What are 3D scanners for?

3D scanners allow you to accurately measure the linear dimensions and determine the geometric shape of any object, and then create its three-dimensional digital model. Further, in computer programs with this 3D model, you can perform any manipulations and calculations.

Where is this technology used today?

Industrial design

In industry, one of the main applications of 3D scanners is reverse engineering (reverse engineering).

It is used when you need to reproduce a part for which there are no drawings. Laser 3D scanners scan a part of the most complex shape with high accuracy in a matter of seconds. We get a 3D model. It can be studied and processed using CAD tools, the production technology can be calculated and, as a result, a similar part can be obtained for replacement or modernization.

Industrial Design

Almost any industrial product, from a car to a toothbrush, is usually designed with many iterations until the shape is optimal. Until recently, this was a long and laborious process. So, in the automotive industry, the body of the future car was first ... molded from plasticine! It was then changed many times until the final design was approved. 3D scanning has made this process much easier and faster. Using the 3D printing method, you can make an initial sample and change its shape, trying out different design options. At any time, the sample can be scanned, "printed" and get almost full-scale models for comparison.

Control and operation

In industry, various types of 3D scanners are also used to control the quality and other parameters of finished products. With their help, you can quickly take all dimensions, compare them with the reference ones and identify deviations.

Ultrasonic 3D scanners are used for non-contact assessment of the state of equipment, building structures, pipelines. They identify defects, worn areas and elements.

Having scanned a particular part, for example, a car body, they create a three-dimensional model of it. On its basis, a similar part is made from composite materials to replace the damaged one.

The science

In science, 3D scanners are used, for example, in archeology and paleontology to reproduce the shapes of various antiquities and the appearance of fossil living creatures. During excavations, damaged and partially preserved household items, jewelry, sculptures, remains of people and animals are found. Ancient buildings are often impossible to study with conventional methods - this can damage them. They are digitized using a 3D scanner. Then, in computer programs that take into account the properties of the material of the finds or living tissues, scientists "complete" the available fragments to full-size digital copies. Such copies allow you to fully represent and study the found objects, restore their shape.

This is how scientists recreated the appearance of, for example, dinosaurs. Many museums around the world have full-size figures of these ancient reptiles. They are created on the basis of mathematical models, built, in turn, on the data of a 3D scan of the remains.

Culture

3D scanners help to create accurate models of any work of art: sculptures, figurines, jewelry and other items, and even paintings in original frames. Virtual copies have the same surface texture and look like real ones. They are posted in electronic catalogs, interactive museums and online galleries.

3D scanning technologies are at the heart of the restoration of the lost elements of sculptures and architectural monuments during their restoration.

Medicine

In medicine, the full body scanner 3d is used to take measurements from a particular patient when designing orthopedic shoes, corsets, prostheses and various individual medical devices. They accurately determine the geometry of body parts, while not having a harmful effect on the body.

3D scanning technologies are in demand in dentistry and plastic surgery. Here, high-precision scanning of the smallest details is necessary for the design of implants, the reconstruction of the shapes of body parts when planning operations. 3D scanners are also used to monitor the dynamics of patients' recovery.

Sport

In sports and fitness, 3D scanners are used to create training programs and monitor results. Based on the scan data, a digital copy of the human figure is created. For her, the body mass index, the percentage of fat content, the optimal size and other indicators are calculated. During training, periodic scanning allows you to evaluate the results and adjust the type, type and duration of loads.

Art

Perhaps this is where 3D scanning technologies are most widely used. Cinematography, animation, game industry today are inconceivable without the use of these devices. With their help, digital copies of actors or animals are obtained. The resulting models are used to create makeup, various overlays for changing the face, figure. On their basis, other characters, transformation processes, and various special effects are developed. This shortens the process of filming a film or creating a computer game, making them more effective and realistic.

Construction and architecture

3D scanning of premises and buildings is an important stage in interior design. The resulting three-dimensional models serve as the basis for laying engineering networks, decorating houses and premises, selecting and placing furniture and equipment.

Education

In the educational process, with the help of 3D scanners, future engineers and designers learn to create mathematical models of various objects, parts and elements, transform and adapt them to various requirements, and create more complex products based on them.

You can find out more details at texel.graphics, but as we see, the scope of 3D scanning is very wide today and will only expand in the future.