Scanning Devices Page

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Roland’s MDX Line
• Roland’s PICZA Scanner
• Roland’s 3-D Laser Scanner
• Microscribe 3-D Digitizing Arms
• RSI’s MicroScan Laser System

Introduction

3-D scanning is different from the regular scanning most of us are familiar with. Instead of recording 2-D information from a picture or object placed on the glass, such as text, grayscale images, or color photographs, 3-D scanners pick up positional information from the surface of an object, registering the location of points in space, so that a 3-D model of a form can be reconstructed. The means used to do this range from hand-held digitizing arms which capture a point at a time, to automated touchprobes that capture points by moving a sensitive needle over the surface of an object, to laser light beams that can record surface information from an object without touching it at all. Whether you’re trying to “reverse-engineer” a model from an existing part or measuring an irregular space for custom-fit hardware, scaling down an object you’ve sculpted to use it in jewelry or wanting to make a right-facing part from a left-facing one, or creating a virtual model from a natural form or an archaeological artifact, these machines can save you a lot of time and effort in the modeling process.

Roland’s MDX Line

Combination Touch-Probe Scanner and Milling Machine

Roland Digital Group makes a series of machines for capturing surface data from objects and then carving them from solid material. We own and use the MDX-15 and MDX-20 ourselves, and we’ve found them very useful tools for what we do. These are combination units: a touch-probe scanner and light-duty milling machine in one integrated package with a working envelope of 6″ x 4″ x 23⁄8″ (for the MDX-15) or 8″ x 6″ x 23⁄8″ (for the MDX-20). On both machines, a fine and sensitive piezo-electric scanning needle records even delicate objects without damage or distortion and stores them as polygon mesh surface data which can be exported to other programs or milled out using the cutting spindle of this versatile machine. Roland’s Dr. Picza scanning software, Modela Player and Dr. Engrave milling software is included with both MDX models, which we also sell separately. We’re an authorized Roland dealer, so we’re not allowed to list our prices on these products, but we sell them for a significant discount and we’re confident we can beat the competition’s prices.

Manufacturer: Roland Digital Group

Versions Sold:

Roland’s PICZA SCANNER

Affordable Desktop Scanning in 3-D

Roland Digital Group also made a couple of affordable machines dedicated solely to touch-probe scanning. They both use Roland Active Piezo Sensor (“RAPS”) technology for high precision. They offer scan pitches in the X/Y axis directions of 0.002 to 0.197 inches incrementable in steps of 0.002 inches (or 0.001 inches for the Z-axis). They come with Dr. Picza 3-D scanning software, and can create mesh models which can be stored in the DXF, STL, 3DMF, IGES, and VRML file formats. The PIX-4 unit has a maximum work area of 6″ x 4″ x 2.4″.

Manufacturer: Roland Digital Group

Versions Sold:

Roland’s 3-D Laser Scanner

A Breakthrough Price for Laser Scanning

Roland Digital also produces a laser-scanner, the LPX-600, at a breakthrough price for this type of machine. It is capable of scanning objects which fit in a 16″ high by 10″ diameter cylindrical space (up to 11 pounds) much more quickly than a touch-probe, although with somewhat less maximum resolution. We’ve owned one of these for a few months now, and have been impressed with its speed and ease of use, as well as the lack of surface “noise” evident in the earlier LPX-250 version. It uses planar scanning to capture single or multiple 3-D views of a subject at up to 0.008 inches resolution in X and Y, or it performs rotary scanning at up to 1,800 steps per revolution and the same X/Y pitch. The laser sensor doesn’t contact the object to be scanned; it moves up and from side to side as the object is moved on its turntable. It is bundled with Dr. Picza for control of the scanning operation as well as EZ-scan software from Geometry Systems, Inc. This makes scanning extremely simple—just load the part onto the turntable, securing it with screws if necessary, then press Preview. Yellow lines are then automatically generated that show where the part is. After deciding how many planes are to be scanned setting the scanning resolution, and deciding whether or not to fill in all holes, just press the Scan button—the machine does the rest.

Please note that shiny, clear or dark-colored objects may present difficulties unless painted in a lighter matte color which is easier for the laser to register. The unit weighs about 90 pounds. We’re an authorized Roland dealer and we’re not allowed to list our prices on this product, but we sell it for a significant discount. We’re confident we can beat the competition’s prices.

