3D laser scanning services help maintain teleport antennas

Satellite teleports came to prominence in the 1980s,  when they became integral to international television and wireline telecommunications. They were at the time hailed as the future of terrestrial telecoms backhaul, but in recent years their 3D laser scanning services have increasingly been complemented by fiber connections and wireless superfast data links such as 4G LTE.

Today’s teleports must support increasingly high-speed services, but there are drawbacks. 3D scanning services help provide extremely accurate 3D models of the teleports so they can be upgraded to support these high-speed services. 3D scanning services is also used for general maintenance and repairs to ensure continuity of service.

3D laser scanning has its origins in defense technology. During the 1970s the US military started 3D scanning for the purpose of 3D imaging, modeling, and 3D printing. 3D scans were used to assess weapons systems’ vulnerability to nuclear blasts by comparing 3D models before and after simulations. 3D scans are now an integral part of many industrial 3D printers.

How 3D laser scanning services work

3D scanners have become smaller, cheaper, and easier to use. 3D scanning service providers scan using 3D scanners. 3D scanners are often combined with 3D printers to produce 3D models of scanned objects.

The scanner works by using a laser to  3D scan its surroundings. 3D scanners do 3D scanning by sending out a laser and then detecting the energy that is reflected back to it. The device constructs a model by recalling all the points of an object’s surface and plotting them as points in 3D space, where they can be manipulated by a computer to create models of solid objects. A skilled engineer can then evaluate the model and identify vulnerabilities or issues so corrective action can be taken to prevent problems from becoming worse.

Using 3D scanning services to maintain teleports

3D printing technology is used in many industries, including aerospace, automotive, and medical manufacturing – and now, teleport analysis. The scanning services produce accurate models of the surface of antennas used at teleport locations.  They can then be checked for accuracy and scans can be used to determine wear-and-tear such as chipping or pitting. 3D models can also be measured to ensure precise 3D printing of replacement parts.

3D scanners allow 3D printers to reproduce pieces with the exact same measurements and features, meaning close tolerances and accurate, tight delivery times. The technology is becoming more popular and its use will only grow.