3D scanning has multiple applications, across a broad range of industries, and choosing the right 3D scanner will depend largely on what you want to use it for.
Artec is a leading brand when it comes to 3D scanners, offering various advanced scanning capabilities.
These models include desktop and handheld devices.
What Can You Use a 3D Scanner For?
3D scanning has wide applications in manufacturing, for designing and prototyping, but also increasingly for producing finished parts and products as part of the industry 4.0 revolution.
You can use 3D scanners to measure parts for new fittings, creating the equivalent of three-dimensional moulds. Where you require accurate, three-dimensional copies of objects, you can use 3D scanning technology to duplicate them.
Artec 3D scanners are ideal tools for troubleshooting and making improvements to existing products, since they enable you to precisely pinpoint areas requiring attention, or which contain faults.
A major application for 3D scanning is reverse engineering. In this process, you work backwards, reconstructing an object to discover what has gone into its design, and how it has been put together.
3D scanning also works on a much larger scale, for site-mapping. You can use this technology to capture data about buildings, or vehicles, for example.
In the construction sector, 3D scanners are helping to transform building projects. Used in conjunction with Building Information Modelling (BIM) software, scanning technology is creating highly accurate records of projects as they progress.
And, as with manufacturing, 3D scanning can help pinpoint areas for investigation or troubleshooting.
Other industries and sectors exploring the potential of 3D scanners and making highly practical use of them include medical and forensics, as well as archaeology and even the world of fine art.
What are the Different Types of Artec Scanner?
Essentially the two broad categories of 3D scanner are stationary and portable.
Both offer rapid performance combined with high precision, whether this is the long-range scanning of large objects, or capturing complex detail up close.
Handheld scanners are useful for field work, or for small objects you can easily move around to capture their details.
Stationary scanners are perfect for lab-based research, or for scanning large objects.
Stationary or Desktop Scanners
Stationary scanners include the Artec Ray and the Artec Micro.
The Artec Ray is a long-range 3D scanner and it is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
It is ideal for capturing large objects, such as wind turbines and wings of aircraft, and you can use it to scan buildings too.
Drawing on leading edge laser technology, the Artec Ray is very accurate and captures its data cleanly and with extreme fidelity. This clean data capture then supports rapid post-processing.
It has a 110 metre range but will scan accurately at submillimetre levels.
In contrast to the Artec Ray, the Artec Micro is a desktop 3D scanner that excels in capturing smaller objects in fine detail.
It has an accuracy of up to 0.01 millimetres and a point resolution of less than 30 micrometres. This makes it perfect for scanning where metrology-grade precision and high detail are essential.
Applications for the Artec Micro include dental science, cultural heritage preservation and jewellery design.
Handheld Scanners
Handheld Artec scanners include the Artec Space Spider, the Artec Eva and Eva Lite, and the Artec Leo.
The Artec Space Spider gets its name from the fact that it was originally designed for the International Space Station.
The Space Spider is a highly portable unit and is ideal for accurate scanning of small objects, such as printed circuit boards, and you can also use it to scan human features.
It offers full colour scanning, based on structured light, geometry and texture tracking.
The Artec Eva and Eva Lite are popular handheld models, which combine accuracy with ease of handling.
The Eva Lite is an entry-level model for organic 3D scanning, where neither texture nor colour are requirements. It captures relatively small amounts of data, with a smaller output. This makes it ideal for use with a broad range of lower-range computers.
The Artec Eva is a more advanced, full-colour 3D scanner, with geometry and texture scanning. It includes data alignment, enabling you to pick up where you left off if you pause the scanning process. The Eva is a market-leader in handheld scanning technology.
The Artec Leo is a sophisticated handheld model with additional touchscreen technology, quad core processing and solid state storage.
Despite its technological sophistication, it is both portable and user-friendly, and is perfect for rapid, accurate 3D scanning in challenging environments. It runs on a lithium-ion battery and has wireless connectivity. The Leo has an accuracy of up to 0.1 millimetres, and a resolution of up to 0.2 millimetres.
