3D Scanners

Benefits of 3D Scanning Technology

3D scanning is a breakthrough technology that digitizes an item or design to then turn it  into a physical piece through 3D printing. It captures precise details and textures.

High Precision & Accuracy 

3D scanners use lasers and structured light to capture details and dimensions of an item or design.  It provides extreme precision and accuracy.  This then allows for scalable, cost-effective 3D printing for complicated pieces like aeronautical, medical, or automotive equipment. 

Time Efficiency 

When it comes to product design, 3D scanning makes the process much more efficient, both in time and money. The scanned data allows for editing and “tweaking” ahead of the actual manufacturing process. This is also valuable for maintaining quality control in a new or revised product.

Facilitates Rapid Prototyping

Laser scanners provide  an extreme level of accuracy and detail. It allows for editing and making “fixes” before getting to the prototype stage. You’ll be able to “get it right” before creating a physical prototype for testing. If other tweaks need to be made, 3D scanning easily allows data to be edited.

Reverse Engineering Capabilities 

As much as rapid scanning can bring something new to the table, it can also “unwind” something, revealing its dimensions, geometry, and details to understand how it came to be. This is helpful in maintaining quality control and inspection processes or recreating an obsolete part.

Types of 3D Scanners

Scanners are classified as contact types that require physical touch or non-contact, which use light, laser, and such. The next classification is whether it's a handheld, desktop, or industrial scanner.

Compact 3D Scanner

A compact 3D scanner is handheld and portable. It’s lightweight and allows you to bring it on the go to scan lots of items. This kind of scanner is perfect for a hobbyist who wants to scan action figures or a professional who wants to look more closely at a product.

Professional-Grade 3D Scanner

A professional-grade 3D scanner is used to create highly accurate and detailed models for engineering, medical, or industrial applications.  It’s great for ensuring quality control on a product. Using laser and light, it works much faster than a compact scanner.

Handheld 3D Scanner

The handheld 3D scanner offers a lot of versatility. It can scan things of every size and shape, from small parts to an entire building. It has another advantage over a fixed scanner in being able to get into corners and tight spaces.

Applications & Use Cases  

A 3D scanner captures precise details, geometry, and other data about an object. This makes it perfect for any use that requires extreme accuracy.

Engineering & Product Design: 

Because it captures such high levels of detail, 3D scanning allows for creating a digital design that can be tested before going into physical production. This greatly speeds up the development process, as well as adding time efficiency to the quality control process later on.

3D Printing & Replication: 

3D printing allows for rapid prototyping or replication of an object. By having a 3D scan to work from, all the critical details and dimensions are in place for the replication process. This is also handy for reverse-engineering an item where the plans are lost or no longer exist.

Education & Research:

The 3D possibilities for education and research are exciting!  Scan ancient artifacts or historical objects and create a version that can be handled and analyzed. Capture a digitized version of a biological or chemical model and replicate it to study in the classroom or lab.

Creative Projects & Art:

Beyond preserving cultural pieces or creating a 3D version for study, artists can scan one of their works to preserve a “twin” for future use. It assists in “scaling” a piece to a different size and allows for experimentation with color, depth, and texture.

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