There are many reasons you might consider investing in industrial 3D laser scanning equipment. This technology allows you to digitally capture an object and create a digital blueprint. In industrial settings, this technology is most commonly used for reverse engineering and inspection purposes. And you will quickly find that if you have an ongoing requirement for these devices, purchasing them outright may be a wise investment rather than outsourcing your 3D scanning needs.
For Reverse Engineering
A major reason to invest in 3D laser scanning equipment is for reverse engineering purposes. Essentially, reverse engineering is the process of converting an existing object to a digital model for potential duplicate manufacturing, assessment of the item, archival activities, and other needs fulfillment.
In product design, for example, reverse engineering is used for the repair and re-manufacturing of legacy parts as well as product benchmarking. As another example, in fields like architecture and civil engineering, reverse engineering can be used for documenting deterioration and defects in order to make more precise repairs. In these situations, scanning the item allows for the production of a digital schematic of the item that can be compared to a digital blueprint of a standard model. Alternatively, 3D scanning can be used to create those models for subsequent standardization of other products.
No matter what the specific industrial application is, being able to conduct reverse engineering with your own scanning equipment can greatly expedite these processes and lead to faster manufacturing and other industrial throughputs. Additionally, having complete control of your reverse engineering process allows for useful and time-saving modifications to the devices so they will work more thoroughly for your purposes.
To Improve Inspection Processes
The other main reason to invest in industrial 3D laser scanning equipment is for inspection purposes. When 3D scanner-assisted, this process involves scanning a manufactured component part in order to compare it to a digital counterpart or blueprint. This approach allows for more thorough inspection that involves a review of minute details and internal structures.
In terms of inspection details, 3D laser scans allow for much more precise and numerical comparison, revealing tiny flaws and potentially dangerous deviations from the design schematics. The comparison of the physical part’s scan and the digital blueprint demonstrates the positive and negative deviations from manufacturing standards.
As you might expect, using digital processes for inspection can also improve turnaround times and throughput. For one thing, they allow for the capturing of multiple parts in a single scan, improving both accuracy and efficiency. When the inspection procedure is automated and technologically assisted, there is both far less room for error and fewer redundancies.
To Exceed Outsourcing Thresholds
There is yet another reason to invest in 3D laser scanners that relates to both reverse engineering and inspection processes. Both of these processes will require outsourcing if you do not own the equipment yourself. Choosing to purchase the equipment outright allows you to exceed outsourcing thresholds. This is an important consideration if your reverse engineering or inspection needs are ongoing. After all, outsourcing those services will likely be costly beyond a few instances.
Additionally, if your accuracy requirements are high, some hardware you can purchase outright may be higher quality and likely more tailored to your needs and specifications. Indeed, ownership will provide you with complete control of the digital inputs and outputs as well as expedite the scanning process by eliminating the delay caused by exporting parts from your facilities for outsourced digital scanning.
Exact Metrology Is Your 3D Laser Scanning Equipment Provider
Exact Metrology knows 3D scanning technology and equipment. As such, we are your 3D experts, offering both products and the training you need. We are committed to educating our customers and helping them understand the value of various metrology devices across industries. As you consider investing in industrial 3D laser scanning equipment, we recommend reading more about the common ways 3D scanning is used in different industrial settings.
