3D Laser Scanning - have you done it?

[Jem]

Hi all

I've been interested in 3D laser scanning for a while now. I sort of have this image in my head where you can 'scan' a 3D object and save the image, then you can print out a 3D facsimile of the original object in plastic or some other suitable material.

To take this to the next step required reasonably priced 3D printing to become available. This has recently happened, and I believe that 3D laser scanning and 3D printing make the perfect partnership.

I've found a lot of information here

http://www.laserscanning.org.uk/foru...forum.php?f=65

And here

http://www.david-laserscanner.com/

http://www.david-laserscanner.com/forum/

I was just wondering if anyone else here had given any thought to this technology and was willing to share their findings and experiences. I figure this technology is now within the reach of us mere mortals, and I for one can think of many many applications

Cheers

Jem

P.S. I guess a CNC 3D milling machine would also be a possibility for getting the image translated into a 'real' object. Dan?.....

[danielbriggs]

Jem,
To scan with a laser line you typically need a reference background / grid / known frame. This works fine, however a recent trend has been "structured lighting".
In short: using a data projector to project a series of lined patterns and a camera to see the result. This "SL" approach does away with the need for any reference.

There was an application for this at work, so spent a while delving into several technologies and their pitfalls+benefits.

You can start with just a webcam and a laser pointer + some card to get basic scans.
The system I proposed consisted of a large robotic arm with a HD projector (~£1,600) and a decent Canon DSLR + Lens (£800), as we needed very high resolution + automated scanning.
In the end it was never built, as we went in a completely different direction to get the same data.

Edit: Yep! For subtractive machining...
I have a touchprobe than can digitise full 3D objects, but is slow for full scans. (I just use it for automated tool setting + workpiece edge finding).

[Jem]

Hi Dan

Thanks for that information, it's just helped me to understand the structured lighting approach. On most of the 'scanning' forums everyone who mentions SLS just makes the assumption that folks know what it is and what it does. As a 'newbie' to this I hadn't quite got the grasp of the acronym, but now I do

It's a pity your project was shelved. If I win the lottery I'll commission you to get back on to it

Cheers

Jem

[chad]

These are cool too. http://www.nextengine.com/

Not cheap, but nothing good ever is.

chad

[danielbriggs]

It would have been identical to this:


Commercial systems were coming out at around £30000 (no robot).
My plan was to do the same for 10% of that.

[loopee]

Hey Jem

I've been looking at setting up the David Scanner structured light scanner with a rotating base but haven't got around to it yet

I bought a Makerbot Replicator the other day (instead of a CNC mill, for logistical reasons and also considerably cheaper) that's pretty cool, and I'd recommend this over a mill for this purpose as its additive technology (as opposed to subtractive for a mill, this also depends on what your wanting to produce)

Here's and example of what it can do

[Psi]

A pico-projector would make it more portable

http://www.microvision.com/showwxplu...d=22&Itemid=37

[loopee]

Just come across this site http://reconstructme.net/

It uses a Microsoft Kinect sensor

and it's free for non-commercial use

Check out the video


Edit:
Looking at some more of their videos, this is really impressive stuff as it can do real-time 3D

Check out some of the other videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3LMY...=UL1FMV_A_AguU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiGFZ...=ULi2b4eoqbNsU

I'm off to buy a Kinect sensor tomorrow

[White-Light]

Hey Jem

I've been looking at setting up the David Scanner structured light scanner with a rotating base but haven't got around to it yet

I bought a Makerbot Replicator the other day (instead of a CNC mill, for logistical reasons and also considerably cheaper) that's pretty cool, and I'd recommend this over a mill for this purpose as its additive technology (as opposed to subtractive for a mill, this also depends on what your wanting to produce)

Here's and example of what it can do

Looks very cool but does it leave a rough finish?

Some of the videos on Youtube tend to suggest it leaves a textured finish made up of the lines of plastic that were laid down:




There seem to be some videos of some perfectly smooth objects using other machines but I'm guessing they were probably very expensive devices.

This technology opens up the possibility of home industry if the plastic can be supplied cheap enough in the future.

I'd love this technology although even the Makerbot is well beyond my pocket.

[Jem]

A pico-projector would make it more portable

http://www.microvision.com/showwxplu...d=22&Itemid=37

Hmmm... I've got one of these Picoprojectors, it's the standard model and not the 'plus' though, don't know if that makes a difference.

How would that work then?