Volumetric Scanning and its Application in the Automotive Industry

3D scanning is revolutionizing multiple industries across the board, from manufacturing to drone-powered inspection of high-value assets.

With 3D scanning, an accurate, three-dimensional image of an object can be acquired in record time, and with relatively little hassle. For example, by flying a drone with multiple sensors over a power line, you can obtain a digital twin of that powerline. You can then use the digital twin for automated, AI-powered inspection.

Advances in technology mean that there are multiple scanning techniques such that it is possible to use a volumetric scanner for almost any application imaginable. You can scan a stationary plane or a large building with laser scanning. With a portable 3D scanner, you can scan a wide range of small objects, from a cup in your house to an engine in a vehicle.

These advances in technology have led to the proliferation of 3D scanning devices. In the past, to scan even a small item, you’d have had to go to a professional 3D scanning company. And you’d have ended up paying a lot of money. Such barriers in terms of equipment and costs meant that 3D scanning was out of reach for many.

However, now, you can get a portable 3D scanner for personal use at a relatively cheap price. 3D scanning has become more affordable and is now within reach for people and businesses.

3D Scanning in the Automotive Industry 

The automotive industry has adopted the use of the volumetric scanner at a fast pace, especially in the after-market industry.

3D scanners come in handy when replacing legacy parts. All you have to do is scan a part and you have the blueprint to design it. In the past, getting the design of a legacy part involved a tedious series of measurements using tools such as vernier calipers. It was time consuming; not to mention cumbersome.

Another example of 3D scanning in the automotive industry is when designing chassis for off-road racing trucks. The chassis has to be placed at just the right distance from the engine while allowing enough space for the driver. Using an automotive 3D scanner helps get precise measurements.

While using a professional automotive 3D scanner helps get the best results, you can get decent results with any commercial 3D scanner, especially if you don’t have a choice. However, when dealing with small parts and depending on the reason why you are scanning the vehicle, you might find it better to use a specially made automotive 3D scanner for best results.

For personal use, it is even possible to 3D scan a car with your mobile phone, provided it has the right application and the right hardware. High-end phones usually have support for 3D scanning and can generate decent results, though they are not comparable to the use of a professional 3D scanner.

How Do You 3D Scan a Car? 

You may be wondering why one would need to 3D scan a car. For normal car owners, this might not be necessary. But for car enthusiasts who love making modifications to their vehicles, 3D scanning is useful. It helps them make mistakes on their virtual cars when trying out new modifications.

Making mistakes on a virtual version of your car is significantly less expensive than making modifications on your physical car only to realize that you did something wrong. As such, the cost of digitizing the car may even become negligible compared to what a 3D scan saves you.

If you do decide to 3D scan your car, here is a guide on how to go about it.

Decide on the Scanner to Use 

If you have a high-end smartphone, you can use it to get a scan of your vehicle. Otherwise, you are probably going to have to use a commercial scanner. These can be expensive.

However, it is possible to find a lower-end model that can get you some decent results.

Get Suitable Scanning Software 

Regardless of which device you are using to perform your scan, you’ll need some software to make sense of your results and to transform the raw footage into a point cloud or into a version that you can use to run your simulations and tests.

There are various free software available online. The paid versions are typically expensive and unless you plan to be doing a lot of scanning, you should consider free versions.

The type of software you use will depend on the 3D scanner that you chose. Choose software that is compatible with your scanning device.

You’ll Need a Laptop

If you are scanning a vehicle, you’ll probably be outdoors. You’ll need to connect the 3D  scanner to a computer while scanning so that it can process the feed and generate the 3D model. Seeing as most scanners come with short cables, you’ll probably need a laptop so that you can have it with you as you perform the scan.

Get Scanning 

Once you have your scanning device and a laptop installed with the right software, you can now start your scan.

The quality of your scan will be affected by certain qualities such as the color of the vehicle you are scanning. Here’s what you need to consider while scanning:

• The minimum distance. Most low-end scanners have to be at least a certain distance from an object to be able to scan it.
• The color. Since 3D scanning involves the interaction of light with the object being scanned, scanners may not work well with shiny or dark surfaces. A way to work around this is to spray the dark and shiny surfaces with some sort of powder.
• Software settings. The settings you use will invariably affect the quality of your scan. Try doing some tests to calibrate your settings for optimal performance.
• Lighting. Most scanners are affected by the sun. They won’t work well when it’s sunny and you should consider scanning at dusk for best results.

Conclusion 

Thanks to commercial portable 3D scanners, it is now possible to use scans in a wide variety of applications, even outside industrial uses. One of the industries in which 3D scanning has been widely adopted is in the after-market automotive industry.

3D scanners are great for getting accurate measurements of objects and for developing virtual models to perform tests on.

If you are heavily dependent on 3D scanning, it would be preferable to invest some money in a professional 3D scanner.

Otherwise, it is possible to use low-end scanners and get results that you can work with, though it will take some patience and a lot of maneuvering.