Challenge: Marine service provider USP Maritime needed CAD data for repairs and rebuilds, both in remote locations and in cases where the original designs are no longer available.
Solution: Artec Leo, Artec Studio, Autodesk Inventor
The result: Extremely detailed models of ship components and shipyard machinery, which accelerate the planning and implementation of inspections, modernizations and restorations in the maritime industry.
Why Artec 3D?: By abandoning the traditional wire scanner with targets, USP Maritime has revolutionized its work process. With a built-in battery and display, as well as advanced geometry and texture tracking, Artec Leo enables accurate scanning of large structures and locations in just minutes.
Mankind has long established a presence at sea, but nature can be harsh, and even the sturdiest ships sailing the world's oceans require regular maintenance to remain operational.
That maintenance may include simple tasks such as waxing, washing, painting, oil changes or engine repairs, but heavier vessels often have more pressing requirements. In order to identify and solve such problems as quickly as possible, ships are often subjected to analysis of parts stability, resistance and performance.
However, inspecting such resources without missing warning signs is not easy. While you could measure entire ships using a tape measure, laser meter, and reference photos, it's an extremely laborious and time-consuming process that can keep potential sailors in the dark for a long time.
This is where USP Maritime enters the scene. Through its marine design services, the company generates the geometric data needed for reconstruction, repairs and analysis. Initially, their team digitized data collection using long-range LiDAR and 3D scanning with targets – with relative success.
But they soon encountered the drawbacks of traditional 3D scanning (such as dependence on targets and computers). USP Maritime's technical director, Chris Park, points out that full-scene scans often resulted in "monsters of scans" that were extremely difficult to process. His first handheld scanner, he says, was "a real nightmare" because he had to "hold the laptop in one hand while scanning with the other."
These problems prompted the company to redirect its approach to maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO): they decided to use Artec Leo. Attracted by the capabilities of fast, wireless 3D scanning, USP Maritime's commercial director, James Dryd, contacted Artec's Gold Certified partner, Patrick Thorn & Co. They provided detailed demonstrations of the scanner's capabilities, both online and live.
Convinced of Artec Leo's ability to quickly digitize large structures, USP Maritime acquired a scanner and started the crane digitization project the very next day. To get their team up to speed with the device, Patrick Thorn organized intensive training, which, along with the click-to-scan feature, allowed Park to immediately go into the field and fully scan the facility.
"The scanner itself is really intuitive," Park explained. "Having everything in one, battery operated device makes it extremely convenient, especially compared to what we used before. The tracking technology is also on a whole new level. With Leo, we can scan what used to take us two to three hours, in just ten minutes. I have no complaints - it solves every problem we've ever had."
Artec Studio: "phenomenal tool"
While USP Maritime is impressed with the flexibility of the Artec Leo scanner, Park points out that it's what Artec Studio does with the collected data that "really allows Leo to shine."
Park's previous 3D scanner solutions "would just get stuck for days" when trying to process high-quality data like that provided by Artec Leo. Artec Studio, on the other hand, easily handles multiple scans, allows for fast alignment, and includes all the tools needed to create textured, seamless meshes.
USP Maritime's old workflow was limited by huge file sizes, but now the team can remove redundant frames using the scan reduction option in Artec Studio. This makes meshes easier to process in software such as Autodesk Inventor, where additional CAD analysis is performed.
"Of course, we were impressed with the scanner's appearance, but the way Artec Studio processes the collected information is also amazing," added Park. "I used to waste days waiting for the mesh to move or rotate a bit. Artec Studio is a phenomenal tool. What we can produce now - far surpasses anything we could achieve before."
As an example, Park returns to his first scan. Artec Leo successfully captured more than enough detail for advanced quality control. Although the decades-old crane had geometry that was challenging to scan, Leo's versatility and precision allowed it to collect the data needed to assess its operational condition – from tiny patches of damaged paint to holes drilled in hidden places.
Considering the short time he spent with the device, the level of detail Park achieved was remarkable. For this he credits Patrick Thorn, who provided him with key tips for optimizing the process, including how to improve alignment with additional data acquisition and fine-smooth rough edges.
The future of marine maintenance and overhaul (MRO)?
Creating 1:1 scale models with Artec Leo has become a key part of USP Maritime's rebuilding workflow. For example, in cases where work needs to be done around existing piping, the team can now scan those areas and adjust brackets or other accessories to fit perfectly.
Park adds that recent applications of this principle have been applied on a larger scale, including situations where Leo was used to scan 300-kilogram pumps that were "almost impossible to remove" from a ship's engine. Since the ship was in service, the team did not have time for experiments.
Instead of digitizing just these huge components, Park explains, USP Maritime scanned the entire area, which allowed the team to "build a plan at a distance." This later allowed them to strategize and quickly implement repairs the next time the ship anchored.
"In this engine room, we ended up scanning the entire space, so we could inspect it in the future," Park concluded. "Later on, we really needed that data. We didn't even have to build any models, we just used it as a representation of the space. It was almost like a video walkthrough, but we could control the display and take measurements directly from it."
Park believes this approach will become key to MRO processes at USP Maritime. For any area that might require future repairs, they can now "point Leo to it, just in case," to make sure nothing goes unnoticed.
Since providing initial training, Patrick Thorn has continued to share his expert advice and support with USP Maritime. After helping the company familiarize itself with the technology, he notes that now "everything seems to be going great." The sale of an additional Artec Studio license and battery pack confirms that "Artec Leo is now a key tool in the USP team's workflow and success."