Scanner creates 3D images

The EScan is used to create a digital plot of the surface of objects as varied as engineering components, bespoke medical supports and implants, archaeological artefacts, organs and tumours.

A highly affordable yet robust 3D scanner is being introduced by modelling and prototyping specialist Unimatic Engineers, and should prove ideal for use a wide range of design and manufacturing tasks.

The EScan is used to create a digital plot of the surface of objects as varied as engineering components, bespoke medical supports and implants, archaeological artefacts, organs and tumours.

This information can be used for dimensional quality control, reverse engineering, as a CAD file for reproduction, to assess organ health and measure tumour growth.

The object to be scanned is placed on a turntable in front of the scanner and the laser runs vertically up and down it as the object rotates.

Software collects 3D positional co-ordinates at 300 micron centres from all over the surface.

The co-ordinates are calculated from the laser's angle and the distance from the lens, to build up a map of the entire surface.

The software also can interpolate co-ordinate values for areas of the surface that do not achieve 100% line of sight with the laser.

This data can be fed straight into a CAD or CAM station for either remodelling or reproduction.

"This sort of scanning is rapidly becoming the norm in engineering, design and many other industries, replacing time consuming manual measuring and craft modelling", explains Martin Stevens of Unimatic.

"We are delighted to be able to offer the technology at a highly affordable price which should be attractive to small companies, specialist departments and to engineers new to digital mapping techniques".

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