Handheld 3D laser scanner offers real-time visualization

FARO Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: FARO) has launched a user-friendly, handheld 3D laser scanner, the  new FARO® Scanner Freestyle^3D, for use in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC), Law Enforcement, and other industries. The easy, intuitive device is equipped with a Microsoft Surface™ tablet and offers real-time visualization by allowing the user to view point cloud data as it is captured. 

 

Weighing less than a kilo, the Freestyle^3D’s portability enables users to maneuver and scan in tight and hard-to-reach areas, making it ideal for crime scene data collection or architectural preservation and restoration activities

 

The Freestyle^3D scans to a distance of up to three meters and captures up to 88K points per second with accuracy better than 1.5mm. The patent-pending, self-compensating optical system also allows users to start scanning immediately with no warm up time required.

 

Its portability enables users to maneuver and scan in tight and hard-to-reach areas such as car interiors, under tables and behind objects, while its memory-scan technology also enables users to pause scanning at any time and then resume data collection where they left off without the use of artificial targets.

 

FARO president and CEO Jay Freeland said development of a scanner that provides customers with the same intuitive feel and ease-of-use in a handheld devicee presents another step in the company’s journey to democratize 3D scanning.

 

“FARO’s customers continue to stress the importance of work-flow simplicity, portability, and affordability as key drivers to their continued use and adoption of 3D laser scanning,” said Mr. Freeland. “We have responded by developing an easy-to-use, industrial grade, handheld laser scanning device that weighs less than 1kg.”

 

The Freestyle^3D can be employed as a standalone device to scan areas of interest, or used in concert with FARO’s Focus^3D X 130 / X 330 scanners. Point cloud data from all of these devices can be seamlessly integrated and shared with all of FARO’s software visualization tools including FARO SCENE, WebShare Cloud, and FARO CAD Zone packages.