Creaform Celebrates 10 Years of Innovation in 3D Optical Measurement Technos and 3D Engineering Services

Lévis, February 22, 2012 – 2012 is a key and festive year for Creaform, leader in 3D portable optical measurement technologies and 3D engineering services, as the Canada-based company founded in 2002 reaches 10 years of innovation, growth and success.

Creaform from 2002 to 2012

Over the 10 past years, Creaform has grown from a 5-employee metrology services start-up to a 300-employee international company and major developer and manufacturer of 3D portable optical measurement technology and provider of 3D engineering services.

The company has shown a spectacular 79% compounded growth rate since 2002, and has sold more than 2500 systems in the past decade. Plus, the company has been awarded more than 30 prizes for its vision, innovation and success.

“Looking back at the past decade and considering the humble means that we had in 2002, I’m just in awe of what we have accomplished, and how fast we became a major player in the 3D optical measurement technology industry, says president Charles Mony. This might sound a bit cliché, but all of this was made possible by the innovation spirit and tireless work of our crew, the support of our partners and the confidence of our ever-growing client base. 10 years have gone by, and yet our drive, passion and determination remain absolutely intact. ”

Creaform in the future

According to Creaform’s quinquennial strategic plan, the company expects to increase its already fast-paced growth rate and also strengthen its position as a major player in the industry of metrology.  Furthermore, the company follows a very ambitious R&D program that will lead to the development and launch of several new technologies reflecting Creaform’s commitment to create innovative, accurate, reliable and easy to use devices.

About Creaform

Creaform specializes in 3D portable optical measurement technologies and 3D engineering services. We offer innovative solutions that cover the entire range of 3D applications, including 3D scanning, reverse engineering, inspection, design & engineering and FEA. Our wide range of products and services are intended for industries such as the automotive, aerospace and defence, consumer products, education, heritage preservation and manufacturing.

Creaform has developed and sells the Handyscan 3D line of portable, self-positioning handheld 3D scanners, along with the HandyPROBE portable arm-free CMM and the MetraSCAN optical CMM 3D scanner, two systems designed for inspection applications. The company has recently launched the MaxSHOT 3D optical coordinate measuring system that brings photogrammetry to all these technologies.

Creaform is an international company with offices in Québec City, Montréal, the United States, France, Germany, China, India and Japan. The company’s head office and Quebec-based offices have achieved 9001 : 2008 ISO certification in November of 2011.

NVision Scanner Helps Get Aircraft Accessories to Fit Right the First Time

NVision’s HandHeld laser scanner is being used by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] engineers at its Missiles and Fire Control business to assure the fit of accessories to aircraft exteriors and interiors is positioned perfectly the first time.

The NVision Handheld scanner is a powerful portable scanning device which is capable of capturing 3D geometry. The NVision HandHeld is attached to a mechanical arm that moves about the object, freeing the user to capture data rapidly and with a high degree of resolution.

NVision’s HandHeld scanner has helped Lockheed Martin engineers accurately measure millions of points by simply moving it over an aircraft’s surface, enabling perfect fits on first prototype iterations.

“The Handheld laser scanner is a perfect fit for this application because its ability to move freely around a part makes it possible to reverse engineer virtually any size or shape of part,” said Steve Kersen, President of NVision. The scanner is attached to a mechanical arm which moves about the object, freeing the user to capture data rapidly and with a high degree of resolution. An optional tripod provides complete portability in the field. Intuitive software allows full model editing, polygon reduction, and data output to all standard 3D packages.

“An important advantage of laser scanning is that it provides accurate measurements of parts ranging in scale from the entire exterior of a commercial helicopter down to very small components,” said Stephen Rocca, manager of Mechanical Laboratories at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Orlando, Fla. “Getting the fit correct the first time provides significant time and cost savings. Laser scanning has also improved the accuracy of the fluid dynamic models that we use to predict the effect of the accessories on flight performance, providing a safety advantage.”

In building aircraft accessories, it’s critical to determine the exact geometry of the aircraft which normally cannot be obtained from computer aided design (CAD) models because the exact configuration varies from aircraft to aircraft. For example, aircraft interiors are populated with cables and hydraulic lines that often do not show up or show up in a different position in the CAD model. In the past, conventional measuring instruments were used to physically measure the aircraft. For example, technicians would measure the body exterior, rotor, skids, windows and doors of a commercial helicopter.

This was a very tedious process because an individual measurement had to be taken for each point. There was never enough time to take enough points to fully define the geometry so technicians frequently had to take a best guess as to the exact surface contours. The result was that the prototype often had to be reworked to get it to fit the exterior. The inherent inaccuracies of the manual measurement methods used in the past meant that three or four prototype iterations were typically required to obtain a good match to the aircraft.

After NVision demonstrated the ability to obtain high levels of accuracy in laser scanning, Lockheed Martin purchased an NVision Handheld scanner for a production site in Alabama, and later, a second scanner, for its Orlando, Fla., manufacturing facility.

About NVision

NVision, Inc. (www.nvision3d.com) was established in 1990 with one goal in mind: to provide customers with the highest accuracy non-contact optical measurement systems and services for Reverse Engineering and Inspection. Focusing our expertise on the aerospace, power generation, and oil/gas industries, NVision provides both contract scanning services and systems sales to companies throughout North America. Our elite team of engineers provides customers with an unmatchable level of experience and is able to advise and assist with the most difficult engineering challenges.

NVision’s clients include industry leaders such as Alstom, Boeing, GE, Lockheed Martin, Lear, NASA, Porsche, Raytheon, Siemens, Toyota, and every branch of the U.S. military.

Laser Design and Zeiss Team Up to Create Higher Precision 3D Scanner

Laser Design Inc., the leading supplier of 3D laser scanning for more than 30 years, introduced a new high-precision line of 3D scanners, the Surveyor ZS-Series. It is based on the Spectrum CMM platform from Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology, the world-renowned manufacturer of high-accuracy measurement equipment.

