If you've got a site or asset that needs capturing, you've probably asked the obvious question: do I hire a 3D scanner and do it myself, or hire a service to do it for me? On the surface, renting the gear looks cheaper. You pay a day rate, point the scanner, and keep the data. Simple. It's rarely that simple. The scanner is the easy part. Getting accurate, usable data is where most self-hire jobs come unstuck, and the costs that don't show up on the rental invoice are usually

Here's a question we often encounter on many projects. You've had a site or facility laser scanned, you've got the point cloud, and now someone asks whether you want scan to CAD or scan to BIM. Many people treat the two as the same thing. They aren't, and picking the wrong one is one of the most common ways projects waste time and money at this stage. The good news is the choice is simple once you understand what each one gives you. Get it right and the data does exactly what

Scan Hub has scanned and modelled hundreds of factories across Australia, used for steel fabrication, food processing, materials handling and many other purposes. We have captured them full of running machinery and completely empty, for a wide range of clients nationwide. Manufacturing plants, warehouses and process facilities are some of the most demanding environments to capture accurately, and getting it right takes both the right technology and years of hands-on experienc

Scan Hub has more than 10 years of experience in 3D laser scanning rail track maintenance machines and other rolling stock for clients across Australia. These machines are large, complex and difficult to document accurately, and capturing them properly for scan-to-BIM and certification takes both the right technology and real experience. This is a look at how 3D laser scanning works on rolling stock and rail maintenance machines, why these assets are so demanding to capture,

Scan Hub has completed many 3D laser scanning and CAD modelling projects for clients installing and maintaining pumps and impellers across Australia, in water treatment, mining sludge transfer and a wide range of industrial sites. Volute pump housings and impellers are among the most geometrically complex parts we capture, and getting them right requires high-precision scanning and real experience with organic, cast shapes. This is a look at how 3D laser scanning and CAD mode

Scan Hub was engaged by a fuel system management client to support redesigning components at the fuel storage site of an Australian domestic airport. The work formed part of an overall system review of aircraft refuelling at a capital city airport, where accurate existing-condition data was needed before any redesign could proceed. This project is a strong example of 3D laser scanning in a hazardous, high-consequence environment, where safety, access, and precision must come

Scan Hub was engaged by a major mining client to support the engineering assessment of a large shovel bucket component used on a 1,200-tonne coal mining shovel near Singleton, New South Wales. The work formed part of a Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) after the component cracked under operational loads. This is a good example of 3D laser scanning used not just to document an asset, but to support a structural failure investigation and the design of a fix. This is a lo

Scan Hub was engaged to create an accurate digital model of an Indian Pacific passenger rail car for a client that maintains mining, freight, and passenger rolling stock in Western Australia. The project required separate capture of the rail car body and wheel bogies before combining them into a complete as-built 3D model. This is a good example of how 3D laser scanning and 3D modelling handle a large, multi-component rail vehicle. This shows how the rail car was captured, wh

A mechanical engineering client engaged Scan Hub to provide accurate existing-condition information for a hospital extension involving new structural steel foundations. New steel beams had to be designed and installed between existing concrete walls and columns, which made precise measurement critical to successful fabrication and installation. This is a clear example of how accurate 3D laser scanning underpins structural steel design, where new steel has to marry up with an

Scan Hub is proud to support the development of Spirit of Australia 2, the latest attempt to set a new outright Unlimited World Water Speed Record. Building on the legacy of Ken Warby's record-breaking Spirit of Australia, the project called for highly accurate 3D laser scanning and 3D modelling to assist with the development and optimisation of the new vessel. This is one of the most demanding applications of 3D laser scanning we take on, where accuracy is measured against a

Scan Hub has completed 3D laser scanning projects on a wide range of vehicles, from passenger cars and four-wheel drives through to military vehicles and heavy mining equipment. By capturing accurate dimensional information, manufacturers and engineering teams can confidently develop replacement components, aftermarket accessories and new product designs using reliable existing-condition data. This article explains how vehicle 3D laser scanning supports reverse engineering, w

When CSIRO required highly accurate existing-condition information for one of its 22-metre radio telescopes at the Australia Telescope Compact Array near Narrabri, New South Wales, Scan Hub was engaged to deliver a detailed 3D laser scanning survey. Using industry-leading 3D laser scanning technology, our team completed approximately 110 individual scans of the telescope, capturing both the external structure and the internal equipment rooms. The project included scans from g

The Kandanga rail and road bridges in Queensland, Australia, have stood for over 100 years. Maintaining such ageing infrastructure presents challenges, especially when precise measurements and detailed assessments are needed for restoration. Recently, Scan Hub used 3D laser scanning technology to capture these historic bridges in unprecedented detail. The result is a 3D point cloud with over 180 million points, offering project managers and engineers a powerful tool to plan a