A recent case of counterfeit gold cast statues has uncovered a sophisticated technique: hiding a machined tungsten core inside to alter volumetric weight. Tungsten, with a density similar to gold, can deceive scales and basic tests. To uncover these frauds, inspection tools such as VGSTUDIO MAX and Geomagic Control X are used, analyzing the internal structure without damaging the piece.
3D Pipeline to Detect the Hidden Core 🔍
The process begins with a computed tomography (CT) scan that generates a point cloud of the object. With VGSTUDIO MAX, the volumetric model is reconstructed and materials are segmented by density, revealing the tungsten core as a high-attenuation zone. Then, Geomagic Control X compares the digital model with the original CAD design, calculating deviations in mass and volume. The difference between the expected and actual weight exposes the deception with millimeter precision.
Faker than a gold bar filled with nuts 😅
Someone thought putting tungsten inside a statue was the ultimate scam move. And wow, it almost worked: the weight is the same, the shine deceives, and even the smartest person bites the corner thinking it's pure gold. But then the CT scanner arrives and spills the beans, or rather, the tungsten. The moral: if you're going to counterfeit gold, at least don't use a metal that engineers detect with a bargain software.