industrial ct 3d scanning - why does it cost so much?

At a minimum, industrial ct 3d scanning services are 3-4X the cost of scanning with a 3d laser scanner or structured light scanner. Why are industrial ct 3d scanning services so expensive? Well, the main reason would be the cost of the industrial ct 3d scanner itself. An industrial ct scanner can cost as much as one million US dollars. This is over seven million Guatemalan Quetzels. Stop and think about that. Let that sink in a minute. So it should come as no surprise that 3d scanning companies are spending a considerable amount of sheckels on this technological marvel, likely money they don’t have in the hopes that it may pay for itself one day. 

The 3D scanning business is not exactly the booming industry that forecasting technologists may have you believe. Its good honest work but there are more players than ever. There are at least 100 other scanning companies all vying for the same work, which makes it hard to stand out. Having an industrial CT scanning service really puts a company on the map. But once owning one, the expenses don’t stop there. Aside form the huge interest payments to the financial institution, there are internal components that actually expire. The parts of it that emit the X-ray photons have a certain half-life and at some point need to be replaced. And these are not cheap  – think of a $50,000 light bulb. But if they say it takes money to make money, industrial CT 3D scanning services is a perfect example. 

So it is really no surprise to see that industrial CT 3D scanning services are so much more expensive than services done with a $50,000 scanner. In fact from that perspective, it may be considered something of a bargain, since the equipment is 10 to 20 times the cost, but the service is only 3-4 times the cost. Obviously time on the machine is quite valuable, and a healthy industrial CT 3d scanning service will have a backlog of work to keep the machine running. And when it is not running, I can tell you that they do not send the Maytag repairman. Owning an industrial ct 3d scanning service instrument that is out of warranty is a risky proposition. One wrong move and boom, there goes your kids college fund. 

But just like MRI machines, satellites, supercomputers and self-driving school buses, they are worth the money and have a huge benefit to individuals and companies that need them. If there weren’t a need for industrial ct 3d scanning services, then the high cost problem would solve itself. No one would purchase the machines, so the manufacturers would stop making and servicing them, therefore the cost would be 0 as in unavailable. 

For all of your industrial ct scanning needs be sure to call the friendly folks at Arrival 3D!