Handheld 3D Laser Scanner
- High-precision: 0.02mm
- High speed scanning: 480000 times/s
- Depth of field: ±250mm
Handheld 3D Laser Scanner Introduction
The handheld 3D laser scanner is designed for product development workflows at the same time, meeting quality control requirements in non-contact 3D measurements. The handheld 3D laser scanner encompasses data capture, transfer and processing.
The handheld 3D laser scanner is able to capture the 3D shape and colour of any object. The handheld 3D laser scanner is a powerful inspection solution that is insensitive to harsh environments.
The handheld 3D laser scanner is ideal for quality control, reverse engineering, jewelry, buildings, medical and dental objects.
The operation process is automatic with a simple click.
- Dreambot3D handheld 3D laser scanner accurately collects details and analyzes objects for its shape, even in difficult and complex surfaces.
- The handheld 3D laser scanner has an accuracy of 0.025mm, and a volumetric accuracy of 0.020mm + 0.040mm/m to ensure quality analysis for production.
- Dreambot3D handheld 3D laser scanner has high resolution for fine details.
- The handheld 3D laser scanner weighs 0.94kg, which is lightweight to easily maneuver and for easy transportation to different locations.
- The handheld 3D laser scanner can be used alone without a tripod or other external tracking devices before it can be operated.
- The handheld 3D laser scanner is powered and starts scanning in less than 2 minutes. It scans to mesh within seconds.
- It is suitable for design in various manufacturing plants as well as speeding up the design process.
- Regardless of the size of objects, the handheld 3D laser scanner can scan accurately, high resolution, and repeatable results.
- The handheld 3D laser scanner allows for a close range scanning.
- Dreambot3D handheld 3D laser scanner supports Windows 8 and 10 for displaying scanned objects.
- The handheld 3D laser scanner can be used in any environmental condition without affecting its scanning accuracy.
- Dreambot3D handheld 3D laser scanner is a fast process that automatically generates meshes. This enables a fast workflow from the set-up to scan and then to file.
- The handheld 3D laser scanner can perform up to 1,300,000 measurements per sec, and a large scanning area of 11 laser crosses. This means that there is no delay in the scanning process, and it contributes to a fast and efficient production process.
- The handheld 3D laser scanner has a USB power scanner, a user-friendly interface and an ergonomic design that makes it easy to use and can easily be learnt within a short time for first-time users.
- The same device can scan different sizes of objects and surface types within a short time.
- The handheld 3D laser scanner has versatility of applications; it is used in industrial, reverse engineering, civil surveying, mining, medical, dentistry, construction, tooling validation and inspection, mechanical, archeological, aerospace, etc.
- Dreambot3D handheld 3D laser scanner has HD cameras and a highly sensitive infrared projector that contributes to the efficient functioning of the handheld 3D laser scanner.
- Each part size that can be measured ranges from 0.05 to 4m.
- The handheld 3D laser scanner is also used for rapid prototyping, concept design, digital archiving.
| Product model | T7+ |
| Scan mode | Handheld scanning |
| Scanning accuracy | Maximum 0.02mm |
| Volume accuracy | 0.02mm/m, * positioning with the help of mark points |
| Space point distance | 0.2mm ~2mm |
| Single chip scanning range | 300x250mm |
| Depth of field | ±250mm |
| Scanning speed | 14 beams, 480000 points / S |
| Light source | Class II laser (eye safety) |
| Splicing mode | Feature stitching / mark point stitching |
| Texture scanning | support |
| Working center distance | 400mm |
| Special scanning object processing | Transparent, reflective, individual dark black objects can not be directly scanned, need to spray powder first. It is necessary to add shelter to avoid strong light interference |
| Outdoor operation | OBJ，STL，ASC,PLY，P3，3MF |
| data format | Support the output of direct 3D printing model |
| Printable data output | 1.13kg (including transmission line) |
| Scanning head weight | Win7, win8, win10, 64 bit |
| System support | Graphics card: NVIDIA gtx770 and above, video memory: > 4G, |
| Computer requirements | processor: i7 and above, Memory: 16g and above, port: high speed usb3.0 |
Test your part
We provide sample testing service, allowing you to check the working quality of our 3D scanner before placing an order
Dreambot3D 3D printers for your choice
L-800 FDM 3D Printer
The L-800 3D printer has a printing volume of 800*800*800mm suitable for industrial printing applications that involve heavy printing like aerospace, construction, etc.
DB-345 LCD 3D Printer
The 3D-345 3D printer has a printing volume of 345*195*335mm suitable for small printing applications like jewelry making, handicraft, personalized printing, etc.
DB-550 LCD 3D Printer
The DB-550 3D printer has a maximum printing volume of 527*296*550mm suitable for commercial and industrial printing options, like construction, advertising, robotics, etc.
buying guide of Handheld 3D Laser Scanner
Maybe the need for a handheld 3D laser scanner in your production line just became obvious, or it’s been there all this while, and you’ve negligent to it. Whichever the case may be, one thing is certain; you are exploring this buying guide because you need detailed information to back up your buying decision.
And with respect to helping you make the best buying decision possible, we’ve detailed everything there is to know about handheld 3D laser scanners.
From how 3D scanning became relevant in multiple industries to the types of scanning technology, the factors to consider when buying a handheld 3D scanner, and the type of handheld 3D laser scanners available in our catalog, this buying guide has you covered.
Introduction to the Development of 3D Scanning
A Handheld 3D scanner is a device that analyses a real-world object or environment to collect data on its shape and possibly its appearance. The collected data can then be used to construct three-dimensional digital models. 3D laser scanning developed during the last half of the 20th century in an attempt to accurately recreate the surfaces of various objects and places.