If you are working with objects no bigger than 12″ high and 8″ diameter, the recently-introduced LPX-60 might be worth considering. It has pretty much the same specifications as the LPX-600, also digitizing with a maximum resolution of .008″ (.2mm) but it’s smaller, lighter, and considerably less expensive. It also comes with the LPX EZ Studio scanning software from GSI Inc.

If you need higher resolution scans than the LPX-600 will do, and are working with smaller objects, the LPX-1200 is worth considering. Although it has a smaller envelope than the LPX-600 (it will scan objects up to 5″ diameter by 8″ high), it is stiffer in construction, and is equipped with a ballscrew-driven sensor which rides on a linear bearing. Perfect for jewelry applications, it scans with a resolution of .0039″ (.1 mm)—compared with .2 mm for the LPX-600. Roland’s PixForm software (based on RapidForm) is included, along with Dr. Picza. This software is capable of editing and refining meshes, filling holes, and generating NURBS surfaces, which are useful in programs like Rhino. List price on these is $21,995, but we can do a little better…

Manufacturer: Roland Digital Group

Version Sold:

Microscribe 3-D Digitizing Arms

Picking Points in 3-D

These hand-manipulated arms provide an excellent way to get surface information from fairly large physical models into the computer. We have used one for a while, and we’ve grown to like it a lot. Picking each point by hand, while not as fast as automatic scanning methods, means that the computer won’t bog down with extraneous data, and that points can be concentrated in areas where they are needed to convey detail. These arms are supported directly by Rhino and other major 3-D programs. All Microscribe arms come with Microscribe Utility Software, which enables points to be added to any software platform capable of keystroke point input. Graphical datasets can be saved as DXF, IGES, OBJ, TXT, 3DS, and other formats. The arms work on either a PC or a Mac, and require a serial or USB port on the PC or a USB port on a Mac. The footprint of all the units is 6″ x 6″, although the area that can be digitized is much larger. They come in a range of sizes and accuracies, which are adequate for most purposes. But if you need a bigger or more accurate digitizer or coordinate measuring machine, we can also offer arms from Romer/Cimcore, such as the Stinger II and the 3000i, or Faro arms, along with fully integrated DezignWorks and Scribe-It software for reverse engineering, Solidworks compatibility, and/or Cad to Part Inspection, through an arrangement with B3-D Consulting and Sales, a long-established expert in this field. We also can provide accessories such as ruby stylus tips, tripods, carrying cases, etc.

The Microscribe G2 (Original Model) has a hemispherical 50″ diameter workspace (when mounted on a table) and a rated accuracy of 0.015 inches (0.38 mm). The Microscribe G2X (High Accuracy Model) has a hemispherical 50″ diameter workspace and a rated accuracy of 0.009 inches (0.23 mm). The Microscribe G2L (Large Workspace Model) has a hemispherical 66″ diameter workspace and a rated accuracy of 0.017 inches (0.43 mm). The Microscribe G2LX (High Accuracy, Large Workspace Model) has a hemispherical 66″ diameter workspace and a rated accuracy of 0.012 inches (0.30 mm).

As an authorized Microscribe dealer we’re not allowed to list our prices on these products, but we can sell them for a significant discount. We’re confident we can beat the competition’s prices.

Manufacturer: Immersion

Version Sold:

RSI’s MicroScan Laser System

By fitting a laser to a Microscribe arm, one gets the best of both worlds: the flexibility of a hand-positioned system able to peer into undercuts and past overhangs, and the speed and non-contact of a laser-stripe digitizer. The laser can be fitted onto any of the Microscribe models listed above, as long as they are given a 6th degree of freedom (DOF). This modification adds about $1,800 to the price of the arm, enabling the “twist” motion necessary for proper orientation of the laser stripe. Precision of results depends on the tolerances of the arm on which it’s mounted. The laser head itself lists for €12,500, although we can do a little better than that. The Microscan Tools software is included, which automatically aligns multiple scans and produces watertight models, exportable as DXF, STL, VRML, and ASCII text.

A flyer from RSI entitled “RSI’s new Laser Sensor” is available for download. It's a 550K PDF file, and requires Acrobat Reader.

There are two videos (Flash Video format) available showing the use of the RSI MicroScan Laser System on Microscribe arms. You can view them here (Reverse Engineering) and here (Graphic Arts).

Manufacturer: RSI

Versions Sold: