Creating 3D image using Laser scanner

[Jolanta]

I am trying to develop a laser scanner and NI DAQ board but I am not good in programming Labview.

Can anyone suggest me how to develop the 3D image using Labview.??

Yolanta

[Pete.Dunc]

Hi yolanta

Sounds like an interesting application!  What information will you be ascertaining from you laser scanner and DAQ?

To familiarise yourself with the 3D image tools within LabVIEW I would recommend looking at the context help (Push Ctrl-H and hover over function), and detailed help files (available within the context help).

• On the block diagram, right-click and navigate to "Programming > Graphics and Sound > 3D Picture Control" - investigate the VIs contained in this palette.  These are the functions you will most likely use in your application.

If you have any more questions I'd be happy to help out!

[Pete.Dunc]

Also there is a great example which can be found in "Help > Find Examples... > Search > 3D > solarsystem.vi"

[Jolanta]

Thanks Peter,

I am not good in programming part as I am from Biological background.

we were planning to scan human bones intraoperatively to get the 3D images, but then again programming is my weak point

[Pete.Dunc]

Sounds pretty exciting!

There are lots of resources online at NI Support and the Developer's Zone to help you get started.  If you would like some formal training which is much more structured there are several training options.

Of course you can always post any questions on the discussion forums and we'll do our best to help!

[Jolanta]

Hi Peter

Thanks for that help. This is the exact application which I am trying

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmfwPXYO5vM

here instead of using encoder attached to the linear actuator can I use quadrature encoder directly attached to the scanner and make it hand held or any positioner say, Lego Mindstorms or something?  Also I dont intend to rotate the target which in this case its Mr potato does. The object has to remain still whereas the scanner should be moved in different positions in order to get the scan. Do u think thats possible?  

Also I am not too sure about which encoder to buy for this type.  

Thanks for your guidance

yolanta

[Pete.Dunc]

Constructing a system like this is definitely possible using NI software and hardware.

It sounds like your main challenge at the moment will be designing the mechanism for performing the scan.  Do you need a handheld scanner?  The challenge of this is knowing the scanners position in space and its orientation - you might not be able to use an encoder as that tells you rotation from a fixed reference.

It might be easier to have a robotic arm - where the encoders on the motors give you the coordinates you will require.  Something like a SCARA robot, although this is not my area of expertise!  You might only need to scan in the XY plane, with your laser giving you the Z coordinate.

It might be worth contacting a technical sales representative when you are considering what NI hardware you will need for your hardware control and acquisition.  You will most likely be driving 2 motors, and reading from 2 encoders plus your laser scanner - all of this is acheivable with NI tools.

[Ben]

I do have experience in this area.

From your posts I suggest you start by scaling back your initial code to just gathering the data and plotting in an XY graph.

The acquisition should be hardware timed driven by your encoders with silumtaeous sampling of the encoder count/position.

Use trigonomtry to plot in the XY graph.

Once you have that behind you you can THEN proceed to plotting it in 3D.

Warning!

I work with a bunch of Certified LabVIEW Architects and when it comes time to plot in 3-Space, there eyes glaze over.

Ben

[Jolanta]

We have a robotic system to hold the scanner. Only thing is do I need an encoder to interface with the robo arm so as to get the angular position?

Also if yes which one shall I go for?

[Ben]

---

@yolanta wrote:

We have a robotic system to hold the scanner. Only thing is do I need an encoder to interface with the robo arm so as to get the angular position?

Also if yes which one shall I go for?

---

Depends...

What kind of precision are you after... length of arms...

Ben