3D scanning of a steam turbine

Together with n-protec AG, our Swiss partner, SCAN IT 3D GmbH carried out an assessment of a turbine housing. Based on a finding during the revision, it was decided to build a 3D model of the casing with a 3D scanner. Creaform’s HandyScan Black | Elite 3D scanner was used for this project thanks to its portability—and ability to acquire measurements even in hard-to-reach places and right on the production floor. Transporting the housing to a measurement laboratory proved to be too cumbersome, inefficient and expensive.

Once the 3D scan was created, the positions of the axial rings for the bearing and blade carrier were determined in Geomagic Design X. The rings were then placed on the blade carrier. These were created as 3D models to be used in SolidWorks for further development.

Reverse engineering parts of the housing 

The red rings were imported into SolidWorks together with the 3D scan data. The positions were dimensioned. 

Another task was to determine the flatness of the turbine housing’s sealing surfaces. For this purpose, a flat surface was created in Geomagic Design X and transferred, together with the scan data, to Geomagic Control X for quality assurance. 

Deviation of the sealing surface from the defined plane 

The false colours show where the sealing surface deviated from the flat surface. The dark blue areas were identified as holes. The assessment honed in on the cyan and yellow areas. 

This report was made available to Creaform for publication by SCAN IT 3D GmbH. To the original report 

About SCAN IT 3D GmbH

SCANIT 3D GmbH SCANIT 3D GmbH based in Schliengen, Germany, offers metrology, reverse engineering and process optimisation services.