5 Uncommon Applications of 3D Scanning and Reverse Engineering You Might Not Have Heard Of!
In September 2020, Tesseract received a request from a company in Tamil Nadu to 3D scan ancient artefacts for use in a virtual reality-based app. This venture into heritage structures and archaeology demonstrates the burgeoning potential of 3D technology. Our blog post on ‘Can the Future recreate History?’ delves into this topic further.
While common applications of 3D scanning and reverse engineering are well-known in industries like automobiles, robotics, medicine, and manufacturing, here are five lesser-known applications that might surprise you. Let’s explore how 3D technology is consistently revolutionizing these fields.
- Archery
In the realm of sports, particularly archery, 3D printing plays a crucial role. Crafting bows, a meticulous process historically reliant on wood and metals, now benefits from modern materials like fibreglass and carbon fibre. Customizing bows to suit individual archers’ preferences, such as height and skill level, along with different types of bows like Compound, Recurve, Longbow and Crossbow, is labour-intensive. However, by 3D scanning and reverse engineering well-crafted bows and creating prototypes, manufacturers can efficiently produce customized variants, rivalling premium handmade bows in performance at a lower cost.
- Music
Music enthusiasts are embracing 3D scanning and reverse engineering to recreate and innovate musical instruments. From popular instruments like speakers and headphones to cutting-edge prototypes, 3D technology enables precise design to produce measured vibrations for sounds through different mechanisms and blueprinting the engineering of the entire instrument through CAD software and testing of the music box through 3D printing. Collaborative efforts across the globe facilitate the sharing of design files, fostering creativity and pushing the boundaries of musical instrument design. Besides producing an original musical device, reverse engineering helps in recreating broken or lost parts or even helps in manufacturing old records.
- Disaster Management
In times of disaster both man-made and natural, rapid relief efforts are essential. Disaster management demands a range of measures involving provision for shelters, basic utilities, tools, and fixtures for damaged infrastructure. 3D technology streamlines the supply chain for essential items and infrastructure repair, saving time and costs.
Organizations like Field Ready, a non-governmental and non-profit organization, based out of the US, utilize 3D scanning and reverse engineering to develop design catalogues for disaster response in terms of humanitarian care and reconstruction aids, enabling on-site manufacturing with portable 3D printers. This approach significantly reduces logistical challenges and costs associated with traditional relief efforts. Field Ready believes that 3D scanning, and reverse engineering is not only time saving but saves on costs hugely. In fact, Sam Jones, in his article in The Guardian featured in December 2015, quotes Andrew Lamb from Field Ready suggesting that 3D technology can save around 40-50% on logistics cost amounting to $5 billion – $7 billion annually.
- Agriculture
Illinois Farmer Today featured an article on the innovative application of 3D printing within agriculture. Authored by Phyllis Coulter, the article discusses the efforts of agricultural researchers to develop prototypes of air-cleaning and dedusting devices utilizing 3D printing technology. Additionally, Phyllis emphasizes the utilization of this technology to precisely deliver the correct amount of nutrients to crops.
While the use of 3D Scanning and Reverse Engineering in agriculture is more prevalent in developed countries, there is significant potential for its adoption in Indian agriculture. Collaborations between indigenous farming knowledge, agricultural research institutions, and 3D technology experts could address challenges cost-effectively faced by Indian farmers.
- Deep Space Exploration
In the realm of space exploration, 3D printing holds immense promise for sustainable manned missions that offload huge amounts of food and transporting an array of materials for making space habitats is a costly affair. Researchers are exploring the use of 3D-printed food and habitat materials for building accommodative spaces using rock, sand and materials found on the surface of the destination in space to reduce the need for extensive payload delivery.
NASA and private companies like Made In Space are actively researching and developing 3D printing solutions for deep space exploration, marking a significant shift in space travel logistics since 2013.
The diverse applications of 3D scanning and reverse engineering extend beyond Earth’s bounds, promising innovative solutions for various industries.
Do you know of other sectors where 3D technology is making strides? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
