Excerpt from wevolver.com article here.
3D measurement technologies and 3D scanners are taking the manufacturing, NDT and quality inspection sectors by storm.
For example, according to Zion Market Research, the 3D scanning manufacturing market alone will reach $5.06 billion by 2022. And for good reason. 3D scanners, which capture the shape, geometries, textures and colours of objects in the real world, bring that data into the digital realm.
3D scanning equipment supplier Creaform has put together information to help you get started in understanding metrology and how 3D measurement solutions can improve your product development, NDT inspections, and quality control processes.
How 3D measurement works
There are two main types of 3D measurements processes: contact and non-contact. Contact 3D measurement solutions probe objects through physical touch, such as touch probes, articulated arms and certain coordinate measuring machines (CMMs). Non-contact 3D measurement technologies, as the name suggests, provide a means to collect 3D data without touching objects. They include 3D laser scanners, structured light scanners, photogrammetry solutions and optical CMM scanners.
Types of 3D measurement technologies
There are two main types of 3D measurements processes: contact and non-contact. Contact 3D measurement solutions probe objects through physical touch, such as touch probes, articulated arms and certain coordinate measuring machines (CMMs). Non-contact 3D measurement technologies, as the name suggests, provide a means to collect 3D data without touching objects. They include 3D laser scanners, structured light 3D scanners, photogrammetry solutions, CT Scanners and optical CMM scanners.What are 3D scanning solutions used for?
3D scanning solutions can be used in a variety of different industries and for many applications.
• Aerospace
• Automotive and transportation
• Consumer products
• Manufacturing
• Heavy industries
• Healthcare
• Oil and gas
• Power generation
Other 3D scanning sectors
There are virtually no limits to what 3D scanners can do. Here are just some of the many applications 3D scanning technology is involved in: accelerating product development, enhancing manufacturing processes, improving quality inspections, increasing product optimisation, reverse engineering, teaching future engineering students about metrology, preserving artefacts, and much more!
3D scanners and 3D printing
3D scanning and 3D printing make up a powerful combination for fast prototyping and reverse engineering across all industries.
For example, manufacturers can speed up their product development or reverse engineering processes by scanning a part, making changes to the 3D file, and then using a 3D printer to create a physical model of the newly designed part.
3D scanning and 3D printing are much easier to carry out than creating prototypes from scratch. The reason? Rather than struggling with adapting physical prototypes based on each design change, users can scan a part, make any modifications, clean up the mesh using dedicated 3D scanning software, and send the new model to print! Additive manufacturing has never been easier.
See the full wevolver.com article here.