3D Scanners
What exactly is a 3D
scanner? Most consumers are familiar with the scanner they have at home, in which
they place images or material onto to import an image to their computer and use software such as Adobe Photoshop and other
image modifying software to use it for constructing a new image or the basis for another image. Let’s imagine making three dimension objects, such as figurines on your desk or around the house
and scanning them and having an image of those that you can modify or send to friends as images or data files the way we do
picture images. We no longer have to image though. 3D scanners are in today’s consumer market and range in size and industry usage similar to that of
tires. They can scan objects the size of a human ear up to surrounding outdoor
environments with several scans. See Table of Scanners: http://www.geocities.com/scanner_3d/3dscannerspreadsheet.html for dimensions and usage of certain models (table still under construction). They capture the dimensions of
the object allowing for reconfiguration to be done enhancing a particular feature or completely modified a model, with the
use of Computer Aided Design (CAD) software packages. The possibilities do not
stop there though. Some scanners even have the capabilities to read the internal
structure of an object. This is made possible by spatial sensors.
Scanners are better
identified as Prof. Burns calls them “3D Shape Digitizers”, because the scanner is only a portion of the overall
device used to capture the objects data. This data is sometimes ready to go straight
into production through fabricators and at others it will need the aid of CAD software to find errors or problems in building
the structure of the object or clearing up repetitive data, which is a flaw generated
by some scanning techniques.
The first thing to
consider about scanning is that it is not a stand alone operating device as I mentioned.
There is also a matter sensor and data interpretation software. I will
focus on the sensor and the scanner units and allow for further information on software packages to be provided by companies,
because of the variety of software packages developed to go with each device they produce.
I also feel the general background usage of the scanner’s capabilities is initially best in determining, which
model to purchase.
The second fact to
consider is the type of scanning to be conducted. Is the object flat with certain
points of elevation or are there hidden cavities that are not noticeable upon first glance.
That is where the four levels of digitization come in. Flat relief, spatial
relief, surface detail and spatial detail all are techniques to gather information about a particular item, but progress in
detail of the product from differentiation in surface height to cavities hidden under certain structure levels. Prof. Burns explains the four levels of digitization best at his website at www.pooff.com, so I would advise that visitors of my site take a quick look there, because it
will provide a greater supporting knowledge of the industry usage and stories I am about to share. (Also I do not want to regurgitate everything he has taught me and make it seem as if I have developed all of these
ideas myself. At www.pooff.com you will find an expansive books that details data capture of an object to the final production to our future economy based
upon the digital fabricators that obtain there data from CAD programs and 3D scanners.)
Some sensors that I
have learned about are touch, trigger, optical, and spatial. Most of the scanners
that are currently available are using optical techniques to capture data of their subjects.
This eliminates disturbances of soft objects shapes and gathers more data rapidly than with touching. The downside is that it is sometimes less accurate, but as lens quality and zoom and laser technologies
scope and detail are continuously improving year after year they have been narrowing the gap upon accuracy. Sometimes the image data needs to be read down to the micro level for construction and analysis, while
at others it will only require measurements the naked eye can see for the same purposes on a minimal level.
The company Roland
has begun making scanners that are small enough to literally fit onto desktops and have simple connectivity to a user’s
computer through a USB port. This provides a user friendly feature to the average
consumer who is looking towards doing research or production with a scanner. Desktop
3D scanners are a stimulus for the introduction of scanners to the general public. They provide a gateway similar to that
of digital cameras, by offering smaller design models for the scanning of small objects, models or portions of an object,
and larger units for the scanning of objects that are very large, such as entire bodies or large sculptures. Marketing campaigns like this provide opportunities for future purchases of additional scanners after a
general understanding of how to use software and equipment is reached by the consumer.
The effect of launching
fabbers, Prof. Burns wrought about in his book at www.pooff.com, takes shape with 3D scanners also. Let’s
say an artist in the U. S. has one of the non-contact units from the table provided and is currently working on taking a sculpture
they designed and would like to send portions of its deign to a museum in Italy
for further study. Their friend is over and notices the unique piece of equipment,
which is slightly larger than the printer and asks what it is. After explaining
that the unit is a 3D scanner and illustrating how it captures the image, the friend asks the
artist could they bring an object over and try scanning it and analyzing its structure with the scanner’s software package. The best part about this unit is it accuracy in the microwave range with the laser
it uses for a non-contact scanning method keeping the art intact and not deforming it or causing abrasions from continuous
touching. The friend notices that they can begin to use this product inside of
their class room to further explain historical artifacts in class and purchases a unit.
Then word spreads to the class and those who are serious about career paths in archeology go out and buy a similar
unit within their price range. Eventually this news reaches a local media and
eventually becomes broadcast nationwide. Tech. heads initially hop on board with
the purchasing power and as prices slowing come down individuals start bring the units home and introducing their families
to them. (Well this is a little fabbered itself, but it could begin like this
just in a slow fashion).
Even Konica Minolta,
famous camera company, produces 3D scanners of the non-contact nature. There
units are designed for transport and some offer interchangeable lens to obtain even further detailed data from the subject. This detail can reach a factor of 10^-4 and each unit offers precision auto focus,
making them ideal for multi-purposes. For further information about each model
and ideal conditions to use the units in visit: http://kmpi.konicaminolta.us/vivid/products.
