The Applications of 3D Scanning Technology
Sunday, December 13th, 2009A growing number of industries have been able to successfully take advantage of 3D scanning technology within the past decade. This state of the art technology has become much more accessible and affordable as the technology improves. By using 3D scanners, you can get easy and accurate scans that can be used for reverse engineering and inspection. This technology has grown to have many useful applications far beyond the automotive industry and the military. A number of different fields are using 3D scanners.
The process of 3D scanning uses laser light technology in order to scan an existing object and produce a digital model of it. The information from the scan can them be transmitted into different software programs in order to create triangle mesh models or CAD models. These CAD models can be used for analysis and comparisons.
The scan produces a point cloud which effectually is a digital representation of the physical surface of the object. This data can be used for analysis and evaluation. 3D scanning has been used by engineers to recreate critical components of structures when original designs have been lost, such as in some large bridges.
Modern technological advancements have given us a variety of scanning models. These scanners can accommodate a large variety of objects, from the smallest nail to a large bridge. Scanners can be classified as contact scanners and non-contact. You can select the appropriate type of scanner based upon the size of the object that you need to have scanned and the material composition of the object.
The process of 3D laser scanning is the perfect solution for scanning items that are composed of delicate materials. This scanning method is used in the field of archaeology in reverse engineering applications. Archeologists are able to reproduce dinosaur fossils and many other artifacts that can be used in museums.
3D scanning also has a number of useful and growing applications within the medical field. Dentists use the technology in order to manufacture dental implants for patients. It has also improved the quality of orthotics. The scanning technology has significantly improved orthotics by helping them to fit more naturally.
Reverse engineering has been heavily relied upon by the manufacturing community. A number of manufacturers use this technology to guarantee that their products meet regulations before they are mass-produced.
Three dimensional scanning and reverse engineering technology is constantly improving. The number of practical applications for this technology is also increasing steadily as the portability of scanning equipment and the diverse applications for this technology continue to grow.
Originally posted 2009-06-06 02:51:44.