Hey everyone, I'm 3D modeling a new door panel for my '96 Civic since my original is destroyed. Could anyone with an intact panel be willing to help me out with some key measurements? I'm mainly looking for the X/Y coordinates of the mounting clips relative to a corner." Also any additional dimensions will help I'm working on a CAD design at the moment but having some measurements from the real thing would be priceless. Any assistance the community can provide will be greatly appreciated and of course I will definitely be placing the files online for free for everyone to download and enjoy once completed.

 

I have a 2000 EM1, would that work? Polycam?

 

@Grade50 That would be absolutely incredible! Thank you so much for offering. Yes, your 2000 EM1 is a perfect match. My '96 is a coupe, so the panels are dimensionally identical. This is a huge help. A Polycam scan would be a total game-changer, way better than any manual measurements I could ask for. Yes, please! To get the most useful scan, the back (interior) side of the panel is the most important. If you're able to take the panel off and lay it on the floor, a scan of that flat back side would give me the exact locations for all the mounting clip holes, which is the hardest part to get right. A scan of the front side would also be amazing for the armrest contours and cutouts, but the back is the #1 priority if you're short on time. Seriously, any scan you can provide would be priceless. Thank you so much for being willing to help!

 

To confirm, you're wanting a scan of the finish panel that pops into the door right? not of the door itself (metal)

Also, give me the lowdown on what settings and output in polycam would work best. I usually use the lidar function for scanning spaces in a building, but never scanned in object mode. I have the basic version of polycam, not the paid pro version.

 

Hey, thanks so much for following up and being so thorough. Great questions!Confirmation: Yes, you are 100% correct. I'm looking for a scan of the removable 'door card' / finish panel—the part with the armrest that pops off. Not the bare metal door itself. You've got it exactly right.
Polycam Settings & Guide: No problem! You're right, LiDAR is for large spaces. For this, you'll want to use the "Photo Mode" (it might also be called "Object Mode"). This mode is perfect for capturing objects, and the basic version is all you need.
Here’s a quick guide that should make it easy:
Quick Guide for Polycam 'Photo Mode'
1. The Setup: The BACK SIDE of the panel is the #1 most important scan for me. If you can, lay the panel on the ground (back side facing up) in a very well-lit area. A bright room or an overcast day outside is perfect. The key is to avoid harsh, direct shadows.
2. The App: Open Polycam and select "Photo Mode".
3. The Scan:Start taking photos, making sure to get a lot of overlap (the app will often show you a guide).Do a few full circles around the panel at different heights. I'd suggest:
One pass from a low angle.One pass from a 45-degree angle.One pass from directly above.
More photos are always better! 50-100 photos would be amazing.
4. The Export: After Polycam processes the scan, it should let you export. Any of these file formats will work perfectly for my CAD software:STLOBJGLTFAny of those would be a lifesaver.Thank you again, this is a massive help for the project. Whatever you can get will be a huge step forward

 

Sounds good. Car is currently up on stands and without battery as I'm replacing the front suspension, so it may be a little while till I can get to pulling the panel completely off (will be a PITA without lowering the windows to my recollection). Let me know if someone else by chance chimes in.

 

Totally understand. You are absolutely right trying to unhook that top edge from the weatherstripping with the window up is a nightmare. Definitely not worth fighting it and risking a crack while the car is dead.No worries at all on the timeline. I haven't had any other offers yet, so I am happy to wait until you've got the battery back in and the suspension sorted.Good luck with the repairs! I'll keep this thread updated if someone else happens to jump in with a scan in the meantime so you don't waste your time, but otherwise, whenever you get to it, I'll be here. Thanks again!

 

Hey, my door cards both got smashed in by a Bert Brothers. I was going to 3d model some door cards but I don’t quite have a nice enough scanner (I use my iPhone 16 pro with the lidar function), is there any shot you have the file for the door card? Both of my cards are ruined and not worth scanning.

 

In for this. If you can get some type of panel made that isn't just a flat piece of sheet metal, I am all ears.

 

I just need someone to 3d scan a full door card that’s original so I can create a good one. But everything is either buy the model for $40 or not available.

 

Did you ever get around to creating this? My driver side is crumbling and i cant find any used ones at my junkyard and fb marketplace has them really taxed to where its not worth buying one to crumble again