Handheld 3D scanners are especially helpful in fields of research and design. The first 3D scanning technology was created in the 1960s. The early scanners used lights, cameras, and projectors to perform this task. Due to the limitations of the equipment, it often took a lot of time and effort to scan objects accurately. After 1985 they were replaced with scanners that could use white light, lasers, and shadowing to capture a given surface.
Many different technologies can be used to build these portable 3D scanning devices; each technology comes with its own limitations, advantages, and costs. Many limitations in the kind of objects that can be digitized are still present: for example, optical technologies encounter many difficulties with shiny, mirroring, or transparent objects.
There are several different kinds of 3D laser scanners, with prices ranging from a couple thousand to hundreds of thousands. Collected 3D data is useful for a wide variety of applications. These devices are used extensively by the entertainment industry in the production of movies and video games.
Other common applications of this technology include industrial design, orthotics and prosthetics, reverse engineering and prototyping, quality control/inspection, and documentation of cultural artifacts. The 3D Laser Scanning market, including hardware, software, and services, is rather dynamic, with major segments experiencing rapid product innovation.
The 3D scanning market contains exceptional opportunities with rapid forecasted growth driven by both replacing older mechanical methods and by improved workflow with lower overall project costs, which enables more projects.
1.1, The Origin and Development Process of 3D Scanning Technology
3D laser scanning developed during the last half of the 20th century in an attempt to accurately recreate the surfaces of various objects and places. The technology is especially helpful in fields of research and design. The first 3D scanning technology was created in the 1960s. The early scanners used lights, cameras, and projectors to perform this task. Due to the limitations of the equipment, it often took a lot of time and effort to scan objects accurately.
After 1985 they were replaced with scanners that could use white light, lasers, and shadowing to capture a given surface. With the advent of computers, it was possible to build up a highly complex handheld 3D scanner, but the problem came with creating that model. Complex surfaces defied the tape measure, so in the eighties, the toolmaking industry developed a contact probe, which enabled a precise model to be created, but it was very slow.
The aim was to create a system to capture the same amount of detail but at a higher speed, resulting in a more effective application – leading experts to start developing optical technology because the use of light was much faster than a physical probe. This also allowed scanning of soft objects, which would be threatened by prodding. At that time, three types of optical technology were available:
Stripe was clearly the way forwards, but it soon became apparent that the actual challenge faced was software-based. The sensor would make several scans from different positions to capture an object in three dimensions. The challenge was to join those scans together, remove the duplicated data and sift out the surplus that inevitably gathers when you collect several million points of data at once.
One of the first applications was capturing humans for the animation industry. Cyberware Laboratories of Los Angeles developed this field in the eighties with their Head Scanner. By the mid-nineties, they had developed into a full-body scanner. The first 3D scanner, which they titled REPLICA, launched for the first time in 1994. It allowed for fast, highly accurate scanning of very detailed objects making serious progress in laser stripe scanning.
Meanwhile, Cyberware was developing their own high detail 3D scanner scanners, some of which were able to capture object color too, but despite this progress, true three-dimensional scanning – with these degrees of speed and accuracy – remained elusive.
Digibotics introduced a 4-axis machine, which could provide a full 3D model from a single scan, but this was based on laser point – not laser stripe – and was thus slow. It also lacked the freedom necessary to cover the entire surface of an object and could not digitize colored surfaces.
The costly optical scanners were soon forgotten once Immersion and FARO Technologies introduced low-cost manually operated digitizers. These could produce complete models, but their first editions were slow, particularly detailed models. They also lacked the ability to digitize colored surfaces. 3D modelers were united in their quest for a scanner that was:
- Accurate
- Fast
- Truly three dimensional
- Capable of capturing color surfaces
- And reasonably priced
In 1996, 3D Scanners took the key technologies of a manually operated arm and a stripe 3D scanner, resulting in the world’s first incredibly fast and flexible Reality Capture System. The advancing technologies now produce complex models incorporating textures and color, which can now be produced in mere minutes.
1.2, What is the Function of 3D Scanning
3D scanning is a technology used in cutting-edge workflows. 3D scanning helps simplify the day-to-day activity of experts in numerous industries. Amongst the many functions of 3D scanning, its notability in the design and creation of prototypes takes a front role. Take the automotive industry. Want to check if a new valve will improve an engine’s performance? A handheld 3D laser scans the valve to make a 3D model, modify it via reverse engineering, and place it into CAD software to see how the valve will perform inside the engine.
Moving our attention to 3D scanners. You might want to keep in mind that 3D scanners generate 3D scans. A handheld 3D laser scanner works like a video camera, meaning it takes shots of an object. A camera, however, makes two-dimensional stills, while the scanner captures the geometry of the object’s surface, and the shots it has made are worked into a 3D model rather than a video.
Handheld 3D scanners are used in a range of industries, from manufacturing to healthcare and VR. Retrofitting heavy machinery, performing quality control of mechanical parts, designing customized prosthetic devices, creating visual effects for movies, developing characters for video games – all such projects have high-precision 3D models of physical objects at their core.
Innovative portable 3D scanners are widely used in industrial design, engineering, and manufacturing, due to their ability to quickly and precisely capture the required data. Without these advanced 3D devices, measurements would have to be collected by outdated manual methods, which can be too costly and time-consuming.
3D scanning is also Useful during each stage of product design, testing, development, launch, and aftercare; powerful 3D scanning solutions significantly accelerate the workflow, help avoid costly mistakes, and enhance productivity.
To decide which 3D laser scanner is best for various applications in this field, it is important to take into consideration the size and features of the object to be captured.
For instance, large industrial objects such as trucks, trains, and even planes are best captured with a versatile, stationary 3D scanner. These types of scanners require minimal supervision and interaction with the operator yet deliver accurate results in brief periods of time.
Types of 3D Scanning Technology
With the massive growth and improvement the laser scanning industry underwent over the years; it doesn’t come as a surprise that numerous variants of 3D scanning technology are in existence. In this chapter, we will highlight the three most notable 3D scanning technology with brief info as to their relevance in numerous fields.
