(NVision: Coppell, TX) -- A major manufacturer of hydraulic fracturing tools for the oil and gas industry is using NVision’s hand-held laser scanner to increase the performance and life of its products by gaining a clearer picture of erosion patterns. The company previously used ultrasonic sensors to measure discrete points in a gridded pattern after erosion testing with a slurry material called proppant. The HandHeld Scanner provides a much clearer understanding of erosion patterns by measuring millions of points and providing a comparison of the geometry before and after testing; color-deviation models show the amount of material that has been eroded in each area of the tool. This information helps engineers gain an intuitive understanding of tool performance, which in turn helps improve design and substantially increase tool life.

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