PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR 3-DIMENSIONAL SCANNING

A system for three-dimensional scanning, comprising a three-dimensional scanning apparatus being manually maneuverable and comprising a profilometer including a light beam projector, an objective and a light detector. The profilometer is configured for obtaining a two-dimensional profile of an object by active triangulation. The apparatus further including a positioning device being trackable in a volume space for providing six degrees-of-freedom of the apparatus, whereby a three-dimensional profile is calculatable by relating the two-dimensional profile with time-corresponding positions and orientations of the apparatus. The system also has a three-dimensional profile calculator remote from the apparatus, for tracking the apparatus in the volume space and relating positions and orientations of the apparatus with a time-corresponding two-dimensional profile of the object for calculating a three-dimensional profile of the object and for referring the object to a static position and orientation.