But before we dive into the types of 3D scanning technology available, a quick reminder as to what 3D scanning means wouldn’t hurt. 3D scanning is the process of converting a 3D object into a 3D model. This technique captures information like the shape, the texture, the color, and other details of the object being scanned. A 3D scanner collects information about the object being scanned as well as the environment (e.g., room) in which the object is present. Besides objects, a person can also be 3D scanned.
3D scanners essentially create a digital copy of a real-world object. This digital copy or 3D file can then be edited, and 3D printed as per the user’s requirements. 3D scanner files are generally compatible with CAD software and 3D printing slicer software. Sometimes, certain tweaks may be necessary for the CAD software to make the 3D scanner file compatible.
2.1, Contact Scanning
This 3D scanning method involves the physical contact of a probe onto the surface of the object being scanned. First, the object is firmly held in place so that it does not move. Then, the touching probe is moved all over the object in order to collect the details of the object and all the 3D information that is necessary to create a digital file.
Enough points on the surface need to be sampled to create an accurate model. Sometimes, an articulated arm is used to control the touching probe and capture multiple angles/configurations with a high level of precision.
Since contact scanning involves actual physical contact with the surface of the object being scanned, even transparent and reflective surfaces can be accurately scanned using this method. This is the major benefit of this technique over other scanning technologies, which, as pointed out above, are incapable of scanning such surfaces.
The disadvantage with contact 3D scanning is its slow speed. Running the touching probe through all sections of an object in order to collect all the 3D information takes time.
Contact 3D scanning is interestingly used to perform quality control in industrial fabrication. Parts that have been newly fabricated can be checked for any deformations or damages using contact scanning.
2.2, Non-contact Active Scanning
Active scanners emit some kind of radiation or light and detect its reflection or radiation passing through an object in order to probe an object or environment. Possible types of emissions used include light, ultrasound, or x-ray.
2.2.1, Time-of-flight
Time-of-flight 3D scanning is another active method that uses a laser emitter to fire off successive pulses of laser light. These pulses are reflected off the surface of the subject, upon which a separate laser sensor receives them. The time interval between the emission of the laser and the reception of the reflected beam is used to measure the dimension of individual features on the surface of the subject.
Time-of-flight 3D scanners have the distinct advantage of being usable over large distances. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors that are founded on the principle of time-of-flight 3D scanning have been extensively used to create 3D topographical maps using an aircraft-mounted sensor. Large structures, such as buildings and other geographical features, are also commonly scanned using time-of-flight methods. Since time-of-flight 3D scanners don’t rely on visible light, they can be used to scan objects and environments even in darkness.
Data acquisition rate is one of the areas where time-of-flight 3D scanners suffer. Since they only detect the distance of one point at a time, it can take millions of data points to come up with an accurate model of a moderately-sized subject. Some time-of-flight 3D scanners have solved this problem by extending the field of the view of the range finder.
2.2.2, Triangulation
Laser triangulation is only one of several active 3D scanning methods that use laser emissions in various inventive ways. In laser triangulation, a laser is aimed at the subject while a camera records the location of the emitted laser. As the laser hits different features of the subject, the emitted point appears in different locations from the perspective of the camera.
By combining the geometrical data related to the position of the laser emitter and the subject and the angle of the camera with respect to the laser dot as it appears on the subject, the features and dimensions of the subject can be recreated in a digital model.
The technique is called “triangulation” because the position of the laser emitter, the camera, and the laser dot on the subject forms a triangle that acts as the basis of all spatial measurements. A laser stripe can also be used instead of a single laser point to speed up the process.
Laser triangulation is one of the most accurate 3D scanning methods, able to achieve an accuracy in the order of tens of micrometers. Since laser triangulation also uses a camera, the visual data can be combined with the data cloud to come out with full-color 3D models.
The technology behind laser triangulation is fairly simple, allowing the development of handheld 3D scanners. These desktop-scale DIY models also come fairly cheap – just about a few hundred bucks. Combined with the accuracy and rate of data acquisition of laser triangulation scanners, their level of accessibility has made them extremely popular.
The limitation of laser triangulation lies in the distance. Since the camera needs to see the position of a very small laser dot or a thin laser stripe, laser triangulation cannot be used to scan objects more than a few meters away. Since the method relies on a reflected laser dot, subjects with reflective or transparent surfaces can be particularly problematic.
2.2.3, Handheld Laser
Hand-held laser scanners create a 3D image through the triangulation mechanism described above: a laser dot or line is projected onto an object from a hand-held device, and a sensor (typically a charge-coupled device or position-sensitive device) measures the distance to the surface.
Data is collected in relation to an internal coordinate system, and therefore to collect data where the scanner is in motion, the position of the scanner must be determined. The position can be determined by the scanner using reference features on the surface being scanned (typically adhesive reflective tabs, but natural features have also been used in research work or by using an external tracking method.
External tracking often takes the form of a laser tracker (to provide the sensor position) with an integrated camera (to determine the orientation of the scanner) or a photogrammetric solution using three or more cameras providing the complete six degrees of freedom of the scanner. Both techniques tend to use infrared light-emitting diodes attached to the scanner, which are seen by the camera(s) through filters providing resilience to ambient lighting.
Data is collected by a computer and recorded as data points within three-dimensional space; with processing, this can be converted into a triangulated mesh and then a computer-aided design model, often as non-uniform rational B-spline surfaces. Hand-held laser scanners can combine this data with passive, visible-light sensors — which capture surface textures and colors — to build (or “reverse engineer”) a full 3D model.
2.2.4, Structured Lighting
Structured light 3D scanners project an image with a pre-determined pattern on the subject. Depending on the features of the subject, the pattern will then be distorted in a number of different ways. A camera records the image of the projected pattern and uses the data on the distortions to calculate the dimensions of the individual features.
