Reviving Legacy Parts through Reverse Engineering & 3D Scanning
Reverse engineering and quality control will continue to be growing applications for 3D scanning technology, along with newer opportunities in virtual and augmented reality.
What do Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Tyrannosaurus Rex named Trix, British water pipes, and a 1927 Ford Eifel have in common? They have all been digitized using professional handheld 3D scanners. This small sample size of projects proves the diversity and usefulness of 3D scanning in various industries from entertainment and special effects to historical preservation. However, the most potential may lie within the industrial and manufacturing sectors for the purposes of reverse engineering and quality control. 3D scanning is setting new standards for these applications, replacing antiquated, labor-intensive and error-prone techniques.
Projected light scanning technology is the fastest scanning technology available and has continued to grow in popularity. This technology works by flashing a grid pattern of light over an object, where it distorts based on the topography. The distorted pattern then reflects to the scanner, where it is measured. Each flash of light provides XYZ points or polygons. As an object is scanned from various angles, the data from the different flashes are fused together using mathematical models to create a digital model.