For a cement factory located in the Near East, the German company ThyssenKrupp Fördertechnik GmbH was assigned a contract to scan and collect data of a limestone plant. The software PointCab by Laserscanning Europe was to be used for analyzing, planning and interpreting purposes.
The goal of ThyssenKrupp Fördertechnik GmbH was to synchronize 3D laser scanning data and existing 3D CAD models for planning purposes. That way, an extension to the existing plant could be planned in an effective manner.
Scans with FARO Laser Scanner
A FARO laser scanner was used to scan a 160 meter long buried conveyor belt having its discharge point 6 meters above the ground. The conveyor belt runs through several silos.
The scanning took only 3 days at different altitude levels. Only in one case, the conveyor belt had to be stopped for 2 hours to scan subterranean installations and components. In all other cases, scans were performed while the belt was in motion. Finally, 40 scans had to be unified.
PointCab Used for Synchronization Tasks
As usual the result was a point cloud containing millions of single points. PointCab was used to create sectional views from the point cloud; these were then used in AutoCAD for planning purposes by ThyssenKrupp Fördertechnik GmbH.
By using this method, the engineers comfortably synchronized the different 3D CAD models. Consequently, it was possible to take existing machines into account for the extension of the plant.
Through its intuitive and easy-to-use interface, PointCab distinguished itself in many performance areas. Furthermore, 3D images created from the point cloud were easily imported into AutoCAD.
Laser Scanning as a Solution for a Plant’s Conversion
The possibility to create and export sectional views at any position of the 3D representation of the factory was also a very important factor. Using 3D data in combination with the computer as their primary source, the engineers could determine accurate dimensions.
The 3D model delivered a faithful representation as well as accurate dimensions of the factory and its installations, making it an ideal base for planning and alteration purposes. The ability to finally visualize conversion works and alterations on a computer has substantially reduced the risk of collisions.