The systems are integrated with Laser Design’s industry-best, ultra-precise, fast laser line scanning probes combining the best of all technologies.

The ZS-Series sets a new standard for precision and ease of use in 3D measurement. Systems are available in many sizes to accommodate a wide variety of parts and applications. The Surveyor ZS-Series systems are CE rated, making them an ideal choice for worldwide customers. The turnkey system is highly automated with the optional Renishaw PH10 motorized indexing head and optional high-precision rotary stage to quickly and easily scan simple prismatic shapes or complex free-form objects for inspection, analysis, or reverse engineering applications.

With its patented laser line scanning technology, Surveyor ZS-Series scans parts from all orientations, and then easily orients the 3D scan data back into a common coordinate system. The scanner controls up to 7 axes of motion for unattended operation or interactive joystick scanning. Proprietary scanning software provides optimization for part specularity, data density control, and filtering as well as macro programming capabilities for automating repetitive applications and eliminating operator involvement.

Users can choose from a wide range of laser scanning options for ultra-precise measurement depending on the size and level of detail on the objects to be scanned. Parts such as plastics, metal, rubber, cast, molded, forged, machined, or extruded components, as well as tooling, dies, or molds, are all typically measured items. Laser Design supports industry leading scan data processing software to provide the best results available for reverse engineering and inspection applications.

About Laser Design / GKS Global Services
Laser Design, Inc. and GKS Global Services have been leading suppliers of ultra-precise 3D scanning systems and services for three decades. We help customers successfully complete their most complex inspection, analysis, and reverse engineering projects quickly, giving them a competitive advantage. Contact Laser Design at 952-884-9648 or visit http://www.LaserDesign.com.

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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SIEMENS VERIFIES TURBINE BLADE GEOMETRY WITH METRIS LASER SCANNERS

Siemens, a worldwide leader in power plant turbines, investigate laser scanning to monitor the production quality of casting blades. Non-contact verification of blade geometry and alignment guarantees premium economy and long life in harsh turbine operating conditions. Powerful 3D scanning technology accurately captures the aerofoil surfaces of the blades as well as their fine alignment notches. A single mouse click triggers the automatic geometry verification process that provides detailed insight on the basis of graphic part-to-CAD comparison. LC50 laser scanning and Focus point cloud processing are the cornerstones of a much faster and operator-independent digital inspection process.

Capturing the complex geometry of turbine blades

The quality of turbine blades in stationary gas turbine power plants is critical. As hot combustion gas expands through the turbine, it spins aerofoil blades to drive a generator that produces electricity. Air-cooled in its internal channel, turbine blades reach high rotational speeds and face temperatures up to around 1000°C. Turbine blades are designed for optimum aerodynamics and mass center location, and are made of advanced metal alloy castings to increase strength, resist extreme temperature, and avoid corrosion. Inaccuracies in
blade geometry and positioning may cause energy conversion efficiency loss and untimely blade failure.

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Laser Scanning Software from 3D Spatial

Pointools View Pro, Pointools for Rhino, Pointools Model for AutoCAD, Pointools Edit

Laser Scanning Technology

3D Spatial is proud to announce that it is now a reseller of the powerful Pointools pointcloud viewing and modelling suite of software. Pointools industry leading point cloud visualisation technology enables rapid navigation of dense point cloud datasets comprising of 100’s millions of points.

Professionals can now inspect complex laser scanned environments from their desktop with the unmatched speed and ease using Pointools powerful range of software.

Pointools View Pro

Pointools View Pro is a high performance pointcloud visualisation package ideal for project visualisation, collaboration, management and presentation of pointclouds typically produced by today’s Laser Scanners.

3D Scanning Technology

Pointools View Pro works directly with Pointclouds from any 3D scanner manufacturer which includes FARO, Leica, Riegl, Optech, Trimbleas well as many other formats.

•View huge pointcloud datasets quickly and easily with Pointools View Pro

•Take point and distance measurements directly in a 3D world

•Generate true orthographic views of buildings from laser scan data

•Produce high quality movie footage for project fly throughs and interactive presentations

3D Laser Scanning

Pointools View Pro provides a high performance, easy to use and cost effective environment for viewing, analysing and producing compelling visual content from a range of 3D data types.

Pointools View Pro gives you the power to examine, distribute, collaborate and present laser scan and 3d model data with speed and ease. Pointools View is also available as a free viewer for end users to view, evaluate and mark up directly from pointcloud data.

Pointools for Rhino

Pointools for Rhino provides an intuitive interface for interpretation and visualisation of point cloud data in the powerful Rhino 3D modelling environment. Using the Rhino/Pointools combination offers a powerful and low cost solution for drawing and modelling directly from laser scan data.

Pointools for Rhino imports point clouds into the Rhino3D environment and displays the points in the viewport with various controls over shading and visibility and offering advanced capabilities such as intelligent pipe and surface fitting in addition to powerful sectioning and segmentation capabilities.

Applications include drawing or modelling from point clouds or viewing a proposal within a point cloud. The plug in can also be used to work with aerial LIDAR or vehicle based mobile laser scanning data for larger scale urban mapping and planning.

Pointools Model - 3D Modelling Systems

Pointools Model delivers the power and flexibility to work with large point cloud datasets within AutoCAD, the ideal solution for drawing and modelling from scan data.

Pointools Model imports point clouds into the AutoCAD environment and displays the points in the viewport with various controls over shading and visibility and offering advanced capabilities such as intelligent pipe and surface fitting in addition to powerful sectioning and segmentation capabilities.

