3DScanCo To Resell Low-Cost, Portable Artec™, Creaform, and 3Shape Laser Scanners

3DScanCo (a division of Laser Design, Inc.) announced that it is now  reselling easy-to-use, low-cost Artec™, Creaform, and 3Shape 3D scanners.  The addition of these new low-cost lines of 3D scanners improves 3DScanCo’s ability to provide the appropriate scanner to their customers and makes the company a leading reseller of quality economy and portable 3D scanning systems. 

 The Artec 3D Scanners use 3D video cameras that capture a three-dimensional image in each frame and then combine them automatically into a single mesh.  The scanning process is as easy as walking around the object while continuously “videoing” it from 360 degrees.  The video-based scanners’ outstanding measuring speed of up to 500,000 points per second make them many times faster than laser scanners and they can be used to scan moving objects as well as stationary ones.  Various models allow digitizing of a broad range of object sizes, textures, and colors.  These highly portable scanners can be used in your own lab, onsite at clients’ locations, or even outside.  This type of scanner will open new possibilities to customers for use in sports, animation, fashion, medical, and computer graphics applications where motion capture is needed as well as in more traditional industries such as architecture, prototyping, and manufacturing.

Creaform 3D scanners are low-cost, high-accuracy portable systems designed to scan medium to large objects. When portability is important, these systems lend themselves to a wide range of applications in virtually any location.  They are especially well suited to reverse engineering applications of large products and models.

Automatic desktop scanning for small objects is the forte of the 3Shape scanners.  Used mainly in the dental, hearing aid, and jewelry industries, the systems capture precise three-dimensional data quickly and easily for items up to 3 cubic inches.  The automatic setup speeds production of complex parts at an economical cost.

C. Martin Schuster, President and CEO, commented, "3DScanCo strives to offer premier 3D portable scanning systems to our customers. These Artec, Creaform, and 3Shape scanners, along with other portable and economy scanners we offer, provide excellent scanning capabilities at a lower cost than most other 3D scanning technology systems."

3DScanCo is happy to provide virtual demonstrations of the versatile new lines of scanners.

For further information about 3DScanCo and Laser Design, call 952-884-9648 or visit us online at: www.3dscanco.comAbout Laser Design, Inc. (LDI).

About 3DScanCo and Laser Design

3DScanCo, a division of Laser Design, resells existing technology including portable low-cost scanners and develops custom 3D scanners and software. Laser Design, Inc. and GKS Global Services, its in-house service bureau, have been leading suppliers of ultra-precise, 3D laser scanning systems, along with CT scanning, dimensional inspection, 3D laser scanning, and long-range scanning services for over 29 years. 

NVision Helps Soft Air Produce Handgun Replica Three Months Faster

Soft Air USA used NVision’s laser scanning services to save three months in getting an Airsoft replica of FN Herstal’s FNP9-17 handgun to market. This is a significant time-savings over Soft Air’s previous process, which involved making silicon molds of real guns and using the molds to create injection molds that in turn make the replica Airsoft guns. Laser scanning saves time because it eliminates the need for manual touchup of the silicon mold and the resulting CAD model of the real gun can then be electronically sent to manufacturers in Asia.

“Airsoft” refers to a specific type of replica gun that shoots lightweight plastic pellets at a muzzle velocity of less than 600 foot per second. The combination of the light projectile and relatively low muzzle velocity means that Airsoft guns are generally considered safe when used with safety equipment such as protective eyeware. Soft Air USA®, Inc is a subsidiary of Cybergun S.A., the world’s leading manufacturer of replica Airsoft guns. Soft Air USA® has licenses from gun manufacturers such as Smith & Wesson®, Colt®, Sig Sauer®, IMI (Uzi®), Mauser, Thompson® and Kalishnikov.

The FNP-9 is a polymer-framed pistol that weights 25 ounces and has a 16+1 magazine capacity. “The FNP-9 handgun has never been done as an Airsoft gun in the past,” said John Steele, President of Soft Air USA. “We wanted to make as accurate a reproduction of the gun as is humanly possible.” In the past, Soft Air has reproduced guns by first making a silicon mold of the actual gun. One problem with this approach was that the gun used as the master was destroyed in the process. Another problem was that the silicon mold typically had many imperfections such as bubbles that needed to be fixed by hand. This process took a considerable period of time. Also, the mold had to be shipped to contract manufacturers in Asia that build the replica guns, which took additional time.

