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2020’s Top Market Trends in 3D Imaging Applications

The introduction of 3D imaging resulted in various new applications. Here are the top 3D imaging applications that are currently in the 2020's market trends

3D technology is making consistent progress in the industry with new developments and widespread applications. With each passing year, it is reaching several milestones and has become one of the fastest-growing industries. One of the technologies that also play an important role in its advancement is 3D imaging.

Recently, three-dimensional imaging has become immensely popular for both industrial and consumer-based applications. However, it has already been the topic of discussion for years by technology enthusiasts. Many organizations and industries are also embracing technology for different purposes and using it for their business growth.

An example to help you understand its importance is how machine vision systems employ it to enable quicker and accurate component inspection at the manufacturing sites. As per the consumers, they are implementing it to achieve greater image depth in social media.

What is 3D Imaging?

Three-dimensional imaging can be described as a technique used for creating the illusion of depth in the image. It is used for various industrial applications, mainly for the process of quality control. The technique can also be implemented for converting or changing the 2D data into the 3D format, thereby developing the depth illusion.

Apart from this, it is being used with other technologies as well to create 3D renderings, which can be utilized for covering the testing and inspection needs. For instance, three-dimensional imaging can be combined with 3D printing to overcome the inefficiencies of traditional manufacturing techniques. It means designs can be developed faster, less waste will be generated, operational costs can be saved, etc. Due to this reason, many companies specializing in 3D print design services rely on it.

How Does 3D Imaging Works?

3D imaging employs stereography, which is similar to that of the functionality of the human vision system. The human vision is a result of the synchronization of two eyes, which enables us to perceive the depth and width of certain information. A 2D television screen can be considered as an example.

Each human eye uses different angles to see the world. One can easily know this by rapidly closing one eye and then the other. The rapid closing of eyes will result in subtle differences in the visual angles. The dimension difference is usually seen because of parallax. In this phenomenon, the brain captures the images, processes them, adds dimensions, and then combines them into a single picture.

In the same way, a 3D image or shot employs two lenses to capture images that are slightly different from each other. Due to this reason, 3D images hold more information as compared to a 2D image. After the images are captured, they go through the process of editing to maintain their quality and appeal. Finally, when they are combined, the brain is unable to process each image separately and creates the illusion of depth, thereby resulting in a three-dimensional image.

Trending Applications of 3D Imaging in 2020

Unsurprisingly, three-dimensional imaging has wide applications for industrial purposes. Almost every industry benefits with the help of this technology. It is mainly used to create realistic and accurate replicas of the object for the purpose of quality control.

Below are some of its applications that are currently in trend.

  • 3D Printing

3D printing gained popularity due to its rapid prototyping and manufacturing capabilities. It also plays a huge role in expanding the application of 3D imaging by enabling better inspection and measurement for three-dimensional printed objects.

Three-dimensional imaging is usually employed in this case when the user wants to examine the 3D printed object for their accuracy. The technology helps them compare the 3D object with the CAD model and check whether it is accurate or not. It also gives an overall idea of their functionality.

  • 3D X-ray Imaging

3D X-ray imaging is mainly used in the medical industry. It is a revolution of mammography and other medical imaging techniques. Apart from this, the technique is used for electronics inspection as well. Ever since the complexity in electronics increased, the demand for three-dimensional X-ray imaging continued to grow.

Manufacturers use 3D X-ray imaging to check the condition of solder in smaller electronics. Since these electronic products are smaller in size, it will be difficult to inspect the solder. The inside might also be covered with fixed components and removing them to view the solder isn't feasible. However, viewing it without removing the components is possible with a three-dimensional X-ray.

  • Sheet of Light Technology

The sheet of light is one of the commonly used 3D imaging techniques for electronics manufacturing. The technique involves traditional laser profiling, where a camera is used to project the laser for producing a moving object. The camera keeps capturing multiple profiles as long as the object is moving. Finally, a series of images are used to reconstruct the object.

The sheet of light technology is used by companies that produce cameras and 3D software to work together. It will increase the competition by bringing more products to the market and offering users a variety of options and choices. Companies offering 3D design services also use it to solve designing and development issues.

  • Time of Flight Technique

This technique is used to calculate the time taken by light to travel back and forth from an object. The role of three-dimensional imaging, in this case, is to facilitate the time of flight applications. To measure the distance traveled by light, special sensors are used.

These techniques are mainly used in the automotive industry for the development of pre-cash detection systems in vehicles. Today, automated cars are available with advanced safety systems installed for the protection of consumers.

  • Robotics

Robotics and automation are some of the most transformative and trending applications of three-dimensional imaging. In the above cases, we mainly discussed the application of 3D imaging in the inspection. However, in this case, the 3D technology is used in position recognition. It means users can easily find an object in the 3D space.

The technology is harnessed by manufacturers to improve the “bin-picking” skills of robots. It means they will be able to locate small objects and take them out from the pile one by one. Earlier, the robots used in manufacturing were unable to do this. Three-dimensional imaging enables the robot to see, just like humans, and carry out these tasks with ease.

Even though these are some of its trending applications, 3D imaging can be used in other ways as well. It will mainly depend on the type of technology available and the requirement of the project. Three-dimensional imaging is being already used in several industries for a wide range of applications. Apart from that, it is also likely to open up new possibilities in inspection applications with respect to automation and position recognition. However, it doesn’t mean that there is no role of 2D imaging in the future. It will definitely be there but 3D imaging will surely have an upper hand when it comes to task execution.