Applications include drawing or modelling from point clouds or viewing a proposal within a point cloud. The plug in can also be used to work with aerial LIDAR or vehicle based mobile laser scanning data for larger scale urban mapping and planning.

Pointools Edit

Pointools Edit is a revolutionary new product allowing the direct editing and manipulation of point clouds in Pointools powerful interface.

Pointools Edit builds on all the features of Pointools View Pro with pointcloud layer based editing and segmentation Erroneous data and obstructions typical of laser scan data can be cleaned easily using the flexible toolkit of Pointools Edit.

Other unique features allow for RGB editing of colour pointclouds with. It’s like using Photoshop for pointclouds.

3D Software

All of Pointools software solutions are low cost solutions and ideal for end users of pointcloud data working in large and small scale infrastructure projects, industrial plant and equipment, mining as well as with aerial and mobile laser scan datasets.

A Primer on 3D Scanning in Forensics, Part 1

By Eugene Liscio, P.Eng

As 3D scanners become more common for capturing and preserving evidence, police, forensic technicians, attorneys, and others involved in the legal industry need to be aware of the applications, benefits, and limitations of how this technology is applied in recording data and subsequently how it can be used to aid in the analysis of evidence and crime scenes. The following article provides an introduction into the ever growing application of 3D scanners in the forensics industry.

The start of any forensic investigation must begin with the collection, review, and analysis of evidence. As a general rule of thumb, the better the quality of evidence, the better the analysis and likelihood of solving the crime. This is why there is a regular stream of new products, equipment, and software to aid the forensic technician in the collection, organization, and analysis of evidence. Many products or technologies are specialized in the collection of evidence while others' sole purpose is to keep evidence organized. However, even fewer technologies can collect, organize, and provide the analysis tools all in one package. This is the main reason why 3D scanning for forensics is an ever growing and useful application of laser based measurement technologies in fighting crimes and reconstructing events.

Often referred to as High Definition Surveying (HDS), 3D scanning became popular in the late 1990s for surveying buildings, terrain, and other architectural features in a very rapid and detailed manner. However, it wasn't long before many in the industry realized that the quick capture of vast amounts of point data was invaluable over the more traditional total stations. 3D Scanners can obtain tens of thousands of point measurements per second, while most total stations capture one measurement every few seconds (at best). Therefore, the time savings and possibilities available with a 3D scanner would be practically impossible with more traditional methods. The end result is that accident and crime scenes can be released in a fraction of the time with more measurements than were ever possible before.

The term "3D Scanners" makes up a broad range of devices and technologies all aimed at taking a large quantity of measurements of an object's surface or environment. The choice and application of 3D scanning often depends on the size of the object (or environment) being scanned along with an understanding of what will be done with the data once it is captured. These two factors often drive the type of technology that can be used to obtain measurements and in some cases, what type of software will be used to edit the data.

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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.

NVision MobileScan Helps Custom Gun Grip Manufacturer Improve Quality

(November 17, 2009) -- A custom gun grip manufacturer has substantially improved the quality of its products by using the MobileScan HD portable 3D laser scanning system from NVision to reverse engineer the original grips. In the past, the manufacturer used a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) to define the geometry of the mounting surface of the grips. But the CMM’s inherent accuracy limitations made it difficult to provide the desired fit and finish. The laser scanner, on the other hand, captures millions of points, making it possible to define the mounting surface to a much higher level of accuracy.

Custom gun grips make it possible for individuals to select the configuration that provides the best handling, pointing and recoil qualities. Custom grips also add a finishing touch that improves the appearance of a gun. Most custom grips are made from woods. Personalized touches, such as monograms or initials, can also be added to the grips.

One of the most important requirements in designing custom grips is defining the geometry of the back side of the grip. It would have been a very difficult and error-prone task to create this geometry by taking manual measurements of either the gun frame or the original grips. For these reasons, the gun grip manufacturer used a CMM to capture points one at a time from the original grip. But with a CMM it was only possible to capture a rough outline of the geometry. A considerable amount of work was required to fine-tune the design and accuracy was well below what was desired.

The grip manufacturer decided to investigate laser scanning and looked at several different scanners. The company selected the MobileScan HD 3D laser scanning system, which provides very high resolution with a point spacing of 0.001” and an accuracy of +/- 0.0005” while collecting measurements at a rate of 30,000 points per second. “The High Definition version of the MobileScan 3D provides a higher accuracy inspection and reverse engineering system than was available in the past,” said Steve Kersen, President of NVision. “Customers no longer need to choose between the speed of a scanner and the accuracy of a CMM.”

The scanner generates a point cloud consisting of the coordinates of individual points. The gun grip manufacturer uses software that comes with the scanner to convert the point cloud to a polygon mesh. Then they use reverse engineering software to convert the polygon data to a surface model. They export the surface model in the IGES or STEP format and import it into their CAD software. The model is then fine-tuned and toolpaths are created for machining.

“This gun grip manufacturer has been able to achieve a competitive advantage by producing grips that fit better and look better,” Kersen concluded. “Many other companies involved in the gun business have also discovered the advantages of laser scanning. For example, Soft Air USA®, Inc has reduced by 4 to 6 weeks the time required to get its licensed replica airsoft guns to market by using NVision’s Engineering Service Division to reverse engineer the real guns.”

For more information, contact NVision, Inc., 440 Wrangler Dr, Suite 200, Coppell, TX 75019. Ph: 972.393.8000, Fax: 972.393.8002. E-mail: sales@nvision3d.com. Visit NVision's Web site at www.nvision3d.com.

About NVision

NVision, Inc. (www.nvision3d.com) was established in 1990 with one goal in mind: to provide customers with the highest accuracy non-contact optical measurement systems and services for Reverse Engineering and Inspection. Focusing our expertise on the aerospace, power generation, and oil/gas industries, NVision provides both contract scanning services and systems sales to companies throughout North America. Our elite team of engineers provides customers with an unmatchable level of experience and is able to advise and assist with the most difficult engineering challenges.