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New laser measurement system

Faro, the world’s leading provider of portable measurement and imaging solutions, will exhibit at JEC Composites Show 2010, Paris from 13th - 15th April 2010. Faro will present their Laser ScanArm V3 which is a unique solution on the market for measuring machines. It enables users to inspect parts in detail by capturing large point-cloud data. Its open architecture enables the user to employ Geomagic, Polyworks, RapidForm and many other third-party software programmes and to bring top-quality products to market more quickly.

The Laser ScanArm V3 tackles all measurement tasks like inspection, point cloud-to-CAD comparison, rapid prototyping, reverse engineering, 3D modeling, and as-built documentation with accuracy up to 54 microns. Users can hard-probe measure simple point variations, then laser scan sections for larger volumes of data – without the wasted time of adding/removing attachments, untangling cabling, or importing data from another CMM. Its main benefits are the accurate scanning of reflective and dark objects - the biggest challenge for all scanning systems.

Faro will also show its FaroArm, Faro Gage and Faro Laser Scanner Photon product lines, as well as its new Laser Tracker ION which is the most advanced, state-of-the-art Faro Laser Tracker ever introduced. The ION also features a longer measurement range, lighter weight, and contains the fastest, most sophisticated distance measuring system: Agile Absolute Distance Meter (aADM).

Visitors will have the chance to see live demonstrations of all Faro products at stand V30. “Our aim is to make people realise how quick and easy measurements can be carried out. Many of our customers used stationary measuring equipment before switching to our portable systems,” said Christophe Bénard, Responsable des Ventes de Faro France. “Their lead time is reduced while quality standards are improved by using our systems after a few weeks already. This guarantees a very fast ROI.”

About Faro

Faro develops and markets computer-aided coordinate measurement and scanning devices and software. Portable equipment from Faro permits high-precision 3D scanning and documentation of objects or whole facilities like historical buildings, tunnels or even oilrigs. The devices are used for inspecting components and assemblies, production planning, and inventory documentation, as well as for investigation and reconstruction of accident sites or crime scenes. They are also employed to generate digital scans of building sites, tunnels and historic sites.

The Faro® Laser Scanner Photon 20 and Photon 120 are the latest generation of easy-to-operate mobile laser measurement devices. With its high image quality due to hypermodulation, scanning speed, and positioning accuracy, the Faro Photon quickly and accurately creates three-dimensional black-and-white images – also known as point clouds – of large buildings, factories, or crime scenes. Photorealistic 3D colour pictures are possible with an expansion option. The Faro Laser Scanner Photon can be easily expanded and can be used by anyone after brief initial training.

Worldwide, approximately 9,500 customers are operating more than 20,000 installations of Faro measurement systems. The company’s global headquarter is located in Lake Mary, Florida/USA, its European head office in Korntal-Münchingen near Stuttgart (Germany) and the UK office in Coventry.

Laser Design Installs Portable FARO Arm Laser Scanning System at Schneider Electric in Cedar Rapids

(MINNEAPOLIS, MN; November 18, 2009) – Laser Design Inc., the leading supplier of 3D laser scanners for over 20 years, announced that Schneider Electric recently installed a Laser Design-FARO arm laser scanning system in its Cedar Rapids, Iowa facility. The system will be used for verifying plastic injection mold tooling prior to production runs.

A repeat customer for Laser Design’s high-precision laser scanning systems, Schneider Electric has realized increased productivity and better quality products as a result. “Our relationship with Schneider is ongoing in many of its international facilities,” explained C. Martin Schuster, President and CEO of Laser Design. “Our portable FARO arm system will provide the Schneider Plants in the USA with the versatility of high-speed and high-accuracy portable scanning. It can be moved around to any of the production facilities to provide quick inspection and verification of whatever part is about to be manufactured.” The Laser Design FARO arm laser scanning system reduces Schneider’s inspection time and raises accuracies to improve their “Ready to Run” check-out process significantly.