One strength of the structured light method is that it does not rely on any sophisticated equipment. The light pattern can be projected on the subject using a standard LCD projector, while images can be captured using any high-quality camera. The speed of data acquisition using structured light is almost unmatched since it can scan multiple points or an entire field of view at once. Resolution is also excellent – typically in the range of 1 micrometer.
As with any 3D scanning method that relies on optical properties, reflective or transparent surfaces can be challenging for structured light 3D scanners. In some cases, this limitation can be overcome by painting over these surfaces with a thin opaque lacquer.
More recent developments in the field of structured light 3D scanning have focused on coming up with algorithms by re-designing the illumination patterns that come up when scanning optically complex subjects. The results of these efforts have been promising for scanning difficult objects such as reflective metals or translucent surfaces.
2.2.5, Modulated Lighting
Modulated light 3D scanners shine a continually changing light at the subject. Usually, the light source simply cycles its amplitude in a sinusoidal pattern. A camera detects the reflected light, and the amount the pattern is shifted by determines the distance the light traveled. Modulated light also allows the scanner to ignore light from sources other than a laser, so there is no interference.
2.3, Non-contact Passive Scanning
Passive 3D imaging solutions do not emit any kind of radiation themselves but instead rely on detecting reflected ambient radiation. Most solutions of this type detect visible light because it is a readily available ambient radiation. Other types of radiation, such as infrared, could also be used.
Passive methods can be very cheap because, in most cases, they do not need particular hardware but simple digital cameras. The most common non-passive 3D scanning systems include Stereoscopic, photometric, and silhouette.
- Stereoscopic systems usually employ two video cameras, slightly apart, looking at the same scene. By analyzing the slight differences between the images seen by each camera, it is possible to determine the distance at each point in the images. This method is based on the same principles driving human stereoscopic vision.
- Photometric systems usually use a single camera but take multiple images under varying lighting conditions. These techniques attempt to invert the image formation model in order to recover the surface orientation at each pixel.
- Silhouette techniques use outlines created from a sequence of photographs around a three-dimensional object against a well-contrasted background. These silhouettes are extruded and intersected to form the visual hull approximation of the object. With these approaches, some concavities of an object (like the interior of a bowl) cannot be detected.
Analysis of Industrial 3D Scanners on the Market
From 3D handheld scanners to LED 3D Scanners, you will find a lot of durable 3D scanners in the global market. And since it’s no news that you have to understand the basics of all the variants available and how reliable, we’ve taken this opportunity to detail out all the information you would need to purchase an industrial 3D scanner.
Whether you’re looking for the perfect entry-level scanner suitable for students or hobbyists, a more powerful machine with better software and workflows for accurate scans of artifacts or parts, or an industrial-level 3D scanner that can handle quality control and reverse engineering, you’ll find a scanner in this list to fit your needs and budget.
3.1, Handheld 3D Laser Scanner
A handheld 3d scanner is a bar-shaped electronic device that digitally captures and stores images. Portable and running on batteries, it has controls and a display for selecting different scan modes, showing the amount of memory available for documents and indicating the status of a scan. Mobile professionals such as salespeople use handheld 3D laser scanners to capture memos, contracts, sketches, and photos with high resolution.
Handheld 3D laser scanners are smaller, portable versions of their desktop cousins. Like a flatbed scanner, they scan documents, drawings, and other flat media, turning them into digital files you can store, edit or email from a computer. The handheld 3D scanner’s sophisticated miniature electronics put all the basic functions you’d expect in a desktop model, plus digital document storage, into a device you can pack in a briefcase.
The heart of the handheld 3D laser scanner is its detector array: a set of tiny light sensors formed into a line that takes up most of the scanner’s length. As it passes over a document, the scanner illuminates the page, and the sensors pick up the image or text as a set of points of light. Rollers on the scanner touch the document and measure the length of the surface over which the scanner passes, allowing the scanner to correctly scale the image.
Handheld 3D laser scanners emit a narrow, pencil-like beam of light of a single color. Both the narrowness of the beam and the fact it’s a single color are essential to the utility of a handheld 3D laser scanner.
All laser scanners share some common operational principles. They emit a beam of light over a target area; then, they measure the light that is returned to the scanner. Usually — but not always — that will be reflected light. The collected light is then analyzed. There are different scanning mechanisms, but they all do the same thing: direct the laser beam to cover an area of interest. Some of the places where handheld 3D scanners are readily used include;
- Barcode Scanners
Handheld 3D laser barcode scanners are commonplace. One of the standard designs has the laser beam going through a beam splitter onto a rotating mirror. As the mirror rotates, the beam traces an arc. Some of the light is reflected back into the scanner, where it bounces off that beamsplitter and gets sent into a sensor.
The sensor analyzes the intensity as a function of time. When the intensity is low for a long time, that means the scanned beam was going across a thick dark band; if the intensity is high for a short time, that means there was a narrow white stripe. This is how the handheld 3D laser scanner reconstructs the barcode pattern electronically so it can be processed by software.
- 3-D Scanners
Three-D laser scanners can have the same kind of rotating mirror assembly to point the beam — although it takes two mirrors to scan the beam to cover a whole area. Instead of measuring the intensity of the reflected beam, they measure something related to distance, something like the time it takes for the beam to return.
Part of the 3D hand scanner laser beam on the way out gets sent to a detector, where it starts a clock. Then the reflected beam gets sent to the same detector, where it stops the clock. The time difference between the two measurements is proportional to how long the laser beam traveled at that particular point. When the beam is scanned over an area, it creates a 3-D map of how far away each spot in the scan area is from the scanner.