NVision’s clients include industry leaders such as Alstom, Boeing, GE, Lockheed, Lear, NASA, Porsche, Raytheon, Siemens, Toyota, and every branch of the U.S. military.

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/.

Handy Measuring Systems from Measurement Solutions

Portable measuring systems have been available for several years, in particular measuring arms and laser trackers. While these systems have certainly created a requirement within the market, many have not lived up to users’ expectations. In the case of portable arms, accuracy has always been questionable, and the price of laser trackers has made them prohibitive for general purpose applications.

HandyPROBE — the Portable CMM Solution

The all-new HandyPROBE from Creaform is purpose designed to fill the gap between portable measuring arms and laser trackers, yet provide class-leading performance for all types of applications at a cost effective price. The first problem overcome by the system is the issue of portability, as existing 'portable' systems have one major design flaw — they are not actually very portable, and should more accurately be described as 'transportable'. In order to achieve the accuracy quoted by the manufacturer, users must adopt heavy duty stands to provide stability for the measuring system, often requiring two people and a van to move the system between jobs, and in most cases the system ends up mounted to a table, defeating the object of a portable solution.

The HandyPROBE measuring system consists of two elements — the small, lightweight handheld HandyPROBE, plus the high accuracy C-Track camera positioning system. The C-Track uses the latest photogrammetry techniques to accurately track and establish the position and orientation of the HandyPROBE in real-time. The C-Track can be mounted on a simple lightweight tripod or anywhere that it can see the object to be measured, and includes an integrated wireless communication with the HandyPROBE. The whole measuring system is packaged in a single transport case that can be easily be moved around by one person, and fits in the back of a family hatchback car, with setup time achieved in a few minutes — a truly portable solution.

In order to achieve high accuracy in real manufacturing environments, C-Track incorporates a unique dynamic alignment system, whereby the HandyPROBE, C-Track positioning device and the part can be moved at any time. This is achieved through the use of reference markers attached to the part being measured, which means the coordinate reference system is attached directly to the part. Unlike portable arms or laser trackers, where the measuring reference is the measuring device itself, this totally eliminates the need for complex 'leap-frog' calculations and highly stable setups with clamped parts, thereby removing the possibility of human error and massively improving flexibility, efficiency, accuracy, and above all ease-of-use.

The handheld HandyPROBE is a completely arm-free measuring probe, with absolutely no moving parts to completely eliminate the possibility of mechanical wear. As the system provides the user with 100% portability, this guarantees rapid execution of 3D inspection and reverse engineering tasks in all environments, thereby ensuring reliable measurement data. Standard CMM-like stylus configurations, which can be quickly changed without the need for re-calibration, enable users to measure all types of features, including those that would normally be inaccessible due to line of sight or limited reach of an arm. These features, coupled with the intuitive control software, make the system incredibly easy to use, even for unskilled operators.

The HandyPROBE is designed to be used with many different software solutions, depending on the application and user’s requirements. The system is ideally suited for use with the latest Microlog XG and Metrolog XG software for 3D inspection, as these provide a completely seamless solution with full integration of all the measuring functionalities of the HandyPROBE. The software also offers the benefit that it will work with a user’s existing measuring equipment, providing total compatibility between all measuring devices.

HandyScan — the Portable Laser Scanner

Providing a direct complement to the HandyPROBE portable CMM is the hugely successful HandyScan range of 3D laser scanners. The HandyScan line-up is reportedly the world’s first and only self-positioning range of handheld laser scanners, which have completely revolutionised the scanning industry by accelerating and simplifying the scanning and data acquisition process, particularly for design, manufacturing and inspection of all types of parts and assemblies. The range currently includes four scanners according to application requirements, all incorporating the unique self positioning capability that removes the need for additional measuring or tracking devices such as a portable arm, fixed cameras, laser trackers or a CMM. Scanner options include user definable scanning resolutions, full colour and texture scanning, plus high accuracy scanning of large objects such as complete car bodies, train carriages and aircraft structures.

The HandyScan systems are incredibly easy to use, and can be applied to problems as diverse as military aircraft to dinosaur bones, human body scans to automotive designs, and architecture to Playstation games. The surface data provided by the HandyScan is of the highest quality available in portable laser scanning technology, and is presented to the user in a highly usable format in real-time. The VXScan software supplied with every scanner automatically creates triangulated surface data, completely eliminating the need for time consuming data processing of huge and often unmanageable point clouds.

The portability of the HandyScan is second to none, with the whole system fitting into a small carrying case that is suitable as hand luggage on an aircraft. There is no need for heavy stands, power supplies or controllers, making the system highly adaptable and versatile. As the scanner requires no external device, it can be used in extremely confined spaces, making it exceptional for applications such as vehicle interiors. A handy Field Pack even enables the scanner to be used in inaccessible places where power is not possible, such as mine shafts, power pylons, cliff faces, oil platforms, or even in the desert!

To make life even easier, all HandyScan laser scanners can be directly interfaced with many leading inspection and reverse engineering software solutions, according to user requirements. The scanners can also be combined with the HandyPROBE through software such as Microlog XG and Metrolog XG, providing users with a complete and comprehensive, high accuracy probing and scanning combination for complex 3D inspection requirements.

There are now over 1000 HandyScan systems in use throughout the World, with customers including Honda, Renault, BAe Systems, NASA, Toyota, Boeing, Caterpillar, plus many leading universities and institutions. The 1000th unit was recently delivered to London’s Natural History Museum by Measurement Solutions, the UK’s sole distributor of both the HandyScan and the HandyPROBE systems. The colour VIUScan system purchased by the museum will be used to digitally archive a range of artefacts within the Palaeontology Department, and also for creating 3D visualisations for exhibition and marketing purposes. Measurement Solutions have been selling HandyScan solutions since late 2006, and were one of the first resellers worldwide to achieve Platinum status due to their extensive knowledge of scanning and the use of these innovative laser scanners.

