3D Scanning in Reverse Engineering

By Daniel McCarthy

A 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.

3D scanning utilizes laser light technology in order to create a digital model of the existing physical object. This information is then transferred into various software programs in order to create CAD models or triangle mesh models. These models can be analyzed for comparison purposes.

The 3D scanning creates a point cloud which represents the actual surface of the subject. The image produced by the point cloud is consistent with the surface of the physical object that has been scanned and can be used for evaluation. This is helpful if you are looking to recreate an object, such as a critical component of a bridge.

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.

If you want to scan a delicate material, 3D laser scanning can perform the task without any risk of harm to the object. This is the reason that archaeologists have come to rely upon reverse engineering technology to create reproductions of dinosaur fossils and a number of other historical artifacts that are prominently displayed 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.

Another field that relies heavily upon reverse engineering is manufacturing and production. Companies use this technology to ensure that their products meet industry regulations and that they match the integrity of their original design.

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.

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