When scanning any object or environment, laser 3D scanners are most accurate, often capturing objects down to the micron level. Industrial precision laser 3D scanners can reach up to 0.01 mm accuracies, suitable for use cases that need very fine measurements. For instance, a leading 3D scanner, the Artec Ray, can achieve precision of up to 0.1 mm with a range of up to 110 meters — perfect for capturing large-scale details of architectural structures and large pieces of machinery.
Here are some of that affects the accuracy of laser 3D Scanner: ScanLab’s 2020 report suggested that laser scanners used in controlled environments have an accuracy rate of 0.05 mm, while in open or dynamic environments, the accuracy could offset by 1 mm, depending on ambient light, surface reflectivity, and texture of the object being scanned. The above demonstrates how, although laser scanners can be very accurate, their performance may be affected by some conditions in the setup.
The laser 3D scanners are commonly used across a wide range of industries, including architecture, construction, and even in manufacturing and automobile designing as well. For example, companies such as Tesla or BMW depend on laser scanning systems to design and manufacture parts with exact specifications in the automotive sector. Scans produced by laser scanner like Phasemetrics M3100 used in these fields can record minute details of a component, reducing that is needed to develop a prototype or design by almost 30%.
In addition, because of the laser scanning technology development, we become more accurate [6] and efficient [7]. The emergence of multi-laser systems and the application of sophisticated software algorithms in data processing have drastically decreased the time taken for scanning, while simultaneously improving the quality of the resulting 3D models. Demonstrated in 2021, the Revopoint POP 3D scanner that employs both laser triangulation and structured light was shown to deliver highly detailed models, accurate to 0.1 mm — making it a viable option in precision industries including jewelry design and reverse engineering.
In 3D scanning, “accuracy is everything,” says Dr. Tony Meissner, a professor of engineering at Stanford University. “Better accuracy means the data can be relied on for downstream applications, whether that be quality control or simulation or design.” This outlines the long-term reasons as to why, as it pertains to industries where precision is critical, laser 3D scanners have proven to be indispensable tools.
If you need a reliable and accurate solution to transform various physical objects into digital models, I recommend investing in a 3d scanner, as this will give you the best performance and time-saving option available. From massive infrastructure projects to sophisticated product design, laser 3d scanner are still the gold standard for field accuracy.