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3D Scanner Requirements in the Foundry

Hot casting is used in the foundry

Different 3D scanners have varying features. Depending on the industry and project, you have different requirements for your device.

As the quality engineer of your foundry, you plan to install a suitable 3D scanner for inspection of your sand casting tools tools. Your goal is to prevent defects in time. Optimally, you work at the same time more efficiently and save costs.

What should you consider before choosing a scanner for your foundry?

The Most Important Features When Choosing a 3D Scanner

1. Installation and Teach-in Time Using the Example of Artec3D

An important point in the 3D scanner choice is the user-friendliness. The user experience plays a crucial role, allowing you to easily set up the device, install the operating software and synchronize it with the scanner.

With 3D scanners from, for example, Artec3D, you need intensive training or help from scanning experts. The installation and setup of an Artec3D scanner takes up to 3 days, each with 8 hours of training. The course itself costs your group about €1,800.

You save time and money if you buy an easy-to-use 3D scanner. With an intuitive device, you can start scanning right away - even without prior experience.

Additionally, it's easier to get your colleagues excited about a user-friendly device. Wouldn't it be more pleasant if every mechanic or employee could scan the tools without training?

2. Pre-Treatment

Besides user-friendliness, pre-treatment is the next time-eater in 3D scanning. With most devices on the market you scan glossy materials laboriously and only with tools like chalk spray.

Pre-treating your shiny casting tools with chalk spray is time-consuming and contaminates your tools. Since about 60% of the materials in foundries are reflective, pre-treatment becomes a crucial point in your choice of scanner.

Alternatively, you spend 15 minutes applying stickers to your object before scanning. A 3D scanner that scans all materials without pre-treatment is much more time-efficient.

3. Post-Processing

The most common 3D scanners on the market sometimes provide you with incomplete 3D models, which means that there are holes in the data. This lowers the quality of the 3D data and requires you to manually re-measure important areas and re-process the point clouds.

In doing so, you clean the point clouds and then create the meshes so that you can successfully recirculate the surfaces. Post-processing takes up to 2 days on average. To save time, it is therefore important to choose a scanner that captures the materials as completely as possible.

4. Limited Mobility of Stationary 3D Scanners

With heavy tools, your time expenditure increases further with stationary 3D scanners. It takes up to 4 hours to disassemble and assemble your scan object, transport it twice, and then scan it.

Transportation is not the only obstacle: some parts of the object are generally difficult to reach because there is little space. Sometimes the cables of semi-stationary 3D scanners are too short, even if the locations are easy to reach. 

What you need is a truly mobile scanner.

5. Budget

Professional 3D scanners are in the upper price range. To avoid surprises, be aware of the follow-up costs for training or post-processing software before you buy.

Due to this professional training and software, the price is often well over €14,000 - scanner included. Especially when you need high precision accuracy and resolution, you often dig deeper into your pocket. However, there are also 3D scanners that are significantly more affordable with a similar tech package.

How do you find the perfect device that meets your needs and has a reasonable price at the same time?

Efficient Scanning in the Foundry - Your Solution

3D model of a hot water bottle casting on a laptop computer

With the right 3D scanner you increase the process efficiency in your foundry. You will not only save costs, but also time and effort.

Many new providers are entering the market. If you're short on time, the next section provides you with a summary table of the most important criteria.

The table shows, among other things, how much time you spend scanning with a market-leading scanner and the revolutionary Scoobe3D Precision. More details on the individual points can be found directly after the table.

Time and Price Characteristics - Artec Eva vs. Scoobe3D Precision

 Artec EvaScoobe3D Precision
Learning Time3 days

10 min

Pre-treatment15 min0 min
Scanning1 h +15 min
Post-processing2 days0 min
Transport of the object/ 3D scanner4 h5 min
Price14.000+ € 4.494 €

Increased Mobility

You can overcome the limited mobility of stationary scanners in no time at all with a portable 3D scanner - the Scoobe3D Precision. Its smartphone format makes it handy, lightweight and it fits comfortably in your pocket. Scan far away from power sources thanks to the integrated rechargeable battery.

Save up to 4 hours of work time and use the Scoobe3D Precision anywhere in your foundry. You transport the scanner within 5 minutes directly to your sand casting tool - and not the other way around.

Installation and Learning Time of the Scoobe3D Precision

The Scoobe3D Precision is easy to use, making 3D scanning even easier. There is no need for days of installation and setup. You learn in only 10 minutes how to use the portable 3D scanner and get started right away.

You get convenient step-by-step scanning instructions right on the screen from the built-in scanning app. It guides you through the 15-minute scanning process to your 3D model with high resolution resolution and accuracy. These fit perfectly with the qualitative inspection of your casting tools.

Scanning without Pre-Treatment

What good is accuracy if the scanner only scans matte surfaces? The Scoobe3D Precision scans both matte and reflective surfaces of your tools - without pre-treatment.

This enables you to use photogrammetry, time-of-flight technology and polarization in combination - the Polarox technology. You get complete 3D models, with which you can reliably check your sand casting tools once a week.

By eliminating the need for pre-treatment, you save about 15 minutes on each scan and increase the efficiency of your work.

No Post-Processing Necessary

You get significantly cleaner point clouds with the Scoobe3D Precision than with common 3D scanners on the market.

The scanner already does 75% of the work for you. Say goodbye to tedious rework and get 3D information - even from molds with hard-to-reach areas.

Affordable 3D Scanning - Scoobe3D Precision

Good news: there are professional 3D scanners for your sand casting tools that won't cost you a fortune and still give you advantages such as high accuracy and resolution.

For the half the price of most other professional 3D scanners on the market, the Scoobe3D Precision gives you a comprehensive tech package and an accuracy and resolution of up to 0.1 mm. You reliably check the wear and deviation of your tools and save money in the process.

Conclusion

One person looks at a checklist on the laptop

With a professional 3D scanner, you determine the wear of your sand casting tools at an early stage through the weekly inspection. You'll know exactly when you need to replace your sand casting mold, for example.

However, the right 3D scanner not only supports you in quality assurance. Read the blog to find out in which foundry areas a scanner makes your life easier.

The cover picture to our scanner comparison, in which more than 30 different scanners are compared.
The title page for the scanner comparison with the inscription "the 31 best 3D scanner

FREE TABLE

The 37 best 3D scanners

Find the common 3D scanners at a glance with their respective core features. So you can evaluate 3D scanners before buying. Compare and find the right 3D scanner for you and your applications.

Note: All information in the above article has been given to the best of my knowledge and belief. However, no guarantee or liability for the correctness or topicality of the data can be assumed. Additional information can be found on the respective websites of the manufacturers.

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