Iain Caville, Managing Director and founder of Measurement Solutions, commented, “The HandyScan range of laser scanners enabled us to complement and diversify our already established CMM solutions with completely original and ground-breaking systems. In a short time, we have established ourselves as a leading player in the UK scanning market, thanks totally to the HandyScan range of products”. He concluded, “We are extremely excited to now have the opportunity to re-define the portable CMM market with the new HandyPROBE system, which provides completely new handheld probing capabilities without the need for expensive laser trackers or fixed measuring arms.”

Measurement Solutions have both HandyPROBE and HandyScan systems available for demonstration — being completely portable, on-site demonstrations are also available. Measurement Solutions can also offer contract inspection and scanning services using the systems, plus a whole range of additional measuring devices including fixed bed CMM and high accuracy photogrammetry.

Originally published in TCT Magazine

NVision Scanner Ensures Accuracy of Crash Dummies Used to Check Rollover Performance

(August 6, 2009) -- First Technology Safety Systems, Inc. (FTSS) uses the NVision HandHeld laser scanner to ensure the accuracy of crash dummies, which are crucial in evaluating the performance of side curtain airbags in a rollover. FTSS is the world's leading provider of crash test dummies and computer crash simulation models for automotive, military and aerospace applications.

The need for scanning arose when a mathematical formula was developed to define the geometry of a dummy, which, like many others, was originally based on a physical mold. “Crash dummies have been developed over the years largely as physical molds,” said FTSS Engineer Steve Goldner. “The geometry of the dummy has a major impact on crash test results but it has become essential to convert the original designs to mathematical models in order to enable improvements in manufacturing technology. It also helps avoid damage to the original mold.”

FTSS engineers designed a new dummy based on the mathematical model. Since physical measurement methods could not provide the level of accuracy needed to confirm that the new design matched dummies built from the original mold, they used laser scanning to measure the new dummy. FTSS selected the NVision HandHeld scanner for this task because of its wide-stripe laser, speed, accuracy, and ease of use. The scan data is quickly converted to an STL file, which can be easily compared to a computer aided design (CAD) model.

A key advantage of the HandHeld Scanner is that it is mounted on a mechanical arm so it can move freely around parts of any size. The mechanical arm keeps track of the scanner’s location so all data is collected within the same coordinate system. As FTSS technicians scanned the dummy, the scanner generated a point cloud consisting of the coordinates of individual points. FTSS technicians used integrated software that comes with the scanner to convert the point cloud to an STL polygon mesh. Reverse engineering software then converted the STL data to a surface model. Then they overlaid both the scanned model and the CAD geometry based on the mathematical formula to see how closely they matched.

They used this process to fine-tune the mathematical formulae until they were able to create a new dummy and confirm it exactly reproduced the original mold designs. To date, FTSS has reverse-engineered between 30 and 40 dummies with the NVision HandHeld scanner. This process ensures that current test dummies are consistent with those used in the past, which in turn ensures the accuracy of the crash tests that are used to evaluate automobile safety.

For more information, contact NVision, Inc., 440 Wrangler Dr., Suite 200, Coppell TX 75019. Ph: 972.393.8000, Fax: 972.393.8002. E-mail: sales@nvision3d.com. Visit NVision's Web site at www.nvision3d.com.

Hexagon Metrology Introduces New Leica Total Station at CMSC

Leica TDRA6000 Features Reflectorless 3D Measurement at 300 Meters

North Kingstown, RI – July 27, 2009 - Hexagon Metrology Inc. announced at the Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference (CMSC) in Louisville, Kentucky, the North American debut of the new Leica TDRA6000 Total Station, the most accurate Leica Geosystems total station ever released for industrial use. This Leica Geosystems laser station has the ability to automatically target both reflective tape targets and corner cube reflectors. The unit can also measure without targets. Typical 3D point accuracy at 35 meters is .25mm with reflectors. Reflectorless accuracy is 1mm. The TDRA6000 is optimized for use within 300 meters from the base unit. This product replaces the TDA5005 total station.

Total stations are used for large-scale installation, assembly, measurement, adjustment and alignment applications, such as aerospace tooling, printing presses, process machinery, erection of wind turbine or antenna towers, supercollider arrays, and any application that requires the precision location of components in three-dimensional space.

Leica Geosystems’ proprietary piezo direct drive technology has been incorporated into the Total Station to deliver high speed motorization and acceleration that is up to four times faster than the previous generation, but still allows for submicron level fine positioning. This technology has very low power consumption, requires minimal maintenance, and is nearly silent The unit is now coupled with Leica’s proprietary PowerSearch technology that quickly and automatically locates and locks onto a target, and re-locks onto a target in the event of an interruption in the beam. The TDRA6000 delivers high performance in a compact, portable, battery powered unit.

Measurement data collected with the TDRA6000 can be downloaded via a built-in Bluetooth connection into a metrology software package for further analysis and results reporting. The TDRA600 is immediately available for shipment.

