Can anyone recommend a laser scanning service for small parts to the 
home hobbyist (ie cheap) in the UK???

On 17 Jul, 17:04, Bulldog <"Percussion Engineer"> wrote:
> Can anyone recommend a laser scanning service for small parts to the
> home hobbyist (ie cheap) in the UK???

No, but I can recommend an expensive service for scanning major plant.

This is an emerging area I am interested in, and I realised the other
day that a really rich modeller would be able to make most existing
things at any scale by a) Laser scanning the subject (a steam engine,
your beloved, or even the missus) b) Using the so-called 3D printing
to make a physical prototype at any desired scale, c) Making a
silicone rubber mould, d) using the mould to make a wax replica, and
finally e) Investment casting the finished object.

Armed with that lot you could scale model almost anything and in quite
impressive detail, sadly my personal budget will not stretch to such
exotic techniques, and my work only involves big-scale petrochemical
plant.

Steve

Cheshire Steve wrote:
> 
> No, but I can recommend an expensive service for scanning major plant.
> 
> This is an emerging area I am interested in, and I realised the other
> day that a really rich modeller would be able to make most existing
> things at any scale by a) Laser scanning the subject (a steam engine,
> your beloved, or even the missus) b) Using the so-called 3D printing
> to make a physical prototype at any desired scale, c) Making a
> silicone rubber mould, d) using the mould to make a wax replica, and
> finally e) Investment casting the finished object.
> 
> Armed with that lot you could scale model almost anything and in quite
> impressive detail, sadly my personal budget will not stretch to such
> exotic techniques, and my work only involves big-scale petrochemical
> plant.
> 
> Steve

I've seen the results of that type of scanner. At the scene of a faked 
RTA a traffic cop set up a device on a tripod, after a few minutes 
moving it to a 2nd then a 3rd location. It created a 3d image of the 
entire scene showing the exact positions of all the vehicles involved 
which he was able to rotate & view from differant points.

I think what I'm looking for is someone with a NextEngine type scanner 
that is happy to do odd jobs.

On 20 Jul, 12:51, Bulldog <"Percussion Engineer"> wrote:
> Cheshire Steve wrote:
>
> > No, but I can recommend an expensive service for scanning major plant.
>
> > This is an emerging area I am interested in, and I realised the other
> > day that a really rich modeller would be able to make most existing
> > things at any scale by a) Laser scanning the subject (a steam engine,
> > your beloved, or even the missus) b) Using the so-called 3D printing
> > to make a physical prototype at any desired scale, c) Making a
> > silicone rubber mould, d) using the mould to make a wax replica, and
> > finally e) Investment casting the finished object.
>
> > Armed with that lot you could scale model almost anything and in quite
> > impressive detail, sadly my personal budget will not stretch to such
> > exotic techniques, and my work only involves big-scale petrochemical
> > plant.
>
> > Steve
>
> I've seen the results of that type of scanner. At the scene of a faked
> RTA a traffic cop set up a device on a tripod, after a few minutes
> moving it to a 2nd then a 3rd location. It created a 3d image of the
> entire scene showing the exact positions of all the vehicles involved
> which he was able to rotate & view from differant points.
>
> I think what I'm looking for is someone with a NextEngine type scanner
> that is happy to do odd jobs.

Good point - I want to use the same technology to scan ladies before
they go flabby. Though I am probably a bit late in life - but maybe I
can market the idea to younger people and be involved in quality
control.

One problem is registering the scans from different positions, so I
expect the copper will have inserted balls (spheres) in various
locations. These are identical when scanned from any angle, so allow
you to lock scans from different locations together without needing to
survey the location of the scanner.

Steve

Cheshire Steve wrote:
>>
>> I think what I'm looking for is someone with a NextEngine type scanner
>> that is happy to do odd jobs.
> 
> Good point - I want to use the same technology to scan ladies before
> they go flabby. Though I am probably a bit late in life - but maybe I
> can market the idea to younger people and be involved in quality
> control.

Funnily enuff, when researching laser scanning thru Google I came across 
a sculptor with a huge 10'+ 4 axis CNC mill. Scans a person, touches it 
up a little, converts it to CNC GCode then his 4 axis mills it out of 
some kind of foam . . . et voila' a pattern for a cast statue within a 
couple of days.

I reckon there are enuff vain & wealthy people around to earn good money 
from that !

> 
> One problem is registering the scans from different positions, so I
> expect the copper will have inserted balls (spheres) in various
> locations. These are identical when scanned from any angle, so allow
> you to lock scans from different locations together without needing to
> survey the location of the scanner.
> 
> Steve

I remember a lot of lime green squares, like cats eyes dotted about the 
scene but the merging of the scans seemed to be automatically done by 
the software.

"Bulldog" <"Percussion Engineer"> wrote in message 
news:veidnZxvyNw38OLVnZ2dnUVZ8sXinZ2d@posted.plusnet...
> Can anyone recommend a laser scanning service for small parts to the home 
> hobbyist (ie cheap) in the UK???

Not personally, however a flyer happened to cross my desk today from this 
company http://www.metris.com/ which may be able to help identify a company 
close to you which might help? They supply laser digitisers to industry. It 
could be worth a call depending on how desperate you are. I am in no way 
involved with this company, I happen to work with co-ordinate measuring 
machines working for BAE Systems and receive several flyers each week from 
various companies trying to sell upgrades/new machines.

Andy

Depends what you want scanning.  I can scan objects in 2.5D using a 
Roland machine, but it uses a probe to scan with.  Been fine for the 
work I do. Items upto 200mm x 150mm x 60mm, also rotary scanning upto 
60mm diameter and 150mm long.


                 Joules