Handheld Devices

The fact that the Handyscan 3D laser scanners would be handheld devices raised the issue of human ergonomics. Industrial designers and engineers were involved in the project, in order to ensure that the device’s shape would allow for use on extended periods of time without leading to musculo-skeletal problems in the scanner’s operator upper body.

From an ergonomic standpoint, the designers were faced with several challenges :

They had to respect the angle naturally followed by the human wrists and hands when holding up the device in the air while ensuring that the scanner’s line of sight would be aligned and centered accordingly.
Because of that, they also had to determine the optimum position for the handle versus the device’s point of aim so that its position would suit the natural angle of the wrist and hand.
They had to determine where to put the 2 pushbuttons on the device in order to minimize the range of movement required from the operator.
They needed to ensure proper weight distribution on the device and to make it as balanced as possible.

Why?

Because a significant difference of weight between components could cause a distortion on the assembly and therefore, a distortion of the accuracy measurements.

The real challenge, however, was to find a way to build a light, rigid and rugged device that would comply with every mechanical and engineering specifications. The materials used had to be light and rigid, since all the ergonomic features of the device were totally dependant on the lightness of the device. Upon completion of a thorough review of the different materials available on the market, designers elected light metals and plastics as the most suitable materials for the scanner’s manufacturing.

In the end, the designers managed to create a light and rigid internal structure.

Fill out an information request and a representative from Creaform will contact you to discuss it. You can also ask for a quote or a demo.