About Hexagon Metrology

Hexagon Metrology is part of the Hexagon AB Group and includes leading metrology brands such as Brown & Sharpe, CE Johansson, CimCore, CogniTens, DEA, Leica Geosystems (Metrology Division), Leitz, m&h, PC-DMIS, QUINDOS, ROMER, Sheffield and TESA. Hexagon Metrology brands represent an unrivaled global installed base of millions of CMMs, portable measuring systems and handheld instruments, and tens of thousands of metrology software licenses. Hexagon Metrology empowers its customers to fully control manufacturing processes that rely on dimensional precision, ensuring that products manufactured precisely conform to the original product design. The company offering of machines, systems and software is complemented by a wide range of product support, aftermarket and value-added services. More information can be found at www.HexagonMetrology.us

Metris custom micro-CT 320kV bay introduced in brand new CT imaging facility in Manchester University

Dinosaur experts will rub shoulders with aircraft designers at a new x-ray imaging facility at the University of Manchester, which was officially opened on June 8th. The Henry Moseley X-ray Imaging Facility recently took delivery of a powerful and highly accurate custom Metris 320kV Micro-CT system. Two Metris systems and other imagers provide academic and industrial users with world-leading characterization and research CT instrumentation.

Providing access to world-class CT instruments

Located at the Materials Science Center at the University of Manchester, the Henry Moseley X‑ray Imaging Facility houses a suite of five computed tomography (CT) systems. These state-of-the-art instruments have been commissioned with support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the North West Development Agency and the University of Manchester. It is an open facility that provides researchers with access to unique world-class instruments for CT, from the millimeter to nanometer length scales.

For the micrometer length scale, the imaging facility opted for a standard Metris XT H computer tomography system equipped with a market-leading micro-focus source and high-definition detector technology. The default source is a proprietary 225kV micro-focus X-ray source with a spot size that is considerably smaller than competitive mini-focus sources, providing image resolution up to 3 micron. The CT system supports both commercial projects and fundamental research involving a wide diversity of materials.

Micro-focus sources yield better CT performance

A second system installed at the Henry Moseley Imaging Facility features a more powerful 320kV micro-focus source to tackle denser or larger specimens, such as heavy engineering items or thick stones or soil samples. A premium 2000x2000 pixel Perkin Elmer flat-panel detector digitizes a field of view of up to 410x410mm, generating highly accurate and pinpoint-sharp X-ray images and 3D CT visualizations.

The entire inspection setup is integrated into a walk-in radiation bay to accommodate larger specimens as well as user-installed equipment. This custom CT instrument is equipped with a fully programmable 5-axis manipulator designed for samples up to 100kg, and an extendible jib crane for heavy sample and/or sample rig handling. This system can also be equipped with a rotating target source offering enhanced cooling of the target. This source generates electron flux that is up to five times higher without risking permanent source damage, providing faster data acquisition and/or higher image accuracy.

A wide range of applications

The Henry Moseley X-ray Imaging Facility will be used by academic and industrial researchers working with a diverse range of samples and objects, including composite, biological, metallurgical, paper, textiles, sports goods, archaeological, paleontological and geological samples. The objects examined may range from micron-sized biological samples to heavy engineering components. Biological events, degradation processes such as corrosion, or crushing of materials can be monitored in a non-invasive way. Imaging equipment is supported by a suite of powerful workstations for the off-line reconstruction and visualization of data. A sample preparation area and office work space is also available.

Prof Phil Withers, founder of the new facility said: “From a series of 2D x-ray images we can construct 3D ‘pictures’. This facility enables us to study how things evolve over time, either naturally or under a range of loads, temperatures or other stimuli. It is bringing together scientists and engineers from many disciplines to see things behave at a level of detail not previously possible.”

Metris’ extensive track record with world-renowned universities, research institutes and museums includes Harvard, NASA, Manchester University, Natural History Museum London, Northwest Composite Research Center, Norwegian Geological Institute, National Research Center Canada, Sandia National Labs, Texas A & M, University of Minnesota, and Warwick University.

ComScan - The Next Generation CMM - Reduces Inspection Times by a Factor of 6

BATAVIA, Ill.--Gaspardo & Associates announces the launch of the ComScan system capable of reducing 3D inspection times by a factor of 5 to 10X. Using a patented semi-spherical gantry, the ComScan system is able to quickly move a 3D scanner and part to be scanned to provide high-speed high resolution automated 3D data collection.

Today, in order to ensure final product quality, many manufacturing plants must inspect the dimensional quality of the components before they go into higher-value assemblies. Dimensional inspection occurs every time a line is restarted or the tooling is changed, and on a sub-sampled set of full production parts. Case studies have shown that on a cylinder head, a CMM can take up to 90 minutes to complete a scan and with the ComScan system this is < 15 minutes.

“The Gaspardo team has designed an excellent product to meet the growing needs of North American manufacturers for 3D scanning automation to better exploit the benefits of white-light scanning technology such as the Steinbichler COMET. The overall package will provide our customers with improved repeatability and less need for user intervention for quality inspection and other critical 3D scanning needs.” Robert Bell, President of Applied Precision, North American Distributor for Steinbichler 3D digitizing systems.

To see this ComScan system in action, come by Gaspardo & Associates’ booth # 706 at CMSC 2009, the Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference, July 21st to 24th in Louisville KY or go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEpZxaVFXxQ.

About Gaspardo & Associates: Since its founding in 1996, Gaspardo & Associates has been offering 3D metrology services to North American manufacturers for high accuracy computer aided measurement, inspection, verification and reverse engineering. After recognizing the potential for automation, Gaspardo and Associates started developing the ComScan system. The ComScan system is destined to impact the CMM market much like CAD systems made the drafting machine obsolete.

About Applied Precision: Established in 1999, Applied Precision is a leading provider of 3D digitizing systems and services for new product development, quality inspection and CAD updating solutions to numerous manufacturing industries across North America. These include automotive, recreational products, aerospace, medical device, power generation and various consumer products manufacturers. Applied Precision Inc. is ISO9001:2000 Certified with a proven commitment to quality in all aspects of its systems & services businesses, including technical support & training programs.

