From: scanning@lynx.spa.umn.edu (Bill Ketzeback)
Subject: 3D Imaging System Forsale (repost)
Organization: University of Minnesota
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 16:57:37 GMT

For Sale:
 Laser 3D Imaging System
   Mfg by Technical Arts of Redmond, Wash.

The Basic Imaging System consists of:
  1) A 4 x 4 foot granite table.
  2) A CCD B&W TV camera (NTSC) and a solid state laser with scan adapter.
  3) A 2-axis Compumotor X-Y stage (10 inch travel in each coordinate).
  4) A Theta table (~ 1 foot diameter) upon which is situated a mirrored surface
		 suspended above this mirror is a transparent flat glass surface upon
		 which the object to be scanned is placed.
  5) Computer & Disk drive (correction from my original post 1 not 2 Multibus
		 INTEL 310 computers, the other box is a dual bay MDB plug in drive system)
  6) Complete documentation including software and source code.

As I understand it ( the machine was aquired by a friend at an auction and is
now being stored by him at a great cost. The unit was originally used by a 
Goverment contractor, we have not personally operated the machine) the above
hardware is used to 3 dimensionally scan the object by the way of the following
method: 
   The laser scanner sweeps the beam into a "line" (approximately 1 inch  long)
The X-Y stage (under preprogramed control) then moves this line in such a way
as to completely cover all surfaces (including the bottom of the object via
the mirror). This information is taken into computer memory via a tv interface
(frame grabber) and a proprietry mathematical algorithm (B spline) determines
the objects surface shape to an astonishing degree of accuracy. This machine
as, I said above, was manufactured for a Goverment contractor. It was custom
made to scan one and only one particular item for quality control purposes. 
However, Technical Arts, the manufacturer, assures us that it can be programmed
in house to accomodate a wide variety of objects (so long as the object can fit
on the theta table and the X-Y stage has sufficient "reach").
  Since the machine was purchased via goverment auction we can not offer any
guarantee, however we were assured that it was in perfect working order prior
to our purchase. For this reason we are selling it substantially bellow surplus
value of the hardware although it would be a shame to dismantle this machine
for parts.

The 3D imaging system was purchased for $250,000. You can have the entire
package for $20k or Best offer (+ shipping). The $250,000 probably included R&D
and design modifications to Technical Arts existing designs, therefore the true
cost of the machine was the replacement cost of hardware retooling and software
development. We are sure if we split the machine up into pieces we could make well
over $40,000 on the surplus harware market, but we would rather sell this marvelous
machine in one piece eventhough we are paying for storage costs.
 Since we have experience working with a 2-Dim transmission photographic plate 
imaging system we would hate to see a machine of this quality scrapped for parts.
We feel $20,000 is a fair price for bids to start.

 I will be pleased to go into greater detail or answer specific questions as
best we can.


Bill Ketzeback

wfk@aps1.spa.umn.edu

Stan Shankman

stan@aps1.spa.umn.edu