Different kinds of 3D scanner

A 3D scanner is a machine which scans real-time objects, ranging from something as small as a penny to something as big as a tomb, and collect relevant data about them such as shape, size and texture. However, there is not only one kind of 3D scanner and this short informative article is going to explain a few of the different kinds for you:

Time of Flight scanner

This kind of three dimensional scanning device uses a laser light to probe into an item. The laser belongs to a rangefinder which is situated in the heart the machine. This laser then measures the exact distance of the surface of the object by timing how long it takes the pulse of light to reach the item and return back.

A Triangulation scanner

This scanner too uses a laser to scan its environment. The scanner shines a laser onto the object and then uses a camera to look for the location of the laser dot. This is known as a triangulation scanner because the laser emitter, camera and laser dot form a kind of triangle. This method of 3D scanning was first developed by the National Research Council in Canada in 1978.

Hand-held scanner

A hand held laser also uses the triangulation method. The data which is collected is done so in relation to an internal coordinate system and so collects data while the scanner is in motion.

So as you can see there are a wide variety of different 3D scanner machines out there all built with certain pros and cons making them perfect or not so good at scanning certain items. It is up to the team in question as to which kind of scanner they would use.