3D Laser Scanning Services and Additive Manufacturing

3D scanners and additive manufacturing are a powerful combination. 3D laser scanning services allow companies to make extremely large or heavy parts, which is difficult to do with traditional methods. Additive manufacturing also makes it possible for these companies to produce complex parts that would be impossible to measure without the help of a 3D scanner. 

What is additive manufacturing?

Additive manufacturing is where 3D printing is used to create parts from digital files. The 3D printer deposits successive layers of material until the part is complete. This allows for the creation of complex shapes previously impossible with traditional methods. For example, 3D printers can now print metal parts with complex grooves and faces.

Why are companies with large, heavy parts benefiting from 3D scanning services?

As mentioned earlier, 3D laser scanning is important for companies that make very large or heavy parts. Because the parts are difficult to move, for example, a traditional quality assurance process would require the company to move or rotate a part to measure it. 3D scanners, companies can accurately measure 3D objects from all angles without moving them an inch.

How does 3D scanning work?

In general terms, a 3D scanner works by projecting beams onto surfaces and analyzing how they bounce back to create 3D models. The scanning process is typically done in 3 steps:

• Projecting a beam of light onto the surface you want to measure
• Detecting how the beams bounce back from the object
• Converting that information into 3D coordinates for use in CAD or other software programs

The accuracy with which 3D scanners can measure objects is astounding. 3D scanners can detect features that are less than a millimeter in size.

What are the benefits of 3D laser scanning services?

There are several benefits to using 3D scanning services. First, it’s more accurate than traditional methods of measurement. Unlike a human-held measuring device, 3D scanners can take measurements from all angles, resulting in a more accurate 3D model. 3D scanning services can also be faster than traditional methods. 3D scanners capture data quickly, and the entire process may only take a few seconds, which is much quicker than taking measurements by hand.

Because they are faster and more accurate, they’re also more efficient and cheaper. In short, 3D scanning services provide many benefits that make it an essential tool for companies that want to produce large or complex 3D parts.