As 3D Scanning becomes more prevalent in industry for such things as Reverse Engineering. Little is mentioned regarding how it can be used in damage assessment.
Sectors such as Aerospace, Oil & Gas, & Even NASA, utilise 3D Scanning as part of their non destructive analysis of components. This has become part of their major arsenal for testing to ensure components can withstand a range of scenarios in the field without failure.
The aerospace industry such as Boeing utilises 3D Scanning as part of its maintenance repair & overhaul (MRO) strategy.
Scanning a component or area that has been subjected to some form of unexpected damage while in service can assist MRO Engineers in validating whether the component such as panel surface damage is within the acceptable criteria for continued use, repair or replacement, allowing Maintenance Engineers to get an aircraft back into service with reduced down time.
3D Scanning can also be used as part of the component design process. FEA is the industry standard for critical components but 3D Scanning can be used alongside FEA for verification.
There are such a broad range of areas where 3D Scanning can be adopted to support industry. The question is, are you one of those businesses capitalising on the benefits?
Images below show hail-storm damage experienced in flight.
