3D Profile Digitizer

Abstract

Quality Control is one of the most important stages of a manufacturing process in which the manufactured goods are typically compared to a reference for matching its dimensions, texture, color and other features. Traditional quality inspection techniques involve use of a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM).This requires contact with the object under inspection. As it is compulsory for the object to come in direct contact with CMM, it is therefore unsuitable for delicate, complex and freeform shaped objects. Moreover techniques involving CMM are slow (frequency is few hundred Hz) and may modify or damage the object being tested. These techniques also do not provide information about color and texture of object which may be an important aspect in quality control. We have developed a quality inspection tool which is much faster (frequency greater than 1 kHz) and contactless. Using 3D laser scanning, laser triangulation and image processing a Color mapped 3D model of an object can be created. Accompanied with it is a cross platform application with an intuitive GUI, which will enable 3D model extraction, with accuracy approaching 99%, for fast computerized analysis without harming the object. 3D laser scanning can also be used in production of custom braces, prosthetics, game development, conservation of historical artifacts etc.