Data collection:
This technology works by flashing a grid pattern of light on an object, where it is distorted according to the topography or shape of the element. The distorted pattern is then reflected in the scanner, where it is measured.

 

Each flash of light provides XYZ points or polygons. As an object is scanned from several angles, the data of the different flashes are merged using mathematical models to create a digital model.

 

The processed scan data, in the form of a cloud of points or mesh, can be used for a number of applications, including measurement, visualization and animation, digital archiving and 3D printing. It can even be used to make a lost wax casting process in which an STL model of the object is created and printed in 3D in wax, which is then used to melt the object into other materials.

Utility:
3D structured light scanners are a flexible tool for scanning a wide range of objects in different sizes and shapes. Ideal for:

 

• Highly detailed organic surfaces

• Fragile objects that cannot be physically touched by a measuring device.

• Volume scanning: can be automated to scan at high speed.

• Document architectural and industrial elements to be incorporated into BIM (Building Information Modeling) platforms

 

The type of structured light scan you should use will depend on other surface features, such as reflectivity, transparency and roughness.

This technology allows museums to quickly archive their collections digitally and share them on the computer with anyone around the world.