- Medical Scanners
Another type of handheld laser scanner doesn’t only monitor the intensity of the reflected light; it monitors the wavelength. The laser light interacts with matter in several ways. One of those ways is to be absorbed. Sometimes the matter that absorbs the light re-emits light at a different wavelength. Sometimes a handheld laser scanner will use more than one laser at the same time and determine the amount that’s absorbed in each laser wavelength.
That type of measurement can provide information about the composition of the object being scanned. When the object being scanned is living tissue, the handheld laser scanner can provide information about the health of the tissue. These scanners are somewhat experimental, but they hold promise as non-invasive clinical tools.
- Environmental Monitoring
The same kind of wavelength information that some people are trying to use for medical diagnosis also can be used for other purposes. When a handheld laser scanner looks at wavelength information, it’s doing spectral analysis. Spectral analysis can be used to identify molecules and atoms in the scanning region. One common application is pollution monitoring. A handheld 3D scanner can indicate what compounds are in the air at the exit of a smokestack or over a manure pond at a farm.
3.2, LED 3D Scanner
LED 3D scanning is a type of non-contact metrology that leverages white light to produce highly accurate measurements. LED 3D scanning enables highly accurate 3D models of physical objects to be created quickly and with a high level of precision. LED scanning technology has been on the market for over two decades. GOM’s ATOS systems, which have since evolved to utilize the more advanced blue light technology, were using LED commercially as early as 1995.
LED 3D scanning works by projecting the line shadows from a 2D lens to a 3D surface. Cameras are then leveraged to view the variances in the 2D lines on the 3D objects and use advanced algorithms to generate point clouds. The X-Y-Z coordinate points generated during this process are then brought together to create a precise 3D model of the physical object.
However, when compared to handheld 3D laser scanning, LED 3D Scanning is not as durable. LED 3D scanners measure the surface area of a device and create models based on that data. Oftentimes, this process of collecting measurements can be tedious and labor-intensive. LED 3D systems often require the user to leverage a portable 3d scanner or articulating arm and wave the scanner in a paintbrush-style motion over the object.
Not only can this process be time-consuming, but it can also lead to redundancy in efforts and overlapping data. A handheld 3D scanning system, on the other hand, generally uses a camera mount, tripod, or robot and enables a “point & shoot” style workflow that minimizes setup and programming.
3.3, Photo 3D Scanning
Over the last decade, digital photography has entered the mainstream with inexpensive, miniaturized cameras for consumer use. Digital projection is poised to make a similar breakthrough, with a variety of vendors offering small, low-cost projectors.
As a result, active imaging is a topic of renewed interest in the computer graphics community. In particular, low-cost photo 3D scanners are now within reach of students and hobbyists with a modest budget.
We are now capable of printing almost anything, provided we have a 3D model to work from. There are many ways to make a 3d model, but one of the coolest is to 3D scan an existing object.
With a Photo 3d scanner and the right printer, you can reproduce any object of any size, from a house to an earring. You can also use the scan as a starting point for a new creation. Think of everything you can do with a picture in Photoshop. Now you can do that in 3d with real stuff as well.
Why You Can Use Dreambot3D’s Handheld 3D Laser Scanner
Dreambot3D handheld 3D laser scanners use a type of digital modeling technology that creates accurate 3D models using laser light and simple mathematics. Depending on the handheld laser scanner, either a laser point or laser line is directed at the object to be scanned.
Specialized software then uses either triangulation or time of flight to calculate and record data points where the laser comes in contact with the object’s surface. These points are rendered as cartesian coordinates (X, Y, and Z planes). Typically, thousands or hundreds of thousands of data points are recorded from different angles until a full 360° scan is constructed. Upon completion, this looks like a cluster of data points, called a point cloud, which provides engineers with the information to make a mesh and/or CAD file of the object.
Amongst the many handheld 3D scanner manufacturers in the market, Dreambot3D’s products are reputable for the durability and heightened efficiency they add to the production line.
4.1, The Working Principle of Dreambot3D‘s handheld 3d Laser Scanner
Dreambot3D handheld 3D Laser Scanners use a non-contact, non-destructive technology that digitally captures the shape of physical objects using a line of laser light. Handheld 3D laser scanners create “point clouds” of data from the surface of an object. In other words, Dreambot3D 3D laser scanning is a way to capture a physical object’s exact size and shape into the computer world as a digital 3-dimensional representation.
Handheld 3D laser scanners measure fine details and capture free-form shapes to quickly generate highly accurate point clouds. Dreambot3D handheld 3D laser scanning is ideally suited to the measurement and inspection of contoured surfaces and complex geometries, which require massive amounts of data for their accurate description and where doing this is impractical with the use of traditional measurement methods or a touch probe.
The 3D Scanning Process: Data Acquisition via 3D Laser Scanning
Handheld 3D Laser Scanning Process An object that is to be laser scanned is placed on the bed of the digitizer. Specialized software drives the laser probe above the surface of the object. The laser probe projects a line of laser light onto the surface while two sensor cameras continuously record the changing distance and shape of the laser line in three dimensions (XYZ) as it sweeps along the object.
Resulting Data
The shape of the object appears as millions of points called a “point cloud” on the computer monitor as the laser moves around, capturing the entire surface shape of the object. The process is very fast, gathering up to 750,000 points per second and very precise (to ±.0005″).
Modeling Choice Depends on Application
After the huge point cloud data files are created, they are registered and merged into one three-dimensional representation of the object and post-processed with various software packages suitable for a specific application.
Point Cloud Data for Inspection
If the data is to be used for inspection, the scanned object can be compared to the designer’s CAD nominal data. The result of this comparison process is delivered in the form of a “color map deviation report,” in PDF format, which pictorially describes the differences between the scan data and the CAD data.
4.2, Features of Dreambot3D‘s Handheld 3D Laser Scanner
Purchasing a handheld 3D laser scanner from our store comes with many perks. And amongst the many features you get to enjoy from integrating Dreambot3D handheld laser scanners in your production line, the below listed are the most notable.
