Mechanical Engineering, Reverse Engineering & Dimensional Metrology — for Attorneys
When a case turns on what a physical part or scene actually measured, Ryan Schimmel, P.E. brings NIST-traceable 3D laser scanning and reverse engineering to the question — producing court-admissible, sub-millimeter dimensional documentation rather than opinion drawn from photographs or hand-tool inspection. Available to plaintiff and defense counsel nationwide.
Ryan Schimmel is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Tennessee and founder of Schimmel Engineering LLC, a Nashville-based precision engineering firm. His practice centers on 3D laser scanning, reverse engineering, and dimensional metrology — bringing measurable, repeatable data to questions that are typically argued from photographs, drawings, or recollection alone.
His core equipment includes a Creaform HandyScan Black Elite, a NIST-traceable 3D laser scanner accurate to ±0.025mm, and a Creaform HandyScan MAX Elite for large-scale objects and structures up to 50 feet. Both produce full 3D point-cloud and mesh data that can be converted into dimensioned CAD models, compared against original design intent, or used to document the as-found condition of a failed or worn component with a level of precision that visual inspection cannot match.
Prior to founding Schimmel Engineering, Ryan served as Mechanical Lead at Animax Designs, holding single-point technical accountability for a 34,000 lb, 17-axis BLDC servo-actuated animatronic system used in a multi-city touring production — experience that included structural finite element analysis, motion control programming, and full mechanical design and integration for a complex, safety-critical moving system. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Practice Areas
Where This Expertise Applies
Industrial Equipment Failure Analysis
Determining whether a failed mechanical component deviated from its design geometry due to a manufacturing defect, or whether the failure reflects normal wear, misuse, or maintenance history. Scan-based comparison against nominal specification replaces visual inspection with measurable, repeatable data.
Reverse Engineering of Undocumented Components
Reconstructing the original design geometry of a discontinued, obsolete, or undocumented part directly from the physical component — including worn or degraded examples — when no OEM drawing exists. Frequently the central technical question in cases involving legacy machinery or unsupported equipment.
Dimensional Metrology & GD&T Evaluation
First article inspection, tolerance analysis, and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) review to establish whether a manufactured part conformed to its engineering drawing at the time of production.
Manufacturing & Design Defect Analysis
Distinguishing a manufacturing defect (a part that deviated from its own design) from a design defect (a part built correctly to a flawed design) using dimensional evidence rather than assumption.
Representative Case Types
Scenario — No drawing exists
A machine component failed. The manufacturer no longer exists and no drawing has ever existed for the part.
We scan the failed part and any remaining exemplars, reconstruct the original design geometry as a fully dimensioned model, and establish what the part's nominal specification would have been — the baseline needed before any conversation about defect versus wear can happen.
Scenario — Wear vs. defect
The manufacturer says the part was within print. The claim is that it wasn't.
The failed component and, where available, exemplars from the same production run are scanned and deviation-mapped against the engineering drawing. The result is an objective measurement at every surface point — not a competing assertion.
Scenario — Discontinued equipment
Legacy industrial equipment failed. The OEM is out of business and no engineering documentation survives.
Scan-based reverse engineering reconstructs the equipment's design intent directly from the physical hardware, providing the dimensional baseline needed to evaluate whether a failure was foreseeable, preventable, or consistent with normal service life.
Scenario — Pre-repair documentation
A damaged machine needs to go back into service before litigation resolves. Counsel wants the as-failed condition preserved.
The equipment is scanned in its damaged condition before repair or disposal, producing a permanent, NIST-traceable dimensional record of the failure condition that remains available to all parties in the proceeding.
Fee Schedule
Rates
Record Review
Case material review, scan data analysis, and preparation of findings.
$250/hr
Site Inspection
On-site dimensional capture using NIST-traceable 3D scanning equipment.
$300/hr
4-hour minimum
Deposition
Sworn pre-trial testimony.
$350/hr
2-hour minimum
Trial Testimony
Live courtroom testimony.
$400/hr
4-hour minimum per court day
Travel
Portal-to-portal, plus mileage, airfare, and lodging billed at cost.
$150/hr
Rush Fee
Applies when counsel requires turnaround under 5 business days.
+50%
Retainer & Terms
A retainer of $1,000 is required before work begins and is replenished as it is drawn down. Rates apply equally to plaintiff and defense engagements. Cancellation of a scheduled deposition or trial appearance with less than 48 hours' notice is billed at the full applicable rate.
Questions from Attorneys
Do you work for plaintiff or defense counsel?
Both. Rates and methodology are identical regardless of which side retains us. We report what the dimensional data shows — we don't advocate a predetermined conclusion.
What makes this different from a typical mechanical engineering expert?
Most mechanical engineering experts write reports based on photographs, drawings, and physical inspection with hand tools. We own NIST-traceable 3D laser scanning equipment accurate to ±0.025mm, which produces a court-admissible, sub-millimeter dimensional model of the actual physical part or scene — not a description of it. That distinction matters when a case turns on whether a component deviated from its design geometry.
Can you reverse engineer a part with no original drawing?
Yes. This is a core capability, not a workaround. We scan the physical part — or the worn, damaged, or degraded remains of it — and reconstruct the original design geometry as a fully dimensioned model. This is frequently the central technical question in cases involving discontinued equipment, legacy machinery, or components with no surviving OEM documentation.
Are you a licensed Professional Engineer?
Yes. Ryan Schimmel is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Tennessee, and founder of Schimmel Engineering LLC.
Do you travel for site inspections?
Yes, nationally. The scanning equipment is portable and hand-carried. For individual components, mail-in scanning is also available and eliminates travel cost entirely.
What is your fee schedule?
Record review is $250/hr. Site inspection is $300/hr with a 4-hour minimum. Deposition is $350/hr with a 2-hour minimum. Trial testimony is $400/hr with a 4-hour minimum per court day. Travel time is billed at $150/hr portal-to-portal plus expenses at cost. A retainer of $1,000 is required before work begins.
Have a Case That Needs Dimensional Evidence?
Tell us the nature of the matter, the equipment or component involved, and your timeline. We respond promptly.
