Backflip AI
AI-powered CAD that thinks
like an engineer
like an engineer
Transform 3D scans, engineering drawings and photographs into fully parametric, editable CAD models
From physical part to editable CAD – in seconds.
A new approach to reverse engineering
Recreating an existing component in CAD has traditionally meant hours of skilled engineering work.
A 3D scanner can capture the physical part with exceptional accuracy, but turning that scan data into an intelligent, editable CAD model remains one of the most time-consuming stages of the reverse engineering workflow.
Backflip AI changes that.
Backflip interprets 3D geometry and reasons through how a component could have been constructed, using the same kinds of CAD operations an engineer would use to create the part themselves.
The result isn’t simply geometry that looks like CAD. It’s a fully parametric 3D model with an editable feature tree, ready to take into your CAD environment and continue engineering.
Scan it. Reconstruct it. Edit it.
From 3D scan to editable CAD
Professional 3D scanners can capture millions of measurements from a physical component, creating an incredibly detailed digital representation.
But a scan or mesh isn’t the same thing as engineering CAD.
Backflip’s Scan-to-CAD technology automatically translates 3D scans and other mesh files into CAD geometry, reconstructing the component as a parametric model with familiar features, sketches, constraints and external references.
Instead of manually rebuilding the component feature by feature, engineers can start with a intelligent CAD model and concentrate on what happens next.
Modify the design. Reproduce an obsolete component. Repair it. Improve it. Or prepare it for manufacture.
Built on a foundation model for CAD
AI that understands how parts are constructed
Backflip is built on an AI foundation model developed specifically to understand 3D geometry and CAD.
Rather than simply generating the external shape of a component, the technology reasons through how that geometry could have been constructed.
It uses familiar CAD operations including:
- Extrude
- Revolve
- Pattern
- Chamfer
- Fillet
That distinction matters.
The output is designed to behave like engineering CAD – giving you a parametric model and feature tree that can be understood, edited and developed further by an engineer.
More than Scan-to-CAD
Drawing to CAD
Unlock the engineering knowledge in legacy drawings
Many manufacturers still have decades of valuable engineering information stored in 2D drawing archives.
Backflip Drawing-to-CAD analyses the geometry and dimensions contained within an engineering drawing and reconstructs the component as a parametric 3D model. The resulting model includes a full feature tree and can be taken into your CAD software for further engineering.
For legacy parts, spares, tooling and components where modern CAD data no longer exists, this creates a new route from drawing archive to usable digital model.
Photo to CAD
Point. Snap. CAD.
Sometimes you don’t need a full 3D scan to get started.
Backflip Photo-to-CAD can reconstruct physical objects as fully parametric 3D models from just a few photographs.
Provide one known dimension to establish scale and Backflip creates a model containing real sketches, constraints and features.
It makes the humble camera a powerful starting point for creating editable CAD.
From physical part to digital model
Combining professional 3D scanning with AI-powered Scan-to-CAD creates a fundamentally different reverse engineering workflow.
Physical component → 3D scan → Backflip AI → Parametric CAD → Engineering → Manufacture
Mark3D can support that journey from beginning to end.
Our experience in professional 3D scanning, reverse engineering and additive manufacturing means we can look beyond an individual piece of software or hardware and help you understand how the complete workflow could work for your application.
Whether you’re reconstructing a legacy component, modifying an existing design, replacing an obsolete part or creating manufacturing data where CAD no longer exists, the objective is the same:
Get from the physical part to usable engineering data faster.
Work with the CAD tools you already use
Your existing CAD workflow, accelerated
Introducing AI shouldn’t mean replacing the engineering tools your team already knows.
Backflip is designed to complement existing CAD workflows, allowing engineers to continue working with the reconstructed model in their familiar CAD environment.
Backflip is currently available through an add-in for Autodesk Fusion and as a standalone web application, with additional integrations including Onshape in development.
The technology accelerates the starting point – your engineers remain in control of what happens next.
Built for real engineering applications
Reverse engineering
Turn scan data from physical components into editable parametric CAD without manually reconstructing every feature.
Legacy part reconstruction
Recreate components where original CAD files have been lost, are obsolete or were never created.
Engineering drawing digitisation
Transform valuable information contained in historic 2D engineering drawings into modern 3D CAD.
Design modification
Start with an editable model of an existing component, then modify, improve or redesign it for a new application.
Maintenance and obsolescence
Create engineering data for ageing equipment, discontinued components and difficult-to-source spare parts.
Additive manufacturing
Move from physical component towards editable CAD and onward into a digital manufacturing workflow, including preparation for 3D printing where appropriate.
Why Backflip AI?
Parametric CAD – not just a 3D shape
Backflip creates models with editable features and a full feature tree rather than simply generating surface geometry.
Built specifically to understand CAD
Its foundation model has been developed around 3D geometry and the way engineers construct physical parts.
Dramatically accelerate reverse engineering
Reduce the manual CAD reconstruction traditionally required between capturing a component and obtaining an editable model.
Use multiple starting points
Work from 3D scans and mesh data, engineering drawings or photographs depending on the application.
Keep engineers in control
Take the resulting model into your existing CAD workflow to inspect, edit and develop it further.
Connect the physical and digital worlds
Combine Backflip with professional 3D scanning to create a faster route from an existing physical component to usable engineering CAD.
Security built for enterprise engineering
Backflip encrypts customer data in transit and at rest, with access separated by organisation.
Enterprise customer data is not used to train Backflip’s models.
For organisations exploring AI within engineering environments, Mark3D can work with your team to understand both the potential applications and the practical considerations involved in introducing the technology into existing workflows.
See Backflip AI in action
Bring us a part. See what happens next.
The best way to understand Backflip is to apply it to a real engineering challenge.
Talk to Mark3D about your component, scan data, legacy drawing or reverse engineering application and explore how AI-powered CAD could change your workflow.
Speak to Mark3D about Backflip AI
AI is opening up completely new possibilities for engineering and reverse engineering, but identifying where it can deliver genuine value requires more than simply adopting another piece of software.
Mark3D combines Backflip AI with expertise across professional 3D scanning, reverse engineering and additive manufacturing.
We can help you assess your existing workflow, identify suitable applications and explore how Backflip could reduce the journey from physical component or legacy engineering data to editable CAD.
Whether you’re starting with a 3D scan, an engineering drawing or a physical component, talk to us about what you’re trying to achieve.
Mark3D UK Limited
Romsley Point
Farley Lane, Romsley, Halesowen, B62 0LG
Phone: +44 121 661 1151
Freephone: 0800 193 3650
Email: printstronger@mark3d.co.uk
Request a Tailored Quote
Tell us about your application, workflow requirements, or project objectives and our team will prepare a tailored recommendation based on your operational needs. We can also arrange demonstrations, sample evaluations, and technical discussions where required.