3D Scanners, Digitizers, and Software for making 3D Models and 3D Measurements

Over the past few years a number of 3D Scanner / measurement / tracking devices and techniques have been developed.

3D Models can be used in a large range of exciting applications areas: Animation, Archaeology, Architecture, Dentistry, Education, Fashion and Textiles, Foot Wear, Forensics, Games, Industrial Design, Manufacturing, Medical, Movies, Multimedia, Museums, As-built Plants Rapid Prototyping, Reverse Engineering, Sculpture, Toys, Mold Making, and Web Design.

Hopefully these pages will help you determine the best products for your applications (Frequently Asked Questions)

Table of Contents:

Acoustic Position Trackers

Books

Close Range Photogrammetry

CNC Milling Machines and 3D Printers

Coordinate Measurement Machines

Dense Stereo Matching

Homemade Scanners

Holography

Industry Magazines

Laser Radar Scanners

Laser Scanners

Laser Trackers

Magnetic Position Trackers

Measurement Service Companies

Optical Fiber

Optical Position Trackers

Professional Organizations

Profilers

Structured Light

Software

Time of Flight Laser Scanners

Total Stations and Theodolites

Touch Probes

Laser Scanners

Structured Light Scanners

Holography

Optimet point probe uses Conoscopic Holography

Coherix uses a tunable laser with multiple wavelengths and phase shifting to make measurements in a 12x12x16" working volume. The measurement time is 2-3 minutes. Works well on flat reflective surfaces. Applications have primarily been in the automotive (brake pads, pumps, engine blocks) and semiconductor areas (silicon wafers). Systems are high-end ($200K)

Software

Laser Radar Scanners

Metricvision technology is based on Frequency Modulated Coherent Laser Radar, which gives it great precision (repeatability is in the sub-10 micron range at over 10m). Since it is a focused system is has good spatial resolution ( absolute precision in the range of 100 microns at 10 meters). The technology is very good at capturing reflective surfaces and can be used with mirrors to reduce line-of-sight problems.

Time-of-flight Laser Scanners

3rdTech DeltaSphere 3000 Laser 3D Scene Digitizer

Cyra Cyrax 2500 scanner is suited for capturing large "as-built" structures and turning them into CAD representations. They have been used in applications from retrofitting power plants to digitizing movie sets. The accuracy is +/-6mm at 1.5m to 50m 1 sigma. The operating volume is approximately 20,000M^3. Approximate system pricing is $150K.

Quantapoint measures 125,000 points per second and covers a 70 degree by 360 degree field of view

Riegl Laser Measurement Systems for 3D imaging of buildings and structures

Laser Trackers

Automated Precision sells the Laser Tracker II system which is a lightweight, precise, compact and portable CMM tool designed for industrial applications.

Faro (formerly SMX) produces a portable CMM system that precisely measure objects in the 0-100' range.

Leica Geosystems sells a range of industrial measurements systems including laser trackers.

Touch Probes

Axila claims to have invented the first six-axis portable CMM in 1986. The ORBITAL is their eight-axis arm.

Faro Three families of digitizers (sterling, silver, and gold). Working volumes from 4-12', accuracies of 0.001" to 0.007" 2 sigma.

Garda Inspector

Immersion Microscribe Several different models with varying working volumes (50" - 66" sphere) and accuracy (0.009 - 0.015").

Roland makes several small volume piezo scanners. The low price makes them great for scanning coins, jewelry, and other small parts.

Romer Six axis articulation, 6 - 12' diameter measuring, accuracy to +/- 0.008"

ZettMess Portable 6 Axes Measuring System

Optical Position Trackers

3rdTech HiBall-3100 Based on the UNC Wide-Area Tracking Research Project

ArcSecond sells what they call an indoor GPS system. The system consist of 2-4 transmitters that are similar to rotating construction laser levels. Receivers are connected to wireless PDAs and display x,y,z location. The interesting part about this product is that you can many independent receivers. The systems are fairly accurate over a large working volume.

Image Guided Technologies

Krypton is a precalibrated mobile metrology system. There are no mechanical arms and the setup is fast and straight forward.

Northern Digital makes the Polaris and Optotrak system. They track active and passive markers. ND focuses on the medical areas, and is common in image guided surgery.

PhoeniX Technologies Real-Time 3D Motion Capture for research, biomechanics, VR, and gaming.

Magnetic Position Trackers

Ascension Technology

Polhemus developed the technology and sells the FasTrak and Liberty systems.

Mednetix AG

Northern Digital has a new Aurora system that uses small sensors. It has a measurement volume approximately 500mm x 500mm x500mm. The 1 sigma accuracies are 1-3mm and 1-2 degrees orientation. This product will help ND in the image guide surgery arena where optical systems can have their views blocked.

Acoustic Position Trackers

GTCO CalComp Freepoint 3D Sonic" Several models listed, one with a large 16 x 8 x 8 ft working volume with a 0.004" resolution.

Pegasus Technologies Ltd

Optical Fiber

Dense Stereo Matching

Geometrix FaceVision uses multiple low-cost digital cameras to create textured face models from ear to ear.

Profilers

CamSys ShadowBox has 16" diameter, 16" high cylindrical working volume. Two models with different accuracy. Scan times range from 15 - 120 seconds.

Solarius Development LaserScan is a 3D profilometer for laser measurement and analysis of surfaces

Coordinate Measurement Machines (CMMs)

Close-Range Photogrammetry

Total Stations / Theodolites

Leica Geosystems sells a range of industrial measurement systems include theodolites and total stations

Sokkia

CNC Milling Machines and 3D Printers

3D Systems has SLA Stereolithography systems and solid imaging printers

Fourth-axis makes rotary micromachines attachments for the Roland CNC machines. It converts them into rotary mills for jewelry applications

Minitech

MultiCam makes CNC routers, laser cutters and plasma cutters

Roland CNC Milling Machines

Zcorp has two different model 3D printers. The Z406 ($67.5K) uses a plaster-based powder. The Z400 ($49K) uses a starch-based powder. The loose powder acts as a supporting structure which can be removed and reused.

Professional Organizations

Measurement Service Companies

Homemade Scanners

Industry Magazines

Books

Computer Graphics and Visualization

Photogrammetry

Computer Vision

Image Processing

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