3D Scanning Boosts Aviation Inspection and Product Development

HANGZHOU, China - July 24, 2024 - PRLog -- The aviation industry continually evolves, with ongoing efforts to refine and improve existing technologies. Within this vast landscape, the development of single-person flight carriers—such as gyrocopters—stands out as an exciting niche.

NIKI Rotor Gyrocopter Manufacturing Company

NIKI Rotor Aviation, a Bulgarian company, specializes in producing gyrocopters which blend the best of airplanes and helicopters.

For Inspection and Product Development (https://www.3d-scantech.com/solution/product-development/)

Finished Product Inspection: Utilize a 3D scanner to inspect the finished gyrocopter, ensuring it meets design specifications and quality standards.

Product Development: Generate an accurate 3D model of the existing gyrocopter frame through 3D scanning (https://www.3d-scantech.com/3d-scanners/) to extract geometric data for updating engineering drawings.

What Part To Be Inspected

One of the primary components NIKI Rotor needs to 3D scan is a large, intricately designed frame of their gyrocopters. This frame, measuring approximately 2m x 1m x 3m, is made of black carbon fiber with a bright yellow paint finish.

Measurement Challenges

Traditional measurement methods fall short when faced with such a complex and sizable component. The primary challenges include:

High Precision Requirements: Ensuring flight safety necessitates high precision in the manufacturing and inspection (https://www.3d-scantech.com/solution/3d-inspection/) of gyrocopter parts, often at the micron level.

Wide Range of Sizes: Gyrocopter components vary significantly in size, from small precision parts to large structural components.

Complex Geometries: Gyrocopter components typically have intricate curves and geometric shapes, including rotor blades and fuselage structures.

Surface Characteristics: Carbon fiber, particularly in black, poses significant challenges for conventional scanning techniques.

Scantech's 3D Solutions

To address these challenges, NIKI Rotor turned to Scantech's cutting-edge 3D scanning technology, specifically the TrackScan-Sharp optical 3D measurement system (https://www.3d-scantech.com/product/trackscan-sharp/) to capture highly accurate and detailed 3D data.

Benefits of 3D Solutions

The advantages of using Scantech's 3D solutions are manifold:

Accuracy: TrackScan-Sharp can measure the dimensions and tolerances of gyrocopter components accurately with accuracy of up to 0.025 mm , ensuring they meet design specifications.

Efficiency: The TrackScan-Sharp's large tracking volume allows for a complete scan in a single shot, significantly reducing inspection time.

Simplicity: The system's ability to scan without targets simplifies the process.

For Inspection

Surface Quality Assessment: High-resolution scanning allows for detailed inspection of surface quality, identifying any defects or imperfections that may affect performance.

Data Clarity: The resulting comparison drawings clearly highlight discrepancies between the CAD model and the actual component.

For Product Development
Accurate 3D Models: The system generates precise 3D models of existing gyrocopter parts, facilitating the extraction of geometric data needed for creating or updating engineering drawings.

Design Optimization: Detailed scans enable the analysis of current designs, identifying areas for improvement and optimization.

Conclusion
Trackscan-Sharp provides valuable data support, enabling customers to correct CAD designs and improve overall product development. By doing so, it accelerates the research and development cycle while minimizing trial-and-error costs.