Mining infrastructure is rarely simple. Conveyor systems, chutes, hoppers, transfer stations, platforms, and structural steel are often installed over decades — modified repeatedly and rarely documented accurately. For engineers working in SolidWorks, poor as-built information has long been a major source of risk.
This is where engineering-led 3D laser scanning is reshaping how mining infrastructure is designed, verified, and upgraded.
At Hamilton By Design, 3D scanning is used as the foundation for SolidWorks-based mechanical and structural design, ensuring models reflect real site conditions — not assumptions.
Accurate As-Built Data for Mining Environments
Mining sites present unique challenges:
tight shutdown windows
live plant constraints
legacy infrastructure with missing drawings
high consequence of clashes or misalignment
Hamilton By Design uses high-accuracy 3D laser scanning to capture true as-built geometry, providing engineers with reliable data before design begins.
👉 Learn more about engineering-led 3D scanning services:
https://www.hamiltonbydesign.com.au/home/engineering-services/3d-scanning-sydney/
From Point Cloud to SolidWorks Design
Once site data is captured, point clouds are processed and interpreted by engineers — not just converted into geometry. This allows SolidWorks models to be built with:
correct interfaces
realistic tolerances
verified equipment locations
confidence in fit-up and constructability
This workflow is especially valuable for mining infrastructure upgrades and brownfield modifications, where accuracy directly affects fabrication and installation success.
👉 Explore Hamilton By Design’s broader engineering workflow:
https://www.hamiltonbydesign.com.au/home/engineering-services/
Supporting Conveyor Systems, Chutes & Transfer Stations
Conveyors, chutes, and transfer stations are central to mining operations — and also among the most failure-prone assets when poorly designed or modified.
By combining 3D scanning with SolidWorks modelling, Hamilton By Design helps engineers:
redesign transfer points
optimise chute geometry
verify clearances and maintenance access
reduce wear, spillage, and downtime
👉 See bulk material handling and conveyor engineering capability:
https://www.hamiltonbydesign.com.au/bulk-material-handling-mining-rom-conveyors/
👉 Learn more about chute and transfer design in mining:
https://www.hamiltonbydesign.com.au/chute-design-for-mining/
SolidWorks Design for Fabrication & Installation
Mining infrastructure designs often progress straight from SolidWorks into fabrication. If site data is wrong, steel and mechanical assemblies won’t fit — leading to rework and delays.
Hamilton By Design’s approach ensures SolidWorks models are:
built from verified as-built conditions
coordinated across mechanical and structural elements
suitable for fabrication detailing and installation
👉 Learn about mechanical engineering and design support:
https://www.hamiltonbydesign.com.au/mechanical-engineering/
Engineering Support Across Mining Regions
Mining projects rarely sit in metropolitan centres. Hamilton By Design supports mining infrastructure projects across Australia, delivering scanning, SolidWorks design, and engineering support where accuracy matters most.
👉 Explore engineering support for mining and industrial projects nationwide:
https://www.hamiltonbydesign.com.au/home/engineering-across-australia/
Final Thoughts
For mining infrastructure, 3D scanning is no longer a “nice to have” — it’s a risk-reduction tool. When combined with SolidWorks and led by experienced engineers, scanning enables safer upgrades, faster fabrication, and fewer surprises on site.
By grounding SolidWorks design in real-world geometry, Hamilton By Design helps mining operators, engineers, and fabricators deliver infrastructure that fits, functions, and performs as intended.
