accuracy - too much of a good thing?
accuracy is the essence of 3D scanning services. But how much is too much?
When it comes to 3D scanning services, accuracy is the main
topic. Pretty much everything revolves around it. Why is that? Well it is
really the measure of how good a scanner is. A scanner with low accuracy is of
limited value unless it has some other features to compensate for that
weakness. But if accuracy is too low, at some point it ceases to become a
scanner at all. That is why it is critical that a 3d scanning service provider
utilize accurate 3D scanners that produce reliable data consistently. Accuracy
is actually something that is not easy to achieve. It requires careful engineering,
testing, certification and calibration to produce a reliably accurate 3D
scanner. Sophisticated customers for 3D scanning services know this and will
often ask for the specifications and calibration information on the 3D scanners
being used. So let’s look at some specific project examples where customers
used 3D scanning services, and indicate what the accuracy requirement for
scanning was.
1.
Reverse engineer large ship propeller. The
customer had a large propeller from a sea-going vessel. The propeller was about
5 feet in diameter. The required accuracy for scanning was 1mm.
2.
Bullet casing inspection. This customer wanted
to scan bullet casings and needed to see how well they were meeting
manufacturing tolerances. They needed an accuracy of +/- .001 inches.
3.
Syringe reverse engineering. This customer
needed a very high accuracy of .0005”.
4.
A customer needed to verify the location of
conduit sleeves that were installed in the concrete at a construction site. The
accuracy of this verification needed to be better than 0.25 inches.
5.
A sand casting company needed an accurate CAD
model of a cylinder head. The accuracy of the scan needed to be in the range of
.01”.
6.
A simulation company needed to scan a jet engine
to create a life-size mockup for training purposes. The accuracy requires was
in the range of 0.1”.
7.
A customer did a scan of a firearm grip. The
accuracy requirement was 0.5 mm.
8.
A customer scanned the cargo bay of a large
aircraft. The global accuracy requirement was .050”.
These are just some examples of the accuracy
requirements that customers have had for 3D scanning services projects. It is important
to specify the appropriate accuracy for each project to ensure that the goals
are met without wasting money chasing accuracy that is beyond the minimum required.