Laser Triangulation Sensors Performance in Scanning Different Materials and Finishes

Area of Science:

• Metrology and Measurement Science
• Optical Engineering
• Surface Metrology

Background:

• Laser triangulation sensors are crucial for 3D scanning but exhibit performance variability.
• Assessing sensor performance, comparability, and traceability is challenging due to diverse equipment.
• Standardized evaluation methods are needed to ensure reliable 3D scanning data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the performance of three laser triangulation sensors in different configurations.
• To investigate the impact of sphere material and surface finish on 3D scanning accuracy.
• To develop a procedure for optimal filtering and provide usage recommendations for spheres.

Main Methods:

• Utilized high-precision spheres (varying materials and finishes) as references.
• Configured three laser triangulation sensors in distinct arrangements.
• Measured reference parameters: diameter, form error, and point cloud standard deviation.

Main Results:

• Quantified an 'edge effect' impacting measurements at the scanned surface horizon.
• Developed an optimal filtering procedure to remove spurious and form-spoiling points.
• Created a usage chart recommending sphere types for different sensor configurations.

Conclusions:

• The proposed filtering method significantly enhances 3D measurement quality.
• Understanding sensor-specific performance and sphere interactions is key for accurate 3D scanning.
• The developed guidelines improve the comparability and traceability of laser triangulation measurements.