[Insight-users] Registering 3D point cloud data

[Darren Hill]

We have been developing a system that uses a laser to accurately scan a
cylindrical surface.  The laser scans the surface by moving in the
circumferential direction and then advances axially so that an overlapping
section is created between successive strips of data.  Each strip is
approximately 50 mm (2") wide and the circumferential length of the strips
are constant and are dependant on the diameter of the cylinder.  The
apparatus consists of a cylindrical track for circumferential motion and a
linear track for axial motion.  The system that has been constructed thus
far aligns the strips to within +/- 1 mm (0.040") but is limited by the
rigidity of the system.
We would like to know if anyone could provide us with a basic software
program that would make the minor adjustments that we need (translation and
rotation) to get our strips of data to be accurately registered relative to
one another.
Sample data is available at your request (The 3 dimensional data (X ,Y and Z
coordinates) are in CSV format).
Any help or recommendations would be appreciated.
Regards,
Darren