TESTING THE INFLUENCE OF SCANNING PARAMETERS ON 3D INSPECTION PROCESS WITH A LASER SCANNER

The quality of 3D scanned data is influenced by many factors both related to internal elements to the acquisition device, such as scanner resolution and accuracy, and external to it, such as proper selection of scanning parameters, ambient illumination and characteristics of the object surface being scanned (e.g. surface colour, glossiness, roughness, shape). Due to the recent developments in terms of accuracy, in particular for 3D laser scanners, today it is of great industrial interest to study and correctly setting the scanning parameters that allow to improve the quality of the 3D acquisitions so to increase the massive usage of these systems in the product inspection activities. In this paper the effects of some scanning parameters that may affect the measurement process, were analysed by using a commercial triangulation 3D laser scanner. The test geometry chosen for this study was a commercial sheet metal part more complex than the ones commonly used in laboratory and documented in the literature. Relative orientation, ambient illumination and scanner parameters were tested. The outcomes of the tests confirmed some results and suggestions documented in literature but also pointed out that over different conditions the most influencing factor are the relative orientation of the object with respect to the scanner, as well as its position within the field of view of the measurement device.