joby-aviation

3D Scanning in 
Aerospace & Aviation

The aerospace industry is one of the most critical and demanding industries in the world. It requires intensive planning, development, testing, and manufacturing processes to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.

The use of 3D scanning can help to improve these processes by providing a more accurate and complete view of the aircraft or component under development. With this information, manufacturers can catch errors and correct them before they cause problems in the real world. In addition, using 3D scanning for reverse engineering can help to recreate legacy parts or create new ones.

Explore some common applications

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Inspection of Engine Parts

The failure of a critical engine part can result in catastrophic and often fatal consequences. For this reason, aviation engine parts are subject to rigorous inspection procedures prior to each and every flight. In order to ensure that these parts meet the required safety standards, inspectors must have a comprehensive understanding of the many different components that make up an aircraft engine. 3D scanners allow thorough inspection of engine parts throughout their entire life cycle.
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Inspection of Aircraft Wings

Aircraft wings are a framework made up of spars and ribs and covered with metal. They are designed to be aerodynamic. When an airplane is in flight, the pressure on the top and bottom of the wings are different. It makes the aircraft wings subject to risks of deformation. The deformation of in-flight wings can significantly impact the aerodynamic performance of an aircraft, which can not be inspected and qualified intuitively. 3D scanners can obtain accurate parameters like width, length, and depth of the defect for accurate inspection.
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Fuselage Measurements

The fuselage shape plays a critical role in the jet’s aerodynamics, affecting everything from fuel efficiency to stability in flight. In order to ensure that the jet meets all safety and performance requirements, engineers must perform accurate measurements of the fuselage during every stage of development. 3D scanners provide reliable and cost-effective 3D digital solutions to obtain fuselage data. 
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Product Development

Understanding future aircraft is the first step to developing a new airplane, drone or rocket. Generally, design ideas are presented in hand-drawn sketches that are converted into 3D models. With 3D scanners, engineers can easily and quickly acquire 3D data of workpieces to build a 3D model ready for further design.
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Reverse Engineering

Reverse engineering is the process of measuring a product and reconstructing it as a 3D model for product design when there is no original drawing available. Engineers can then analyze, learn how the object works, and recreate it or improve it with added enhancement. With the help of 3D scanners, you can easily create high-precision 3D models for reverse engineering.
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3D Scant-to-Print

Typically, 3D modeling software is used for creating 3D models for printing. It requires professional 3D modelers to conduct the time-consuming and expensive works. However, with 3D scanning product designers and engineers can scan both small and large objects to create precise and printable 3D models.

Popular 3D scanners used by 
specialists in the industry

Artec

Scantech

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Artec Ray

A long-range laser scanner for capturing large objects, such as airplanes, wind turbines, rooms, or buildings with high precision and minimum noise. Each scan has a spherical range of up to 110 Meters radius.
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Artec Leo

Our fastest professional handheld 3D scanner. Encompassing the latest technologies in data capture, transfer, and processing, this untethered 3D solution puts you in control with the freedom to scan anywhere.
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Scantech Trackscan-P42

This system uses intelligent optical tracking measurement technology and high-quality optical equipment to carry out ultra-high precision dynamic 3D measurement without markers.
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Scantech KSCAN-Magic

Uses infrared laser and blue laser technology with five standard working modes to deliver unparalleled scanning speed, accuracy, detail, scanning area, and depth of field.
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Scantech SIMSCAN

Hand-sized, portable 3D scanner. Ideal for scanning narrow spaced or under large objects.