence. We provide dimensional scanning, geometric documentation, technical observations, and engineering reports. The role of expert of record and testimony is determined in consultation with the retaining attorney and the requirements of the specific proceeding.
What distinguishes your technical background from a standard scanning service?
Most scanning services are operated by technicians trained to capture geometry. We bring hands-on mechanical experience — engine rebuilds, machine tool operation, fabrication, and field mechanical work — alongside formal engineering training and PE licensure. A purely design-oriented engineer understands how a part was intended to work. Someone who has also turned wrenches, run machines, and built things understands how they fail in practice. In forensic work, that distinction often surfaces in the technical observations that accompany the geometry — what the wear pattern means, where a fatigue crack was likely to initiate, what the deformation mode tells you about the loading event.
How quickly can you deploy to an accident scene or evidence location?
Within 50 miles of Nashville, same-day deployment is possible depending on schedule availability. For locations beyond that range, we can typically mobilize within 24 to 48 hours with advance notice. For time-critical situations where evidence is at risk of spoliation, contact us directly with the timeline and we will do what we can to accommodate it.
Is your scanning equipment NIST-traceable and calibrated?
Yes. The Creaform HandyScan Black Elite is NIST-traceable at 0.025mm (0.001") measurement accuracy — appropriate for component-level forensic work, product defect verification, and vehicle damage documentation. For large scene documentation, machinery accidents, and objects up to 50 feet, the HandyScan MAX Elite captures geometry at 0.075mm (0.003") accuracy. Calibration is maintained per the manufacturer's schedule using a certified calibration artifact. Calibration records are documented and available for discovery.
Can your deliverables withstand deposition and cross-examination?
We provide objective, dimensioned geometric documentation produced by NIST-traceable equipment. The methodology — equipment, calibration, scan process, and data handling — is documented and repeatable. Whether the deliverables satisfy the evidentiary requirements of a specific proceeding is a determination for the retaining attorney and the expert of record. We can explain our methodology, equipment, and data handling in deposition. What we document is what the geometry was — not an interpretation, not an estimate, not a measurement taken with a tape measure.
Can you work with both plaintiff and defense counsel?
Yes. We provide dimensional documentation. The geometry is what it is regardless of which side retains us. We have no financial interest in the outcome of a matter and our documentation reflects the actual geometric condition of the evidence — not a position. We can be retained by plaintiff counsel, defense counsel, insurance carriers, or the forensic engineering firm of record.
Ready to discuss your investigation?
Tell us the nature of the incident, the evidence or scene to be documented, and your timeline. We respond promptly.