FARO Laser Scanner and FARO Scene software

FARO Laser Scanner and FARO Scene software 

FARO Focus Manual: https://knowledge.faro.com/Hardware/Focus/Focus/User_Manuals_and_Quick_Start_Guides_for_the_Focus_Laser_Scanner 

FARO Scene software user guide and training manual: https://farotechnologies.mcoutput.com/faro_scene_help/index.htm,  https://knowledge.faro.com/Software/FARO_SCENE/SCENE/Training_Manual_for_SCENE and https://knowledge.faro.com/Software/FARO_SCENE/SCENE/User_Manual_for_SCENE 

Setup:  video tutorial:  https://knowledge.faro.com/Hardware/Focus/Focus/Setup_of_the_FARO_Focus_S_Laser_Scanner  

  FARO Focus laser scanner on tripod

1. Charge batteries prior to taking the FARO scanner out in the field
2. Confirm SD card for data has enough space, copy and remove any existing data on the SD card, save to DartFS storage system
3. Safely repack scanner(very expensive!) for transport 

Leveling prior to attaching scanner - tripod has a "Manfrotto" leveling attachment.  Set tripod legs, then release lever for leveling device, adjust by hand and lock the lever in place

Faro scan and process - pre-scanning checklist--

1. Charge batteries prior to taking the FARO scanner out in the field.  Charge both batteries, several hours or overnight
2. Clean SD card with room on it and confirm it has enough space for new data, copy and remove any existing data on the SD card, save to DartFS storage system
3. Safely repack scanner(very expensive!) for transport 
4. Leveling prior to attaching scanner - tripod has a "Manfrotto" leveling attachment.  Set tripod legs, then release lever for leveling device, adjust by hand and lock the lever in place
5. Place batteries and SD card in OtterBox
6. Ensure that FARO scanner has foam cover over sensor and that it is properly packed into the OtterBox.  
7. Check to make sure Otterbox clips are secure before transport 

Scanning prep --

1. Extend tripod so that top is approximately level 
2. Open locking gate on right side of Manfrotto liquid-filled bubble leveler (pull lever clockwise to the left)
3. Center bubble within circle to level
4. Attaching the scanner to the tripod --
5. Carefully place FARO scanner on the tripod and turn the locking set screw to lock in place
6. Confirm that scanner is locked in place
7. Insert SD card into back of scanner (make sure SD card has space on it)
8. Insert battery into scanner

Some best practices to consider when planning your scan --

 - Scanning:  plan on three to ten scans of an area to capture point clouds.  Scanner can produce xyz values and rgb values
 - Optimizing data collection for your project:  use the scanner's indoor and outdoor profiles to optimize collection at various distances (10m, 20m, further), and follow the "Scanner Positioning" guidelines here for scanning a single object:  https://knowledge.faro.com/Hardware/Focus/Focus/Laser_Scanner_Best_Practices 
 - see also charts like this online for scan resolution for particular applications:  https://www.laserscanning-europe.com/en/news/scan-time-the-faro-focus-s-series 
 - FARO scanner shows time estimates for scans.  To reduce scan time or total number of points collected, change parameters such as color(RGB) vs grayscale resolution, speed, night mode, HDR.  Resolution guide (from https://knowledge.faro.com/Hardware/Focus/Focus/Laser_Scanner_Best_Practices - "Scanner Settings"  - 1/1 or 1/2 - Objects and small areas, 1/4 or 1/5 - Outdoors and large, indoor spaces, 1/8 or 1/10 - Indoors and small, outdoor spaces.  For example, use the "Indoor ...10m" profile for: Indoors, distance between scanner and object of interest is under 10m.     Res: 1/8    Quality: 3X    Color: On    Sensors: On.  See "On Site" section for more about weather(rain, wind, high heat) and surfaces(bright, reflective objects, glass, water, hot surfaces)

Running the scanner --

1. NOTE: See "FARO Quick Start Guide" included in box for more details of these steps
   1. Insert charged battery and formatted SD card for data storage
   2. Press and hold silver power button on top of Faro scanner
   3. Run menus from scanner itself or connect to smartphone/tablet
   4. With the device menus, click "Manage" to create a project and modify resolution and quality.  Note: resolution and quality affect length of scan and size of data file. 
   5. From on-screen display, click Manage > Projects/Clusters > Default Project > enter a project name.
   6. Select from various profiles, Indoor less than 10m (Indoor ...10m), Indoor 10m, Outdoor 20m, etc 
   7. Navigate to sensors > inclinometer and check the inclinometer, re-level if necessary
   8. Back at the home menu, click the large blue "play" button to start scanning
   9. When scanning is complete, move FARO unit to new location and repeat
   10. Create three or more scans of an area.  

Load/import scans to Faro scene software, register scenes and export to point cloud in .wrl format 

1. Insert SD card into DEV studio machine with Scene software
2. follow the 'workflow bar' from left to right at the top of the software window (Project - Import - Processing - Registration - Explore - Export 
3. Use the automatic registration tools
4. If necessary to remove any moving objects from scan, use FARO Scene 'moving objects filter'.  For details, see https://farotechnologies.mcoutput.com/faro_scene_help/index.htm#Moving_Objects_Filter.htm
5. create a 'clipping box' for the area-of-interest and generate a point cloud 
6. Under the "Project" folder,  right-click the word 'scans' on the left-hand side, (scans > export > scans > scan point clouds-unordered)
7. Isolate an area of interest using Scene's 'clipping box' tool
8. Right click in the clipping box >Active Clipping boxes> Export 3D Selection
9. Select the format and create a file name (wrl, las, xyz, etc) 
10. Export point cloud of scans to .wrl / .vrml format for use in Blender (which can transform .wrl to .fbx)
11. Exporting FARO Scene data to additional tools such as Blender to export to other desired formats 

WRL format to FBX format using "Blender" software 

1. Import wrl file
2. Export to .fbx format 
3. Processing scanner data with FARO Scene Software--
4. Download, install and open "Blender" software
5. Import .wrl file
6. View data
7. Export to .fbx format