3D Laser Scanning
What is 3D laser scanning? 3D laser scanning is used for measuring/monitoring the dynamic behaviour of both rotating and static equipment and associated systems like foundations and piping.
3D scanning is applied in industries more and more. The most common application is to scan an entire plant or production hall for engineering purposes.
AVT Reliability BV (formerly Van Geffen Reliability) performs elaborate 3D geometrical analyses on the measured point clouds instead of simply creating 3D models.
The field of application of 3D scanning is very wide but we have a strong focus in measuring/monitoring the dynamic behaviour of both rotating and static equipment and associated systems like foundations, piping and so the 3D surveys by AVT Reliability therefore often relate to such issues.
Our projects range roughly covers single measurements of a bridge following a suspected damage (collision), scanning new build parts for the food industry as a quality control to the monitoring of a turbine/compressor module on board an offshore location due to changing alignment conditions over time.
Main Services
AVT Reliability provides a range of dimensional surveying solutions that help clients get better insight. 3D laser scanning can, amongst others, be used for:
- Quality inspection & control
- Reverse engineering
- Finite Element Analysis/FEA
- Trouble Shooting / (deformation) measurements
Trouble Shooting / (deformation) measurements
The most effective type of laser scanning application is without a doubt the one for deformation analysis purposes. Laser scanning has provided AVT Reliability surveyors a means to a conduct comprehensive survey of objects in need of deformation analysis, thus allowing for a thorough inspection and ascertaining of all causes of deformations.
In comparison to conventional survey techniques and methods this constitutes a significant progress for all professions included in this field. Not only does it make the analysis process more efficient, accurate and comprehensive but it also makes it more cost effective, as all relevant analytics can be conducted from the same data set, i.e. the point cloud.
Quality inspection & control
One of the most common 3D scanning applications is quality control. High-quality manufacturing processes can distinguish a business from its competitors, and this makes precise, accurate, and repeatable quality control processes a vital part of any manufacturing plan, especially in today’s highly competitive markets where each company is striving to produce the most accurate parts in the fastest amount of time.
3D scanning can help to improve the speed of quality inspections by creating detailed 3D models of manufactured structures and offering workflows optimised for specific industries. Each part can be scanned and the digital model can be evaluated to make sure every area on the part is within the specified tolerances.
Reverse Engineering
A very common challenge in the world of engineering and product design is reverse engineering a physical product for which you do not have a CAD file. Using 3D scan technology that will capture the complex geometric characteristics of a given part is a great way to develop a CAD file when one is not available.
Creating or sourcing high quality CAD files early on in the reverse engineering process can greatly improve the results of the project by minimising wasted time and guesswork based on inaccurate data.
Finite Element Analysis/FEA
FEA (Finite Element Analysis) is often leveraged to predict how a given structure will react when exposed to forces like heat, fluid, vibration, etc.
As these simulations and analyses are used to simulate conditions for industries where safety is of the utmost importance, precise digital models are a must, and this is where 3D scanners and the associated scanning software comes in. The more accurate the 3D models, the more reliable the simulations.
Industries & applications
Working all around the world, our highly experienced industrial surveyors undertake every type of technical survey – particularly in the fields of steel construction, ship building/repair, machinery/equipment manufacture, marine surveying and surveys for the process industry.
