Computed tomography (CT) is most often associated with imaging the body because it enables clinicians to see the anatomical structure inside the patient without having to do any surgery. To image inside the human body, a CT scanner requires X-rays because the radiation has to be able to penetrate through the body. If the object is semi-transparent, it is actually possible to conduct CT scanning using visible light! The technique is called optical CT.

I decided to build a desktop system of my own so I could see CT in action. In the process, I also adapted the device for 3D imaging through photogrammetry. The box for holding the electronics and object was first designed in Fusion360, and constructed using wood, PVC joints, dowel rods, and custom designed parts.

The camera is triggered using a remote shutter and Arduino, while the object is rotated with a stepper motor. After images are acquired from many angles, the 3D construction is computed using either Matlab or Photoscan.