3D Laser Part Scanning is a non-contact, nondestructive technology that digitally captures the shape of physical objects using a line of laser light. Point clouds are then created by data obtained from the laser surface scan of an object, which allows the capture of a physical object’s exact size and shape into the computer world as a digital 3-dimensional representation. 3D scanning technology also makes it easier to generate feature-created models and accurately dimensioned 2D CAD designs. This differentiates the process from built as-modeling, where a CAD operator purposely drafts a model to reflect any defects of the part that is under study.
Laser Part Scanning
3D Laser Scanning is a non-contact, nondestructive technology that digitally captures the shape of physical objects using a line of laser light. 3D laser scanners create “point clouds” of data from the surface of an object, which allows the capture of a physical object’s exact size and shape into the computer world as a digital 3-dimensional representation.
Quality Inspection
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Production Modeling Corporation (PMC) collaborated with a leading global material handling system supplier to perform maintenance on a section of conveyor that carries painted vehicle bodies at a major Automotive OEM assembly plant. The conveyor carries the body to the area and through a series of rails, opens the carrier and lowers the body. The conveyor rails must be replaced to maintain proper operation. No drawings of the compound curved rail sections where available. Additionally, the rails were custom to the carrier and vehicle design.
OPPORTUNITY
Laser Scanning could be used to replace manual field checking procedures. Typically this project would consist of multiple engineers traveling to the remote location and performing measurements using basic tools like tape measures and plumb bobs. These measurements would be documented in 2D in four days. When the measurements were complete, the information would be used to generate drawings to build and install the new rails. Very frequently, these steps may require multiple trips to the location to capture missed measurements which are required to generate the CAD Model. This is a time consuming and error prone process.
APPROACH
This project was performed by PMC using laser scanning techniques to capture the measurements of the equipment that needed to be replaced. PMC provided the laser scanning services that gave the material handling system supplier a 3-Dimensional Point Cloud. The data was captured in 4 hours and was delivered to the OEM client within 4 days. The days between capture and data delivery to the client involved scanning, registration, and translation processes to Autodesk Factory Design Suite software.
SOLUTION
The overall project consisted of the following components:
Capture an existing section of conveyor line with laser scanning
