In Western Canada, we know a thing or two about heavy equipment. We manufacture, use, and modify heavy equipment for all kinds of mining, construction, oil and gas and agricultural applications. So how can we make the process of designing this important equipment even better, to improve quality and fitment from the start?
3D scanning is the answer!
Finding the Right Solution
First of all, how big is the equipment or range of size of parts? This is an important first question so that Rapid3D can recommend or select the appropriate 3D scanning equipment for the job. Is the equipment normally indoors in a shop, or is it going to need to be scanned in the yard or on the work site? Once we know the size range we can start narrowing solutions down.
The next question we normally ask is what accuracy is required for the project. For example, if you are designing attachments that need to use existing attachment points your tolerances may be tighter than if you are doing a bucket liner or a railing kit.
The next question we like to ask is what CAD system you are currently using. We need to know this so that we can match you up to scan-to-CAD design software that is compatible with your existing 3D CAD and manufacturing software, but makes working with the scan data easy.
Once we have all of that information we can start narrowing down what solutions may be the best fit.
Configuration of Solutions
Since the introduction of the Creaform HandySCAN MAX and HandySCAN MAX | Elite, we are finding that this 3D scanner, combined with either VXmodel or Geomagic Design X, is almost always on the demo list. We will do our best to narrow the options down to one recommendation but we find that most customers want to see more than one solution. In the case of attachments, excavator buckets, truck chassis etc, the MAX, MAX Elite or the new HandySCAN BLACK+ Elite, with the bigger field of view, are great options.
If we get into much larger equipment, such as some of the very large equipment we see up north in the Oil Sands, we may be looking at a very high accuracy, high data quality hemispherical scanner such as the Surphaser 100 HSX IR.
It is very rare that we would make a final recommendation without doing a proof of concept or an in-depth demonstration on our customers’ specific workflow. The real pivotal moment is being able to demonstrate the full workflow to successful completion using the real parts from our customer and recommended 3D scanning equipment and software. This is critical to ensuring a successful implementation and return on investment.
Why Rapid3D
Rapid3D are experts in this process and love working with our customers to understand their applications, identify the right solution and demonstrate the full workflow. Many times, we can use this upfront work as the basis for training and implementation of the actual workflow. We train all of our customers on their equipment and software, but also on their application - so you can hit the ground running at top-speed, using your equipment to its full potential as soon as possible.
The other benefit to this process is that we offer ongoing support if questions or situations come up where you need some help. Our team of engineers and engineering technologists are working with 3D scan data all day, every day. We know how to use what we sell.
Next Steps
If this process sounds like something that you are interested in exploring, give us a call at 587-352-0221 today or send us an email at 3dinfo@rapid3d.ca. If you reference “Heavy Equipment Packages,” we will know where to begin so that we can find you a solution where your parts will fit right the first time.
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