There is always some loss
I have written about Reverse Engineering before but I’m finding it really interesting. In addition to finishing the installation of the exhibition today I have been doing some more scanning. Derek and Ian (who is on work experience at Hethel) scanned my hand. I wanted to hold the RP object and see how the scan would look. The hand held scanner we used today is expensive £30,000 so pretty inaccessible to artists.
The files that result almost always need additional work to patch up holes and glitches. It is a very interesting area of exploration though especially as I am interested in duplication, copying and the fallible nature of technology (which is so often portrayed as a time saver and reliable – from my experience it’s far from it). So I was asking Derek how widely 3D scanning is used in contemporary engineering and if it can create an exact copy of the object being scanned to which the reply was firstly, it’s not widely used as it is fairly new and expensive and secondly there is always some loss of information. It’s this loss (or rather inability to capture it in the first place) of information that interests me as the scans are patchy and incomplete. It’s not my aim to get a complete object but rather to explore the limitations and creative potential of the technology.
In addition I have a couple of images of the work installed at Hethel. The exhibition is open this weekend:
Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th September between 10 – 1pm
Hethel Engineering Centre, Chapman Way, Hethel, Near Norwich, NR14 8FB
[email protected] Tel: 01953859100
Exhibition continues until 17th December 2010 – by appointment only – please contact Hethel Engineering to arrange your visit.