- Fast & Thorough
Other measuring technologies, such as CMM, hand tools, and traditional surveying devices, only measure one data point at a time, making them tedious and time-consuming. Dreambot3D handheld 3D laser scanner, on the other hand, can record thousands to tens of thousands of data points per second as the laser is moved over the surface of the object or terrain.
This enables scans to be completed within hours or days depending on the scale of what you are scanning, meaning your project can progress at an accelerated rate. Additionally, because such a great density of data points are collected with ease, our handheld 3D scanner provides a more thorough, detailed picture than can be achieved with traditional methods. As such, you can be sure all the information you need has been collected at once.
- Accurate
Depending on the environment in which the scan is conducted and the specifics of the handheld 3D scanner, an accuracy of 0.002-0.197” may be achieved. This high level of accuracy helps ensure that measurements are correct the first time so that less work is needed to complete subsequent steps in design and production.
- Non-Contact
Because our handheld 3D laser scanners operate with optical-based technology, there is no need for the scanner to touch the object. This can be helpful when seeking to measure small, intricate, or fragile features that may be distorted or damaged when touched. Distorted objects will likewise yield incorrect measurements, so handheld 3D laser scanning is suggested in such cases.
- Cost-Effective
With less time and labor being spent during the measurement acquisition and design iteration steps, handheld 3D scanners are substantially more cost-effective than most other measuring technologies. Furthermore, our 3D scanners are affordable because they can easily be outsourced to a company that specializes in 3D scanning services. This can reduce costs related to labor and operator training.
- Safe
Worker safety is the primary concern for construction sites, and our handheld 3D scanners can improve on this aspect for surveying. The portable handheld 3D scanners used for surveying can record accurate measurements from any distance up to several hundred meters. This can help keep operators safe when the survey area is dangerous due to topography or toxic conditions, such as chemical or nuclear facilities, and proximity must be closely monitored. The speed of this technology also reduces the time that operators may be exposed to such conditions.
4.3, Advantages of Dreambot3D‘s handheld 3d laser scanner
Dreambot3D handheld 3D scanners provide a fast and accurate method of digitizing real-world objects. The data gathered by portable laser scanners can be used for reverse engineering, part inspection, package, and ergonomic design, health care, historic preservation, and rapid prototyping.
Handheld laser scanners are used to merge the arts and technology. 3D Scanners create 3D digital representations, called a polygonal mesh, of original works. 3D modeling and animation applications make it easy to make changes to the size, orientation, and shape of the polygonal mesh. The polygonal mesh can even be used for other applications such as 3D gaming, 3D special effects, 3D animation, rapid prototyping, and advanced visualization.
Dreambot3D handheld 3D laser scanners are also used by designers to complement their work. The polygonal mesh derived from a 3D hand scanner can be used for reverse engineering, to make changes to prototypes, or even create molds and dies. Complex surface structures are easily captured as a polygonal mesh by 3D handheld laser scanners.
The polygonal mesh can be converted to a format native to various CAD applications. Once converted, CAD can be used to make slight adjustments to the original parts for better fitment or make even more dramatic changes, such as combining a polygonal mesh with CAD objects to create personalized ergonomic parts. Simple molds can be made by subtracting the polygonal mesh from a box with a part line.
The resulting CAD model can be quickly fabricated using Rapid Prototyping machines and used to pour various materials. 3D handheld scanners have a purpose in the field of forensics. Body deformation caused by automobile accidents can be measured to determine the speed at impact and help reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the event.
Dreambot3D handheld laser scanners have even been used to match up bite marks left on victims to the suspect. 3D model scanning could benefit the design process by:
- Increase effectiveness working with complex parts and shapes.
- Help with the design of products to accommodate someone else’s part.
- If CAD models are outdated, a 3D scan will provide an updated version.
- Replacement of missing or older parts.
4.3.1 Check the Brand Reputation
With the advancement of technology, there are always overwhelming choices available when it comes to equipment. This also applies to handheld laser scanners. When buying a 3D scanner, you need to determine if the equipment meets your expectation, budget, and the kind of parts you hope to print.
With new products and types of materials flooding the market, you need to do a lot of research to make well-informed decisions. In order to get a good brand, there are certain things to consider about the handheld 3D scanner manufacturer. It would be best to look out for buying ratings and reviews from users, reviews from professionals in the field, and a brand that offers a good customer support system.
It is advisable to also look at how many years the handheld 3D scanner manufacturer have been in the market. There are a lot of new 3D laser scanner manufacturers springing into the industry daily. Some of these companies have little or no experience in the industry. So, it is necessary to consider how long a handheld 3D scanner manufacturer has been in the market; their experience in the industry might be helpful.
It can also be helpful to look at manufacturers that bring innovation and keep in touch with modern technology. The 3D scanning industry has undergone a lot of innovation since its foundation. So, it would not be nice to go for a scanner manufacturer who has done nothing to improve its quality in line with modern technology.
4.3.2, Go for flexibility
In terms of which handheld 3D scanning technologies are most desirable, let’s just say that all modern 3D scanning technologies are great, so it really depends on what type(s) of object you need to scan and the results you want to get.
When choosing a handheld 3D scanner, you don’t need to worry about what technology the scanner is based on. This isn’t relevant. What you do need to think about is which handheld laser scanner is right for your application. For example, if you need to scan something very small, you want to choose a handheld 3D scanner that’s able to capture the smallest details of the object in high resolution.
But let’s say you need to scan something from a distance of 100 m, then you’re going to need a long-range scanner. That said, the specifics of how each handheld 3D scanner does this, using which technology, is of no real importance to the user. When you choose a TV, for example, you don’t think about what parts are inside. You simply care about how it works and the quality of the picture you get on the screen.
