Implementation of 3D Optical Scanning Technology for Automotive Applications

Abstract

Reverse engineering (RE) is a powerful tool for generating a CAD model from the 3D scan data of a physical part that lacks documentation or has changed from the original CAD design of the part. The process of digitizing a part and creating a CAD model from 3D scan data is less time consuming and provides greater accuracy than manually measuring the part and designing the part from scratch in CAD. 3D optical scanning technology is one of the measurement methods which have evolved over the last few years and it is used in a wide range of areas from industrial applications to art and cultural heritage. It is also used extensively in the automotive industry for applications such as part inspections, scanning of tools without CAD definition, scanning the casting for definition of the stock (i.e. the amount of material to be removed from the surface of the castings) model for CAM programs and reverse engineering. In this study two scanning experiments of automotive applications are illustrated. The first one examines the processes from scanning to re-manufacturing the damaged sheet metal cutting die, using a 3D scanning technique and the second study compares the scanned point clouds data to 3D CAD data for inspection purposes. Furthermore, the deviations of the part holes are determined by using different lenses and scanning parameters.

Application of a measuring arm with an integrated laser scanner in the analysis of the shape changes of forging instrumentation during production

“…These undoubtedly include measuring arms equipped with linear laser scanners with dedicated specialized software. Measuring arms, through their mobility and universality, are an alternative for the coordinate measuring machines in applications which allow for a lower measuring accuracy [14,20]. For example, the accuracy of a mobile measuring arm was discussed in work [4], whose authors performed tests consisting in an evaluation of the representation of the nominal shape with the use of the arm as well as the coordinate machine.…”

“…The 3D scanning technique, also with the use of measuring arms, is mainly applied for the product end quality control [14,22,28]. These measurements are the most often based on the assessment of the shape errors of the determined contour and surface [5,14]. The available literature more and more frequently discusses applications of this kind of methods for the measurement, control and evaluation of the state of swaging tools.…”

“…For example, the accuracy of a mobile measuring arm was discussed in work [4], whose authors performed tests consisting in an evaluation of the representation of the nominal shape with the use of the arm as well as the coordinate machine. The 3D scanning technique, also with the use of measuring arms, is mainly applied for the product end quality control [14,22,28]. These measurements are the most often based on the assessment of the shape errors of the determined contour and surface [5,14].…”

Evaluation of Handheld Scanners for Automotive Applications

“…Optical 3D scanning technologies have been successfully applied for achieving 3D measurements in many fields such as the automotive industry [7]. Optical scanning technologies based on laser and white light have increasingly been utilized in designing the most effective and efficient handheld scanners.…”

“…In the last decade or so, 3D optical scanning technologies have been identified as the most efficient and effective data acquisition methods used for RE [7]. These systems can deliver the desired accuracy for large, complex sheet metal parts and dyes used in the automotive industry.…”