3D SCANNING

Reverse engineering and reproduction is one of the more powerful applications of 3D scanning and one on which we focus at 8TrackDesign. Primarily aimed at parts which are no longer (easily) available. 
Where the reverse engineering process is normally very involved when part geometry gets more complex, a 3D scan enables us to quickly acquire a 3D representation of the part including many details.
As production methods have evolved greatly over the past few years, there are many more methods and materials available than when the part was originally manufactured. This means that small scale reproduction has not only become far more feasible; the reproduction might even outperform the original product.
A great example of this is the reproduction of a seat belt extender for a Volvo 480. The original part was scanned, reviewed and then reproduced out of high strength Nylon using state-of-the-art 3D printing technology.

Besides providing the possibility for a full product or part scan, a 3D scan can also be used in conjunction with a currently existing workflow. For example in measurement and digitalisation of an assembly or environment as a baseline for project dimensioning. Traditionally, this process would require a great deal of measuring and keeping track of references. With the inclusion of a 3D scan in the process, complex parts of assemblies or environments can be scanned and easily imported into the CAD environment of choice. In this case, the scans can be combined with simple reference dimensions to form a clear picture of the environment or assembly for basic dimensioning.
The example shows how a small scan of a ship's hull and propshaft bearing was used in initial blockout dimensioning of a hybrid driveline for a manufacturer of electric driveline solutions for nautical applications.