Why Investing in 3D Scanning Technology Might Be Your Best Decision In A Recession

Published on November 10, 2022. Written by: Pauline Tang

3d scanning

Let’s face it. Whether you agree or disagree that we’re in a recession, the consensus is that the economy isn’t faring too well this year. During these economic downturns, it’s normal to feel the need to shift gears by cutting budgets to reduce costs.

However, instead of pumping the brakes for short-term monetary relief, now is the best time to invest in technology—specifically, 3D scanning.

This thought sounds counter-intuitive at first, but please hear us out.

3D Scanning Technology

Cost vs Benefit

That’s because the benefits of implementing professional 3D scanners and 3D scanning software—including the cost savings—can tremendously outweigh the cost you spend on the technology.

3D scanners offer tangible benefits that will help your business come out on top despite the current economic challenges.

At A Glance: Benefits of 3D Scanning
  • Drive Operational Efficiency
    Drive Operational Efficiency
  • Make Better Decisions
    Make Better Decisions
  • Cut Down Time
    Cut Down Time
  • Reducing costs
    Save Money By Reducing Costs
  • Competitive Edge
    Gain A Competitive Edge

Why Invest in 3D Scanning?

Traditional methods of using manual or contact-based measurement tools are often time-consuming and complicated to use. In contrast, 3D scanners are non-contact measurement systems that can quickly capture a physical object in digital form.

3D scanning a wheel with the Artec Eva. Interact with the 3D model on Sketchfab →

The output of a 3D scanner is a highly detailed digital replica of a physical object which contains millions of 3D surface measurement points with submillimeter accuracy.

3D Scanner Output
(File Formats)
3D mesh formats
OBJ, PLY, WRL, STL, AOP, ASC, PTX, E57, XYZRGB
CAD formats
STEP, IGES, X_T
Formats for measurements
CSV, DXF, XML

The 3D models are proven valuable in various applications such as reverse engineering, quality inspection, CGI, medical, AR/VR, heritage preservation, digital archiving, 3D visualization, scientific research, forensics, and more.

Artec 3D scanners

< 2 Hours For Training

The misconception is that 3D scanners are difficult to use. Handheld 3D scanners operate similarly to a video camera; they capture objects in 3D with continuous scanning. They are easy to use with some training—even for beginners.


A Deeper Look at the Benefits of 3D Scanning

It’s easy to get comfortable with the conventional ways of doing business. However, it might no longer make financial sense to keep doing things the same way if it’s not working in this ever-changing business landscape. Instead of becoming obsolete, stand out from your competitors by using 3D scanning to become market leaders that drive innovation.

Here is a more detailed look at the advantages of implementing 3D scanning technology into your business.

  1. Streamline Processes

    Doing tedious work by hand can be modernized by doing it digitally with the help of 3D scanning. Implementing 3D scanners into your operations can streamline workflows and reduce bottlenecks, resulting in huge time savings while slashing costs. Do it better and faster!

    “3D scanning saves us about $2,000 in labor cost per project by eliminating the need to create the mold in-house. There’s no shipping cost involved and it saves us time. It’s cheaper and more convenient for us to pay the foundry to do it than doing it ourselves.”

    Bio Picture Jamie Lester Bronze Sculptor Vandalia Bronze
  2. Make Better Decisions

    Artec Micro in action
    The Artec Micro is a metrology-grade 3D scanner that scans at up to 10 microns (0.01 mm) accuracy.

    3D scanners are exponentially faster at extracting measurements than contact-based measurement tools. You can even measure organic objects. What’s special is their ability to capture large amounts of data accurately in a short time.

    3D scanning technology empowers us to solve complex measurement problems in a simple way.

    Due to measurement repeatability, you can get data you can trust in order to make informed and confident decisions—eliminating guesswork and uncertainties. Measure with confidence with 3D scanning and make decisions knowing you made the right choice.

  3. Design Better Products and Get Them Faster To Market

    What if you can design better products with faster lead times?

    3d scanning to parametric CAD model

    Imagine how much easier it would be if you used a 3D scanner to capture physical parts and use the 3D scan data as a reference for building a new parametric CAD model. You would get a head start instead of designing from a blank slate. The 3D model has all the surface measurements you need to reverse engineer the part. It would accelerate the time your products get to market while getting costs and time savings.

  4. Gain a Competitive Edge in Manufacturing

    With 3D scanning, you can automate your quality inspection processes rather than doing it manually to permanently reduce costs. By identifying defects out of tolerance during the manufacturing process, your company produces higher-quality manufactured goods that attract and win over customers.

    3D scanning gives you the intel to learn how to use raw materials most efficiently, reducing waste and saving on material costs. You can also accurately pinpoint the root causes of manufacturing errors from scanning molds, toolings, and defective products. Fix the problem fast to minimize downtimes.

  5. 3D Visualization at Your Fingertips

    Professional 3D scanners capture 3D models of real-world objects with amazing accuracy, detail, and true likeness to the original.

    This crank housing 3D model has all the surface measurement points to recreate the part for production if CAD drawings are no longer accessible.

    By uploading models to online platforms like Sketchfab, objects in a physical location can now be shared online with anyone, making them more accessible than ever before. With the ability to capture objects in 3D, creating a library of digital archives for documentation is no longer difficult.

  6. 3D Printing For Rapid Prototyping

    3D printing

    3D scanning complements well with 3D printing applications. Parts captured with a 3D scanner can be output into a watertight STL for 3D printing. It’s great for rapid prototyping applications where you can do it in-house rather than outsourcing, giving you more control as well as saving time and cost.

    3D scan to 3D printing
    3D scanners make it possible to replicate the original object with 3D printing like this squirrel skull example. Scanned objects can be 3D printed on a larger or smaller scale compared to the original.

What is the ROI of 3D Scanning?

If you are still looking for hard numbers into the ROI on 3D scanning, look no further than these two case studies.

Artec Ray
85% Reduction in time and cost using 3D scanning

An international manufacturer and distributor of construction machine spare parts wanted to replace old parts with new ones.

Artec Orthotics
80% Reduction in time
69% Reduction in costs using 3D scanning

An orthotics and prosthetics clinic needed to reduce the time and costs required for making custom orthoses, while making them more precise and comfortable.



Final Takeaway

Diamond

“Pressure can burst a pipe, or pressure can make a diamond.”

– Robert Horry

Although economic downturns often put us in an uncomfortable situation, it’s only under pressure that companies evolve and grow.

3D Scanning technology fuels your business

3D scanning technology might be the fuel you need for your business to thrive into the new year and beyond. If you have any questions on how 3D scanning can help you with your business, please feel free to contact us.


3D scanning

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How Will 3D Scanning Transform The Way You Work?

We’ll demonstrate how 3D scanning works and answer any questions you have about the value this technology brings to your organization.