What Are the Usage Methods of a Smart Laser Scanner?

A laser scanner is an instrument that uses scanning technology to measure the size and shape of workpieces. A smart laser scanner must use a stable and accurate rotating motor. When the beam hits the multi-faceted reflector driven by the motor, it forms a scanning beam.

Understanding the smart laser scanner

The smart laser scanner is an advanced technology that utilizes laser galvo systems to capture high-resolution data on the geometric features of a target object. The scanning process involves positioning the galvo scan head to direct and control the laser beam's movement across the object to acquire a range of data points. These data points are then used to generate a 3D image of the object, which can be analyzed and manipulated using specialized software programs.

Since the multi-faceted reflector is located on the focal plane of the scanning lens, and rotates evenly, the incident angle of the laser beam to the reflector changes continuously, and the reflection angle also changes continuously. Through the action of the scanning lens, a parallel and continuous scanning line from top to bottom is formed.

Since the scanning system uses time as a calculation baseline, it is also called the time method. It is a highly accurate, fast and easy-to-operate instrument that can be installed on a production line to form an instrument for production and inspection. The basic structure of the smart laser scanner includes a laser light source and scanner, a light-receiving (detecting) device, and a control unit. The laser light source is a sealed type, which is less affected by the environment and easy to form a beam. It often uses low-power visible laser, such as helium-neon laser, semiconductor laser, etc., while the scanner is a rotating multi-faceted reflector or double-sided mirror. When the beam enters the scanner, it quickly rotates to reflect the laser beam into a scanning beam.

During the beam scanning process, if there is a workpiece blocking the light, the diameter size can be measured. Before measurement, two known-size gauges must be used for calibration. Then, if all measurement sizes are between these two gauges, the desired measurement size can be obtained after electronic signal processing. Therefore, it is also called laser gauge.

How to use the smart laser scanner?

Using a smart laser scanner involves several critical steps to ensure accurate and precise scanning of the target object. The first step is selecting the appropriate scan heads or laser galvo system suitable for the task, considering factors such as the material properties, accuracy requirements, and scanning speed. Once the scan head is selected, the next step involves configuring the scanning parameters, such as the resolution, speed, and scanning area, using specialized software that communicates with the scan head. After configuring the scanning parameters, the scanner is ready for use, and the target object is placed in the scanning area. The software then initiates the scanning process, utilizing the scan heads to move the laser beam over the target object, acquiring data points that represent the object's geometric features. 

In the use of the laser scanning system, how to solve the corresponding problem, that is, how to determine that the two image points in the left and right images are formed by the same point on the object surface, is the main concern. Currently, the correlation technology based on rectangular windows is mostly used to solve this problem, but it has the disadvantages of high algorithm complexity, long time and high mismatch rate.

The smart laser scanner can be used to detect and analyze the three-dimensional shape of objects in the real world. It is widely used in industrial design, reverse engineering, robot navigation, medical inspections, criminal identification, cultural relic protection, film production, game creation and many other fields. Laser scanning technology is also known as reality replication technology and is a technological revolution in the mapping field after GPS technology. It breaks through the traditional single-point measurement method and has the unique advantages of high efficiency and high accuracy. 3D laser scanning technology can provide three-dimensional point cloud data for scanning object surfaces, so it can be used to obtain high-precision, high-resolution digital terrain models.