4.3.3, Pay Attention to Details
Though accuracy is one of the key aspects to consider when choosing a handheld 3D scanner, it is important to explore other factors, such as the resolution of the scanning device.
While accuracy is the measurement of the device’s degree of absolute correctness, the resolution is the least possible distance between any two given points within a 3D model and is usually expressed by millimeters or microns. This means, if you are looking to have an extremely detailed 3D model, you will use a high-resolution handheld 3D scanner to capture the object. This is especially important for applications in quality control, reverse-engineering, animation and VR, heritage preservation, forensics, jewelry, and many others.
Sometimes, however, the user will opt for lower resolution data. The higher the resolution, the heavier the model and the more time it will take to process. This might be a setback for users with less powerful computers, as well as those planning to 3D print the final model. A 3D printer will take much longer to produce a higher resolution model with all of its intricate details.
So if processing time and printing speed matter, this is definitely something to keep in mind. Additionally, some 3D printers may not be able to reproduce high-resolution levels. Depending on the application, users will choose the resolution settings accordingly. If you need your 3D model to be as detailed as possible, go for a handheld 3D scanner that is able to safely and easily capture even the smallest of features.
Opt for a portable, lightweight 3D scanner. Handheld 3D scanners are easy to operate and rotate around the object being scanned. Select advanced models are able to 3D scan objects with a resolution of up to 0.1mm.
4.4 Put Safety First
We can get carried away by the excellent price and discounts that a particular handheld 3d scanner offer. This can make you forget the most important thing: the quality and safety of the scanner. The whole idea of using a 3D scanner is to provide a safe printing environment and a smooth experience, thereby saving costs.
You should not purchase a handheld 3D scanner if you have not first tested its productivity and outcome. Ease of use is another important factor to consider when choosing a handheld 3D scanner. To get the best possible results and maximize the output, it is vital to know how to utilize the device’s full potential.
One of the key questions to consider here: How often will you be using your handheld 3D scanner, and what precautionary measures have I taken to guarantee safety? If you are doing a lot of 3D scanning or capturing large amounts of data, remember that a professional device with quick data capture abilities will save you time and money in the long run, as well as boost your productivity.
Mid and upper-range handheld 3D scanners are usually quite easy and intuitive to use. Although you might be tempted to go with cheaper versions, consider the additional time, training, and frustration those might incur.
The fast frame rate and advanced tracking algorithms in professional solutions make scanning a lot swifter and easier. When considering the post-processing stage, don’t forget that the software plays an important part too. The software that goes with professional handheld laser scanners is likely to be much more powerful and generally contains many automated features without compromising on accuracy. As a result, the software is more user-friendly, fast, and easy to learn.
4.5 Select The Most Cost-Effective
When we buy products, we look at the famous brands, and we sometimes think that the costliest handheld 3D scanner brands are the best. Well, you will not be wrong because some handheld 3D scanner brands have lived up to the expectations. And their high prices are worth it because they sell quality materials.
The cost of the handheld 3D scanner will correspond to the features provided by the device, as well as the quality and speed of data capture.
Handheld 3D scanners start at around $3,000, with the most advanced models costing over $100,000. Though less expensive 3D scanners might seem more appealing in the short term, remember that it is an investment and look at the bigger picture. Quality devices are guaranteed to last longer, are less likely to malfunction, and will deliver outstanding results for years to come.
However, keep in mind that in some cases, additional expenses may occur when purchasing a handheld 3D scanner. Be sure that you enquire about any additional charges prior to making a purchase.
Now that you are familiar with the main criteria for choosing the optimal handheld 3D scanner for your projects, you can now move to the demo stage. Always test the scanners and the software beforehand to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Companies offering quality solutions are always happy to offer a one-on-one demonstration, as well as training, workshops, etc. Talk to the experts today to find out more about handheld 3D scanning technologies and how they can have a long-lasting impact on your business.
4.6, Why Choose Dreambot3D‘s 3D Scanner
Now to the big question, amongst the many variants of handheld 3D scanners available, why settle for that of Dreambot3D?
It’s simple, Dreambot3D has been at the forefront of the 3D scanning industry for over a decade. Our handheld 3D scanners are optimized to provide seamless and cost-effective scanning solutions that keep your production line at the forefront.
All our handheld laser scanners are backed by a 1-year warranty, and each scanner in our catalog comes with instructional guides to help you integrate usage easily.
Dreambot3D also provides a one-stop service for all your laser system (marking, engraving, and cutting). So you can work with us, rest assured we can help keep your lasers and engraving activities at a formidable level.
To ensure the high quality and stability of our products, we have long-term cooperation with world-top laser suppliers. We also provide 24 hours support service. That means we are always just a call away; get in touch today.
Applications of Dreambot3D handheld 3d Laser Scanner
Since you now know all there is to know about the Dreambot3D handheld 3D scanner, the only discussion left is the application industry. Handheld 3D laser scanning is used in a variety of fields and academic research. It has benefited clothing and product design, the automotive industry, and medical science.
3D Laser scanning can also be used to record buildings, especially in places that people may not be able to access due to safety hazards. Handheld 3D scanners are used in numerous applications: industrial, architectural, civil surveying, urban topography, mining, reverse engineering, quality, archaeology, dentistry, and dimensional mechanical inspection are just a few of the versatile applications.
Dreambot3D handheld 3D scanners allow for high resolution and dramatically faster 3D digitizing over other conventional metrology technologies and techniques. Some very exciting applications are animation and virtual reality applications.
5.1, Construction industry and civil engineering
By using 3D scan data, a physical object can be translated directly to the engineering phase of a project and moved on from there. 3D scan data is often used to perform CFD, CAE, FEA, and other engineering analyses on objects that have been manufactured and then physically modified.