The portable FARO arm is teamed up with the award-winning Laser Design SLP-500 laser-line scanning probe which is ideal for the complex profile contour scanning typical of plastic injection molded part geometries. The high-speed, high-accuracy, non-contact 3D laser probe captures up to 144,000 points per second. The SLP probe line features digital (ASCII) coordinate output, a visible beam, a Class II rating for safe and easy-to-see operations and a long standoff to prevent crashes during part scanning. Its large measurement range, enhanced specularity performance and automatic adjustments for surface color and finish ensure excellent results time after time. Dual CMOS receptors featuring simultaneous scanning assist with steep sidewall and recessed geometry capture.

About Laser Design, Inc. / GKS Global Services
Laser Design, Inc., and GKS Global Services have been leading suppliers of ultra-precise, 3D laser scanning systems, along with CT scanning, dimensional inspection, 3D laser scanning, and long-range scanning services for over 25 years. Our engineers can assist with product development and design, rapid prototyping, and complete contract manufacturing services. GKS also offers rental equipment and expertise to customers with the occasional 3D scanning project.

For further information, contact Laser Design, by phone (952-884-9648), fax (952-884-9653), or via email at sales@laserdesign.com or visit Laser Design’s web site at http://www.laserdesign.com.

NIST to Use Laser Design SURVEYOR 3D Scanner

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, Nov 5, 2009 - Laser Design, Inc. announced that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has installed a Laser Design SURVEYOR WS Series 3D laser scanning system in the Materials Reliability Division located in Boulder, CO. The fully automated, CNC programmable system was purchased by NIST primarily for its industry-best high accuracy (0.011mm) and high resolution (0.005mm). It is equipped with the industry’s highest accuracy laser line scanning probe, the Laser Design SLP-250 laser-line scanning probe with 9 micron accuracy. Chris McCowan, Materials Research Engineer, explained, “The Laser Design SURVEYOR WS system met all our requirements: high accuracies, the best resolutions, and a compact size for our testing lab.”

The SURVEYOR WS system also includes a Renishaw PH-10 (CNC head indexer) and a 4th axis rotary stage for the most flexible 6-axis 3D scanning available. The dual system technology is capable of using a CMM touch probe as well for accuracies of up to .0001”. The system advances its next-generation capability with a mechanically accurate, highly stable, air-bearing German-engineered Wenzel CMM machine base and patented laser scanning technology from Laser Design. Laser Design’s SURVEYOR WS systems are recognized worldwide as the highest accuracy 3D laser line scanning systems suitable for use in Six Sigma, demanding quality assurance environments setting the standards for laser measurement technology.

NIST, a non-regulatory federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, was founded in 1901 to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology to enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. The Materials Reliability Division within NIST provides standard reference materials, recommended practice guides, and new improved characterization tools to better predict how, when, and why a material fails and prevent that failure so the safety and reliability of the Nation's physical infrastructure (e.g., buildings, pipelines, and bridges) is ensured. McCowan commented, “We will use the SURVEYOR WS system to measure the standard measuring specimens we provide to industry to make sure they conform to NIST-required accuracies.”

NIST personnel are experienced in using the most advanced and accurate measuring technologies to create universal standards of quality, and the Laser Design WS system will be part of their program to determine standards for laser scanning technologies. C. Martin Schuster, Laser Design President and CEO, commented, “Everyone at Laser Design is very proud to have one of the world’s foremost authorities on setting measurement standards, NIST, view our SURVEYOR WS system as the standard-bearer for excellence in the laser measurement world. With over 20 years in the high-precision laser measurement business, Laser Design is a leader in the industry. We are very pleased to have met NIST’s demanding requirements to fulfill their need for the highest quality measuring equipment.”

About Laser Design, Inc. / GKS Global Services

Laser Design, Inc. and GKS Global Services have been leading suppliers of ultra-precise, 3D laser scanning systems, along with CT scanning, dimensional inspection, 3D laser scanning, and long-range scanning services for over 25 years. Our engineers can assist with product development and design, rapid prototyping, and complete contract manufacturing services. GKS also offers rental equipment and expertise to customers with the occasional 3D scanning project.

For more information, visit http://www.laserdesign.com/.