PTB develops micro and nano coordinate measuring instrument for 3D objects

From the motion sensor to the computer chip - in many products of daily life components are used whose functioning is based on smallest structures of the size of thousandths - or even millionths - of millimetres. These micro and nano structures must be manufactured and assembled with the highest precision so that in the end, the overall system will function smoothly. Thereby, details are important - and therefore scientists at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) have developed a metrological scanning probe microscope into a micro and nano coordinate measuring instrument. This now allows dimensional quantities with nanometer resolution also to be measured on three-dimensional objects in an extraordinarily large measurement range of 25 mm x 25 mm x 5 mm. The new device is already extensively being used at PTB - to a large part for calibration orders from industry and research.

The micro probe used in the micro-nano CMM measures the form and the spacing of two reference spheres with diameters of two millimetres each. The figure shows a survey of the system and the proportions of measuring probe and measurement object in detail.

Often, such small dimensions can be grasped only when they are transferred to everyday life. If we assume, for example, that someone lost a cube of sugar within an area of 25 square kilometres - the new micro and nano coordinate measuring instrument would not only be able to find it, but it would also be able to determine its exact position and shape. This does not only apply to plane surfaces, but also to three-dimensional landscapes, for example if the cube of sugar were stuck to a steep wall.

As increasingly, components with structures in the micro- and nanometer range are being used in industry, dimensional metrology on such structures is becoming increasingly important. To meet the increasing requirements for 3D measurements of micro and nano structures, 3D measuring probes newly developed at PTB were incorporated in a metrological scanning probe microscope based on a commercial nano-positioning system with integrated laser displacement sensors of the company SIOS Messtechnik GmbH. The new functionalities given by the measuring probe and the software extend the scanning probe microscope to a metrological micro/nano coordinate measuring machine (CMM) which also allows 3D measurements conforming to standards to be performed on micro and nano structures.

International intercomparisons on step-height standards and lattice structures have shown that the measuring system is worldwide one of the most precise of its kind. For step heights, measurement uncertainties in the subnanometer range - and for measurements of the mean structure spacing on extensive lattice standards even in the range of 10 picometers - have been achieved and confirmed in comparison with optical diffraction measurements.

The new measuring instrument is available for dimensional precision measurements with nm resolution on 3D micro and nano structures such as micro gears, micro balls, hardness indenters and nano lattice standards as well as for comparisons of measures; moreover, it serves as a platform for research and development tasks. It is an important link between nano, micro and macro coordinate metrology.

Source: PTB

With laser scan, Mount Rushmore to get virtual tours

MOUNT RUSHMORE -- Mount Rushmore National Memorial is set to get a three-dimensional digital recording, park officials announced Friday.

Laser scans by a partnership will give the National Park Service the ability to develop a digital model for virtual tours of the memorial and its entire park site, memorial superintendent Gerard Baker said.

"We're going to open it up so the citizens of America and the world can see things they've never seen before," Baker said.

CyArk, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that scans historic cultural sites with the cutting-edge laser technology, will conduct the scanning with the cooperation of several local firms and the Scottish Ministry of Culture. The project will start sometime in late September and wrap up in two weeks.

Wyss Associates in Rapid City and the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology are partners in the scanning effort.

The laser scanning technology has being used to scan and digitally record five historic cultural sites in Scotland, and that country will assist with the scanning of five cultural heritage sites worldwide, starting with Mount Rushmore. The site is one of 500 sites CyArk hopes to scan and preserve a digital record. The company has already digitally preserved two dozen sites around the world, including places in Italy, Egypt, Cambodia and Mexico.

The virtual tours of Mount Rushmore and the surrounding grounds could serve as a way for tourists to view the sites in what Scottish Culture Minister Michael Russell called a "Star-Trekkie" way.

"In those circumstances, you can take some pressure off the places themselves," he said.

The scanning project will provide a three-dimensional digital model capable of re-creating sculpted surfaces with an accuracy of less than 1 centimeter. Both ground and air-based radars will scan the grounds.

"We're hoping we can put the monument and the structures here in the context of the overall park," Ben Kacyra of CyArk said.

The completed scanning data also will be stored in the Hall of Records for posterity and help explain the carving project to future civilizations. The electronic model also could provide guidance, in the event of damage to the sculpture, to replicate carved surfaces.

The Leica Absolute Tracker is now equipped with PowerLock

This vision technology automatically locks onto any moving target without user intervention. Current laser tracker technology requires that the operator pays careful attention that the laser beam between the tracker and the target is not interrupted. Catching the beam requires the operator to find the laser beam, and then physically pass the target through the beam before the tracker can start measuring again. According to some customers this process interruption can account for up to 20% of their total measurement time.

PowerLock prevents from such interruptions. By utilizing a vision system built into the Leica Absolute Tracker the sensor can now determine where a target is without the need for the laser beam to be locked on. The Leica Absolute Tracker locks on to the target automatically as soon as it is within view of the sensor. This allows the operator to focus on the part they need to measure without constantly worrying about the laser tracker and whether or not they have broken the beam. PowerLock works with all standard reflectors and all Leica T-Products.

The PowerLock technology will be released to the market in summer 2009. Any Leica Absolute Tracker purchased from today on will be upgraded to this functionality free of charge at release. All Leica Absolute Trackers in the market will be able to be upgraded to this technology for a small charge in a local Hexagon Metrology service center.

Video: http://metrology.leica-geosystems.com/en/Downloads_6843.htm?cid=6393

Leica Geosystems Metrology Products

Whether building the fastest car, the biggest plane, or the most precise tooling, you need exact measurements to improve quality and productivity. So when it has to be right, professionals trust Leica Geosystems Metrology to help collect, analyze, and present 3-dimensional (3D) data for industrial measurement. Leica Geosystems Metrology is best known for its broad array of control and industrial measurement products including laser trackers, Local Positioning Technology (LPT) based systems, hand-held scanners, 3D software and high-precision total stations. Those who use Leica Geosystems Metrology products every day trust them for their dependability, the value they deliver, and the world-class service & support that’s second to none.

