3D Scanning

3D Scanning and Museums Go Hand in Hand

3d-scanning-in-museumsMuseums pride themselves on documenting and organizing artwork and artifacts. However, much of this work is done by hand and by snapping photographs. Recently, 3D scanning technology has been utilized to create three-dimensional models of objects in various collections to create permanent copies of their every little detail. This will be fantastic for historians, scientists, archeologists, and others looking to study these artifacts without having to actually go to the museum and view the items in person.

But there’s more to it than that. There’s even speculation that 3D scanning could change how museums work for the long haul. They could effectively scan and reproduce models of some of their most famous exhibits, sell them, and make an income. They’d no longer have to rely on philanthropists to sustain themselves.

This technology is being used currently at the Smithsonian. The Washington, D.C. museum is creating three-dimensional models of areas within the museum as well as objects currently on display. The institute’s 3D Lab recently worked with the curators to scan the entire Dinosaur Hall and many fossils contained within it. This will be used following a 2014 renovation to the Hall so as to restore the layout and display configuration to its exact previous design.

Read more

3D Scanning Makes Detroit Tread Shoes Possible

3d scanning for shoe designTechnology never fails to amaze, especially as it relates to 3D printing and scanning. Recently, a shoe that encapsulated everything there’s to love about Detroit was on display at the University of Michigan. The project began in 2011 as a part of an Integrated Product Development class and ended up as an actual product for a new company, Detroit Treads.

The designer of the shoes is Neil Zemba. He graduated from Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design and has compiled a team that includes top designers and kinesiologists, ensuring the sandals promote optimum foot health and stability. 3D scanning was instrumental in making this design possible.

In fact, Zemba used a 3D foot model. He started out with the Kinect then used the HandyScan laser scanner for greater accuracy. In addition to the utilization of this technology, Zemba also used pressure graphs from Jordan and Nike to pinpoint specifically what areas of the foot hit the ground the hardest and need the most support.  This allowed Zemba and his team to design a sandal that was formed to the foot in the most comfortable way possible.

Read more

Sydney Opera House Gets the 3D Scanning Treatment

sydney opera houseAs you likely know by now, 3D scanning has a multitude of uses. In fact, it can be used to capture human faces, recreate auto parts, and replicate architecture. It’s the latter option that we’re going to talk about today. In fact, a project called The Scottish Ten is making it their personal goal to capture and recreate models of famous UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Sydney Opera House in Australia.

The project began in Scotland in collaboration with Historic Scotland, the heritage agency within the Scottish government; CyArk, a digital heritage organization; and The Glasgow School of Art’s Digital Design Studio and now it’s moving all over the world to capture historic sites for preservation.

Read more

Applications and Benefits of 3D Scanner in Medical Sector

3D Scanning in Medical applicationsIn the recent few years, 3D scanning has found its wide use in the medical sector. One of the major reasons for the high demand of the 3D scanner is that such types of scanning devices incorporate capabilities of capturing 3D measurements of both face and body parts of the human beings in relatively less time and in hassle-free way. We know that all the people are unique in terms of their physical appearance. Because of this, most of the medical practitioners are using the advanced 3D scanning technologies for creation of customized medical products for fulfilling the needs of the patients.

3D Scanning Devices and Medical Sector

Now, let us have a look over the different medical sectors and medical applications, in which 3D scanner has found their wide uses.

Firstly, 3D scanning devices have found their wide use in the dental sector. This is because; the scanning devices are perfectly suitable for designing of the metal braces, mouth or teeth guards and retainers.

Read more

New 3D Scanning Tech Makes Capturing Data from Half Mile Away Possible

3D-scannning-Heriot-Watt-Univercity
Picture credit: hw.ac.uk

It’s rather fascinating. 3D scanning can be used in so many different ways, but I bet you didn’t know it could be used from far away. We’re talking half a mile away kind of far. A new project shows that this is definitely possible with a new HD scanner that can make 3D models using lasers. Oh, and it can do this from a half mile away. Did we mention that part yet?

Researchers at Heriot Watt University, which is located in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, have developed this new technology. It works by using an infrared laser to scan across an object. The device captures how long it takes for the laser’s photons to hit the object and bounce back to create a pixel map. This makes a three-dimensional model that can be used in any way you want.

What’s really impressive is this system can show the depth of an object down to the millimeter. Yes, even from that far distance. It can even be used in a time-lapsed way, which can record grass growing or to find objects in a sea of clutter. These are really novel uses for 3D scanning, which totally expands the technology into new territory.

Read more