Talleres Artificio reduces ball mill inspection time by up to 50% with metrology

Talleres Artificio, a mechanical engineering company based in Nogales, Chile, has integrated SHINING 3D‘s FreeScan Trak Nova into its inspection workflow for ball mill maintenance projects, cutting on-site measurement time by up to 50%, the company claimed.

Prior to adopting 3D scanning, the firm relied on conventional manual instruments to inspect large mining equipment — a process that presented recurring limitations. Complex geometries on components such as ball mills and bearing housings proved difficult to measure with standard tools, with engineers facing restricted access to critical surfaces, inconsistent results tied to operator experience, and an inability to verify features such as cylindricity and shaft alignment when a full 180-degree measurement was not accessible.

Capturing geometry in the field

The FreeScan Trak Nova is a large-area dynamic tracking system that uses Video Photogrammetry, or VPG, technology to allow operators to track point clouds across wide scanning areas. SHINING 3D reported that the system uses certified measurement modules designed for accuracy and consistency in demanding field conditions.

Since deployment, Talleres Artificio’s engineers have used the scanner to capture point cloud data directly on-site, producing digital models used for reverse engineering, maintenance planning, and quality control. 

The system’s ability to assess geometric features — including cylindricity and relative misalignment between ball mill shafts — gave engineers access to data that conventional instruments could not reliably deliver.

Talleres Artificio serves clients across the mining, heavy industry, and advanced manufacturing sectors.