Precision, reliability and service from Leica Geosystems Metrology.

Hexagon Metrology

Hexagon Metrology is part of the Hexagon AB Group and includes leading metrology brands such as Brown & Sharpe, CE Johansson, CimCore, CogniTens, DEA, Leica Geosystems (Metrology Division), Leitz, m&h Inprocess Messtechnik, PC-DMIS, QUINDOS, ROMER, Sheffield, Standard Gage and TESA. Hexagon Metrology brands represent an unrivaled global installed base of millions of Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMMs), portable measuring systems and handheld instruments, and tens of thousands of metrology software licenses. Hexagon Metrology empowers its customers to fully control manufacturing processes that rely on dimensional precision, ensuring that products manufactured precisely conform to the original product design. The company offering of machines, systems and software is complemented by a wide range of product support, aftermarket and value-added services.

Castle bones may belong to knight

Archaeologists believe that bones discovered at Stirling Castle may have belonged to a knight killed in battle or during a siege in the early 1400s.

It is thought that despite the warrior's relatively young age of about 25, he may have suffered several serious wounds from earlier fights.

Researchers thinks it is also possible he may have been living for some time with a large arrowhead in his chest.

The bones were discovered in a chapel at the castle in 1997.

They were excavated when archaeologists were working in an area of the castle which turned out to be the site of a lost medieval royal chapel.

Peter Yeoman, from Historic Scotland, said because the man was buried at the heart of a royal castle, it was indicative he was a person of prestige, possibly a knight.

"His legs were formed in a way that was consistent with spending a lot of time on horseback"

Peter Yeoman
Historic Scotland

Some research was carried out on the skeleton at the time of its discovery, but a lack of technology meant it was difficult to assess the remains in more detail.

Since then scientists have been able to perform laser scanning which revealed the wounds.

Bone regrowth around a dent in the front of the skull suggested the man had recovered from a severe blow, possibly from an axe.

The warrior had also lost a number of teeth - perhaps from a blow, or a fall from a horse.

The fatal wound, however, occurred when something, possibly a sword, sliced through his nose and jaw.

Mr Yeoman said: "We know little about this burial area but the evidence suggests it was sometimes used during extreme circumstances, for example to bury the dead during a siege.


The body was buried at the heart of the royal castle
"However, by using modern analysis techniques we have started to discover quite remarkable information about this man.

"It appears he died in his mid-20s after a short and violent life.

"His legs were formed in a way that was consistent with spending a lot of time on horseback, and the upper body points to someone who was well-muscled, perhaps due to extensive training with medieval weapons."

A large, tanged arrowhead was found in skeleton and appears to have struck through the back or under the arm.

Crystalised matter attached to the arrowhead may have been from flies or other insect larvae and could have been from clothing the arrow forced into the wound.

Gordon Ewart, of Kirkdale Archaeology, who carried out the excavation and some of the research for Historic Scotland, said: "This is a remarkable and important set of discoveries.

"There were a series of wounds, including a dent in the skull from a sword or axe, where bone had regrown, showing that he had recovered.

"At first we had thought the arrow wound had been fatal but it now seems he had survived it and may have had his chest bound up."

War hammer

Little is known about who the man was or where he came from.

Further study is planned on tooth enamel and bone samples which may shed light on his origins.

His body appeared to have been buried in the same grave as a small boy of one to three years old.

Archaeologists cannot be certain that the two were linked but radiocarbon dating suggests both date from the early 15th Century, and there was no evidence of one grave having been cut through the other.

They were part of a group of 12 skeletons, some highly fragmentary, which were discovered.

Among them was a female, probably buried some time in the 13th Century, who had two neat, square holes through her skull which were consistent with blows from a war hammer.

Laser 3D Scanning Technology Widely Used for Military Defense Contract Inspection

From the Space Shuttle to high tech military jets, 3D laser scanning inspection has reached every level of military defense contract inspection. A few years ago, laser technology was instituted to scan the Space Shuttle for potential errors and flaws, allowing difficult-to-inspect areas to be accurately measured and compiled for analysis.

Since then, 3D laser scanning technology has been implemented in all levels of military defense inspection, allowing accurate measurements in a 3 dimensional form that eliminates all guess work by presenting the data as it is accurately depicted. This allows equipment, parts and tools to be accurately measured and compared to as-designed CAD models, allowing flaws to be instantly identified so they can be repaired.

The accuracy and precision that military technology requires demands that the laser scanning and contract inspection company be ITAR certified. Without that certification, there’s no guarantee the inspection will meet the rigorous demands of military applications. (This was the paragraph added to put in the requirements they wanted)

When implemented for contract inspection, laser technology improves the safety, reliability, and useful life of high valued equipment where lives may indeed be at stake. It provides the accurate data necessary in the field of defense, leaving no room for guess work by projecting data that accurately fits the status of the equipment being scanned.

What’s ideal about the new developments in 3d laser scanning technology is its increasing portability, allowing the equipment to be taken anywhere so that equipment can be checked in the field. Installments of any size can be scanned, from a Humvee to a fighter jet, right there in the field. This allows for the kind of detailed-specific quality inspection that’s so essential when lives are at stake.

Laser scanning scans the equipment as is, not just how it’s designed to be. This helps identify flaws to be fixed before they become a problem where lives are put on the line.

Laser technology can even be used to accurately access the hulls of ships while still in the water, no matter how big. Ship hulls can involve complicated geometric shapes, especially when they involve the complexity and scope of military design. 3D laser scanning produces an exact model of the ship’s hull while still in the water, identifying any flaws or weakness for potential repair.

The safety an accuracy of military infrastructure has been greatly improved through the development of laser technology when used for product inspection, improving the safety of the equipment as well as the lives of the personnel who operate them.