About
News Archives
Vitana Establishes Sales Channel in Japan for ShapeGrabber® 3D Scanning Systems
International Technology Transfer Corporation Signs as Distributor in Japan
Ottawa – February 7, 2000 - Vitana Corporation announced that it has signed a distribution agreement with International Technology Transfer Corporation (ITTC) of Kobe, under which ITTC will sell and support Vitana’s ShapeGrabber® 3D Scanning Systems in Japan.
"Japan is a key element of Vitana's expansion of our international sales channels. ShapeGrabber® is the ideal system to meet the needs of Japanese manufacturers and design agencies that need to create 3D digital models of "real-world" objects", explained Gary Roberts, Product Manager – Industrial Imaging of Vitana. "ITTC has demonstrated its ability to successfully meet the 3D imaging and modeling requirements of a demanding clientele with other, complementary products and technologies. I am pleased to welcome them to the Vitana Team. They are well positioned to sell and support ShapeGrabber® 3D Scanning Systems."
"Our customers have indicated that accuracy, speed, ease-of-use and strong local support are key requirements to the success of 3D scanning systems in Japan," said Hiroshi Tsujii, President of ITTC. "ShapeGrabber® meets the technical requirements for our customers' reverse engineering, design and inspection applications. ITTC has a history of providing and supporting innovative technologies."
About ShapeGrabber® 3D Scanning Systems
ShapeGrabber® is a turnkey 3D scanning, or digitizing, system designed for manufacturers and design agencies that need to create 3D digital models from "real world" parts for:
- Reverse Engineering;
- Computer-Aided-Inspection; and
- Part Replication.
Including the scanning head, translation stage and platform, acquisition and alignment software, training, and workstation, ShapeGrabber® 3D Scanning Systems provide the customer with everything needed but the part.
ShapeGrabber® was developed based on four guiding principles:
- speed
- accuracy
- ease-of-use
- affordability
The system introduces new technologies to eliminate fixturing, streamline scan alignment, and produce extremely high quality images. ShapeGrabber® performance is highlighted by:
- acquisition of 15,360 points/second digitized with patented laser scanning technology;
- measurement accuracy of 0.001" (25 micron);
- three motion platforms combined with interchangeable scan heads (variable scan width/range) enable parts of virtually any size to be scanned;
- no-fixture scanning for fast/user-friendly data acquisition; and
- powerful, easy-to-use alignment software.
Applications of ShapeGrabber‰ 3D Scanning Systems
ShapeGrabber® is ideally suited to a variety of industrial applications because it incorporates:
- new laser scanning techniques, which can acquire thousands of points per second – versus the 1 or 2 points per second of a traditional single point probe; and
- sophisticated new alignment and analysis software, which can quickly and accurately manipulate large data files.
Computer-Aided Inspection
Computer-Aided Inspection (CAI) is the process of comparing:
- a physical object to a 3D CAD file without dimensional drawings (Part-to-CAD CAI); or
- one physical object to another (Part-to-Part CAI).
In both cases free-form surfaces are scanned to produce high density "point clouds" consisting of hundreds of thousands of 3D data points entirely capturing a 3D shape.
Part-to-CAD CAI is rapidly becoming the process of choice for first article inspection, tooling verification and numerous quality applications involving complex surface geometries. In this application, the "point cloud" acquired by ShapeGrabber® is compared to a CAD file. A color-coded 3D image, or error map, of the part is produced. It quantifies the deviation of the part from the CAD specifications.
In Part-to-Part CAI the primary "point cloud" is aligned and compared to a "point cloud" from another physical object and a color-coded, 3D error map is produced. Part-to-Part CAI is used for "gold standard" part comparison, multi-cavity mold comparison and wear analysis.
Reverse Engineering
Reverse Engineering involves developing a new product using an existing object as a starting point. ShapeGrabber® facilitates reverse engineering by enabling users to scan free-form surfaces to produce high density "point clouds capturing the 3D shape. Various software packages can manipulate the data to:
- create a 3D CAD file;
- modify the file according to the requirements defined for the new product;
- develop a tool path to facilitate a CAM process; and
- produce a new object based on the revised file.
Part Replication
In some industrial applications it is more efficient to simply scan an existing object and create a tool path rather than develop a 3D CAD file from first principles. Using ShapeGrabber® Technology a physical object can be scanned and a digital file developed on which a CAM tool path can be based.
About International Technology Transfer Corporation
Founded in 1994, International Technology Transfer Corporation (ITTC) provides 3D data processing solutions to companies and research centers that are looking for innovative, productivity enhancing technologies. The company offers 3D scanning systems (digitizers), systems integration and consulting services that enable clients to significantly improve the present method of data processing. ITTC also provides digitizer interface software, which satisfies the particular requirement of its clients. The Company's customers include major Japanese automobile companies, universities, public research centers and companies supplying nuclear components. ITTC is headquartered in Kobe, Japan.
About Vitana Corporation
Founded in 1992, Vitana Corporation is an Imaging Solutions Company that is dedicated to providing digital image acquisition systems. It currently designs and manufactures three distinct imaging products. The ShapeGrabber® Scanning System is a family of non-contact 3D laser scanning systems with which industrial clients can generate 3D model of "real-world" parts for computer-aided inspection, industrial design, reverse engineering and part replication. Vitana bundles this product with 3rd-party software to offer a whole product solution to manufacturers and design agencies. The ShapeGrabber® FootScanner is a 3D digitizing foot scanner, while PixeLINK™ is a family of image-acquisition modules, which offer a universal means of bringing video images to the PC using industry standard communication protocols.
For more Information
| Gary Roberts, P.Eng. Product Manager – Industrial Imaging Vitana Corporation Tel: (613) 247-1211 ext. 130 gary.roberts@vitana.com |
Hiroshi Tsujii President International Technology Transfer Corporation Tel: (878) 303-5655 post@ittc.co.jp |
Call us today to discuss your complex-shaped part! 1-(613) 247-1707