The working principle and common application scenarios of a 3D foot scanner.

People are increasingly paying attention to physical health and comfortable living, and 3D foot scanners have gradually been introduced into fields such as medical care, sports, footwear, and rehabilitation.

They use optical and digital technologies to convert the shape and data of the foot into precise three-dimensional data and models, aiming to focus on foot health and personalized foot customization.

How does a 3D foot scanner work, and in which places is it commonly applied?

1. Working principle
3D foot scanners use optical measurement methods, commonly including laser scanning and structured light scanning.

Laser scanning emits a laser beam onto the foot. The returned light signal is received, and by calculating the position of each point, a complete three-dimensional dataset is obtained.

Because the precision of laser scanning is very high, it can reach millimeter-level accuracy. In structured light scanning, specific striped or grid patterns are projected onto the foot. A camera captures the deformation of the pattern on the foot and records it. Through mathematical calculations, the three-dimensional shape of the foot is obtained.

Structured light scanning is fast and safe, making it more suitable for children and the elderly.

Regardless of the technology used, the working principle of a 3D foot scanner is:

1. Data acquisition: the device collects data of the foot from multiple angles within a few seconds.

2. Model generation: the computer integrates the point cloud data into a complete foot model.

3. Analysis: the foot scan report measures foot length, foot width, arch height, instep thickness, toe alignment, and other data. Non-contact scanning not only solves issues of error, safety, and hygiene, but also makes the process simple, fast, and visualized.

2. Common applications

• Hospitals’ orthopedics, rehabilitation, and podiatry departments use 3D foot scanners to scan feet, assess foot health, and develop reasonable correction and rehabilitation plans.

• Footwear factories use 3D foot scanners to scan feet and produce well-fitting insoles to improve foot issues.

• The sports industry uses 3D foot scanners to analyze foot shape and customize well-fitting sports shoes.

Other places include foot disease centers, foot health institutes, podiatry clinics, foot physiotherapy centers, foot health hospitals, foot wellness clubs, foot correction centers, and insole customization centers.