Practical Applications For 3D Laser Scanners

In recent years, the world of technology has ushered in many exciting innovations that utilize 3D to its full potential. 3D printers are widely expected to completely revolutionize the way consumers and professionals build and create products, and 3D presentation devices, like video game consoles, televisions and projectors, are becoming commonplace in many households.

However, perhaps one of the most functional applications of 3D can be seen in 3D laser scanners, a technology that has been used for years by different industries for many different purposes.

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How The Technology Works

3D laser scanners are able to record and reproduce real world objects so that users can view and manipulate a fully realised, intricate digital model of the object. The technology typically uses lasers or light to bounce signals off the object that is being scanned, and these measurements determine the distance between the object and the scanner.

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Using this information, the scanner is able to detect all of the different physical points and markings of an object, recording its complete spatial properties. This data is able to create a completely accurate and fully-formed 3D digital object. The technology is very scalable and portable as hand-held 3D laser scanners can be used to scan immovable or fragile objects.

3D Computer Generated Graphics

Perhaps the most popular application of 3D scanning is used by the entertainment industry in video game creation and on film sets. Constructing a 3D model of a person or animal, for example, can be a difficult and time-consuming process. As well as the spatial information, there are also many different points of articulation and movement to consider.

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Rather than create these models from scratch, 3D scanning is used to capture real-life models so they can be reproduced digitally. Using the 3D model as a frame, artists and developers can alter and manipulate the model to create many different objects.

Developers can produce different designs and images to overlay on top of the 3D model, so they can create different types of people, monsters, aliens and other creatures from the original scan.

Reverse Engineering

Many industries use 3D laser scanning to create intricate and precise digital models of mechanical components and technologies for inspection. If an engineer does not have the original specifications or CAD designs of a component or machine, they can use 3D scanning to create a reproduction of the object to help them figure out how it works.

This is called reverse engineering as users are essentially working backwards from a finished concept to the design stage. Reproducing a 3D object can be very practical in deducing exactly how something works, or in creating a new part for an object that does not have the original design schematics.

Documenting Historical Artifacts

3D scanning has proven to be very practical and useful in the field of archaeology. With historically important sites and artifacts, it can be difficult to analyse objects without compromising their integrity and structure.

Researchers attempting to analyze or document old and ancient objects can potentially damage them by using traditional techniques, like full excavation and plaster cast moulding. Using 3D scanning, historians and researchers are able to fully inspect the intricacies of ancient objects, without having to handle or inspect then in person. This can be a much more practical and safer method of examination.

  David Malone

About the Guest Author:

David Malone wrote this article for brighton scanning company; DOL. David enjoys blogging about science and business and his hobbies are silk screen and various printing techniques for fabric. Visit him here at Document Options.