- Robotic Control: e.g., a Dreambot3Dportable handheld laser scanner may function as the “eye” of a robot
- As-built drawings of Bridges, Industrial Plants, and Monuments
- Documentation of historical sites
- Handheld laser scanners are suitable for site modeling and lay-outing
- Quality control
- Quantity Surveys
- Freeway Redesign
- Establishing a bench mark of pre-existing shape/state in order to detect structural changes resulting from exposure to extreme loadings such as earthquake, vessel/truck impact, or fire.
- Handheld 3D laser scanners can create GIS (Geographic information system) maps and Geomatics.
5.2, Design process
A low-cost Dreambot3D handheld 3d scanner can be applied at the design phase by starting with a physical object and using it to design a CAD model. Oftentimes, designers need to design around or fit their design to existing objects. These mating parts can also be scanned and incorporated into the design, resulting in parts that fit better on a consistent basis.
The process of using an existing manufactured part to create a CAD model is often referred to as reverse engineering or reverse modeling. By utilizing reverse engineering, new designs can incorporate and improve upon engineering optimization already inherent to the manufactured part.
Handheld 3D scanners can also be applied at the prototype phase in many ways; the most common is actually to reduce the number of prototype design cycles necessary. A part designed using 3D scan data often only requires one or no prototypes since it is designed utilizing precise measurements of the physical world. 3D scanning can also be used in combination with prototyping to scale physical objects.
5.3, Reverse Engineering
Reverse Engineering refers to the ability to reproduce the shape of an existing object. It is based on creating a digitized version of objects or surfaces, which can later be turned into molds or dies. It is a very common procedure, which has diverse applications in various industries.
Handheld 3D scanners allow even malleable objects to be scanned in a matter of minutes without compression, which could change their dimensions or damage their surfaces. Parts and models of all sizes and shapes can be quickly and accurately captured. Handheld 3D laser scanning for reverse engineering provides excellent accuracies and helps to get products to market quicker and with less development and engineering costs.
3D handy scanners provide a fast, accurate, and automated way to acquire 3D digital data and a CAD model of part’s geometry for reverse engineering when none is available. Also, new features and updates can be integrated into old parts once the modeling is accomplished. A practical mechanical and civil engineering application would be to assist in the production of “as built” data and documentation.
Currently, many manufacturing or construction activities are documented after the actual assembly of a machine or civil project by a designer or engineering professional. Handheld 3D laser scanners could expedite this activity to reduce the man-hours required to fully document an installation for legacy.
Dreambot3D’s affordable handheld 3D scanner can also be an excellent method to document a rebar installation for inspection requirements. The following are reasons for reverse engineering a part or product.
- The original manufacturer of a product no longer produces a product.
- There is inadequate documentation of the original design.
- The original manufacturer no longer exists, but a customer needs the product.
- The original design documentation has been lost or never existed.
- Some bad features of a product need to be designed out. For example, excessive wear might indicate where a product should be improved.
- To strengthen the good features of a product based on long-term usage of the product.
- To analyze the good and bad features of competitors’ products.
- To explore new avenues to improve product performance and features.
- To gain competitive benchmarking methods to understand competitor’s products and develop better products.
- The original CAD model is not sufficient to support modifications or current manufacturing methods.
- The original supplier is unable or unwilling to provide additional parts.
- The original equipment manufacturers are either unwilling or unable to supply replacement parts or demand inflated costs for sole-source parts.
- To update obsolete materials or antiquated manufacturing processes with more current, less-expensive technologies.
5.4, Automobile Industry
How does 3D scanning help automakers stand out in the highly competitive automotive manufacturing market? Lower development cost, distinctive design, and strict quality control are significant factors affecting automakers’ great strategic goals.
Dreambot3D has accumulated rich experience in the automotive manufacturing industry over the years. We provide professional, comprehensive metrology-grade handheld 3D scanners for automakers and all aspects of automotive manufacturing.
Our advanced handheld laser scanners can quickly and easily acquire 3D data of the workpieces. It is convenient to redesign and reshape the products’ appearance through reverse design. Such a time-saving way greatly shortens the product development cycle.
For quality control, Dreambot3D handheld 3D laser scanners can detect and compare key components such as engines, transmissions, and steering gears. The deviations can be accurately obtained in the production process to achieve high precision with advanced 3D measurement technologies.
5.5, Virtual/remote tourism
The environment at a place of interest can be captured and converted into a 3D model. This model can then be explored by the public, either through a VR interface or a traditional “2D” interface. This allows the user to explore locations that are inconvenient for travel. With the aid of handheld 3D scanners, accurate imaging for virtual/remote tourism can be generated.
5.6, Cultural heritage
For most endangered heritage sites, the first tool required for preservation and restoration is a reliable, accurate site survey. Handheld LiDAR scanner provides 3D survey data that is more accurate and more economically produced than information from surveys using traditional techniques.
3D laser scan data can easily be converted to CAD and other imaging programs for conservation, management, and restoration work, as well as virtual tourism, education, and information dissemination. Handheld 3D laser scanning technologies are the latest development in survey documentation and recording. They employ laser beams that scan a subject, creating a cloud of accurately measured points in a matter of seconds.
This raw set of data, known as a “point cloud,” contains millions of measurements, accurate to millimeters or fractions of a millimeter, with each point precisely referenced with x, y, z coordinates relative to all other point locations. The point cloud can be viewed immediately upon scanning, providing the immediate visualization of the data as a 3D image.
By mapping the points, an accurate 3D model can be created. Traditional methods such as tapes, theodolites, and more modern technology such as total stations and GPS provide relatively slow and cumbersome methods for gathering spatial data. Handheld 3D laser scanning can thus be distinguished from a traditional survey by the rate at which the physical world is sampled, resulting in high definition data and, correspondingly, very large datasets.
Handheld 3D laser scanning technologies can be employed to document and record a large variety and scale of objects, structures, buildings, and topographies, literally from a small exquisitely detailed sculpture to a large geo-referenced landscape. