This machine is somewhat like a lathe in presentation with rotating grips that can manipulate a three dimensional object on either its x or y axis. The machine can currently handle any object up to 3 cubic feet in dimension, although it is feasible for this to be adapted without too much difficulty. Whilst the object is rotated by the grips, a covering of pin-points are applied to its surface recording the dimensions, pits, troughs, curvature and angles of its surface much in the same way phrenological scanners take readings. These readings are then fed into a babbage engine and recorded in representational mathematical formulae on punchcards.

Originally designed by Thomas Crapper for recording dimensions of mechanical parts from models for mass production, or incrementally scaling designs up and down it has recently been turned to the purpose of pathology research. Crapper had formulae developed for taking recordings of human models and extrapolating their bone structure that Crapper had developed to replicate more life-like movement in automatons and authorised clockwork figures of famous prizefighters for his "Backstreet Pugilist" clockwork game. Reversing these formulae for the purpose and using a telegraphic printer to sketch the output, Crapper was able to extrapolate the features and thus the  ethnic origins of the collection of Professor Donaghue's Crystal Skulls. Using this method they were able to guess at an approximate origin civilisation of each skull.

Crapper has not taken this technology any further as of yet, but Donaghue has already suggested that it has a valuable function both in the field of archaeology and has potential uses in Criminology.