3D scanning is revolutionising the way that mine operators manufacture parts and tools.

WYSIWYG 3D is an innovative engineering company that specialises in 3D measurement.

The company has built a reputation around the experience and knowledge it brings to the table – for every job.

It is at the forefront of the latest technology across many industries and specialises in the 3D scanning of mining equipment and processing plants.

WYSIWYG 3D was founded in 2003 as a multi-disciplinary firm of professional engineers, all who brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise in all aspects of 3D laser scanning, 3D measurement, and 3D inspection and analysis services from their various fields.

The company’s range of laser scanning technologies are a combination of both laser and structured light scanners, including portable co-ordinate measuring machines (CMM’s) which are capable of scanning the small, detailed parts, to terrestrial scanners which are used for much bigger items such as mining buckets, underground chamber volumes and washeries processing plants and equipment.

The company also provides vehicle mounted scanning, 3D printing services and licenced drone pilots.

WYSIWYG 3D business manager Leanne Rolton said that the company’s range of equipment means it can 3D-scan processing plants, mining equipment, and just about any other component on the mine site.

“We have the technical skills and more than 17 years’ of scanning expertise to deliver accurate and complete data from design to manufacturing,” she said.

“It’s all in the details – providing bespoke solutions for complex and detailed parts and environments.”

From a technical perspective, the team of engineers and their 3D scanners can do just about anything, and their techniques provide accurate data that is minimising the need for site visits, rework or downtime.

This data can be delivered as point clouds, 2D drawings or complete 3D models ready to be integrated into the workflow.

With accuracy within 0.3mm-2.0mm, and accurate data ready for design, inspection, and construction of 3D printing for marketing and prototypes, manufacturing can be done offsite and guaranteed to fit the first time.

This means installation time is reduced and costly mistakes are avoided.

“If you need to repair, alter or make a new part 3D scanning can make the process faster and more accurate than traditional trial and error approaches,” Ms Rolton said.

“3D scanning an existing part creates an accurate computer model while minimising the time the machine is out of production.”

So, when a client was designing a new attachment piece for its existing machinery, they called in WYSIWYG 3D to help.

Traditional measuring methods would take weeks of work and still not be able to provide the same level of accuracy as 3D scanning.

This meant there was a real risk of manufacturing incorrect parts which would cost thousands of dollars and waste a lot of time.

WYSIWYG 3D engineers were able to capture the roof bolter with three different scanners in more than 32 different positions and two configurations which ensured the complete coverage, detail and accuracy required.

Each component was remodelled and included all bolt positions which meant the new attachment could easily be designed and built to ensure it was accurate and that it would fit exactly – first time.

The CAD model was supplied in an assembly as separate parts which made the file easier to work with, and the files were delivered as a STEP model for importing.

Another satisfied customer was Sevoic Engineering, which needed its mining cutter head scanned, as it needed to re-lace the cuttings picks and change the spacing from 70mm to 40mm.Sevoic had had trouble in the past with service providers and could not afford to put $300,000 on the line, should the remodelling go wrong, so it reached out to WYSIWYG 3D to capture and remodel the existing cutter head.

With the information available, WYSIWYG 3D was able to use the helicoidal pattern of the picks – through a process called re-lacing – to change from 70mm to 40mm.

WYSIWYG 3D scanned the cutter head in its entirety and captured every single one of the more than 140 picks.

The picks had a slightly incremental angle that had to be kept, so accuracy was crucial.

The company was able to accurately model each individual component of the machinery, so that each could be manipulated independently.

As well as 3D scanning, WYSIWYG 3D also offers geomagic training, digitisation and probing, 3D printing, cyber scanning, visualisation, vehicle mounted lidar scanning and reverse engineering services.

It has the largest range of scanners Australia-wide, and the scanners have been used in everything from single teeth, coins, movie sets, cars, streets, aircraft, houses, mining complexes and machinery.

More information:
Phone: (02) 9153 9974
Website: www.wysiwyg3d.com.au
Email: [email protected]

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