Archive for the ‘Scanners Laser Reviews’ Category
Scanners Laser Reviews
Scanners Laser Reviews
When you need to gather an object or an environment’s surface data, you have two options: use traditional forms of surveying technology (e.g. analogue), or use laser surveying technology, which abbreviates the surveying process and costs less money. Unlike older surveying methods, laser surveying can finish projects in as little as one surveying session, thus reducing the involvement of the surveyor and driving down survey cost. Laser scanning also reduces surveying cost by requiring fewer materials of the surveyor.
What Types of Scanners are Best for Laser Surface Scanning?
To experience the time and cost benefits of laser scanners, you’ll first need to know which scanner best suits your laser surface scanning needs, particularly regarding the size of your object and the scanning distance required to scan it with accuracy. For the smallest objects, contact scanners are often the best choice. For medium sized objects, which can be as small as a beach ball or as large as an automobile, triangulation scanners are often used. And for the largest objects, such as buildings and landscapes, time-of-flight scanners are usually chosen. Below, we describe each of these scanners and their ideal use.
Contact Scanners
As their name suggests, contact scanners gather an object’s surface data by coming into contact with it, using probing appendages to sense distance points. Contact scanners are known for their accuracy. But their probing feature can make them unsuitable for gathering data from delicate heritage objects and antiques. For such objects, triangulation scanning is usually the option of choice.
Triangulation Scanners
Triangulation scanners emit a pattern of light over an object’s surface and then measure its deviations using a special camera. The deviations indicate the object’s surface data points. Triangulation scanners are also known for their accuracy, and are sometimes mounted to the surfaces of large objects such as buildings when minute surface details must be gathered.
Time-of-flight Scanners
Time-of-flight scanners use a laser rangefinder to measure the roundtrip of a laser as it emits from the scanner, bounces off of the scanning subject, and refracts back to the scanner. Time-of-flight scanners are excellent for gathering the basic surface data of buildings, landscapes, and large objects. But they aren’t the best choice for gathering minute surface detail.
When companies experience scanning needs, they often question whether it would be more profitable to buy their own scan equipment or hire a scan service provider. Due to the significant cost of a commercial grade tripod scanner, only companies that have a constant need for scanning truly benefit from purchasing their own equipment. Professional scanning providers are also convenient for companies that have a variety of scan projects that require various types of scan expertise.
By Jimmy Drago
Article Source: ezinearticles.com
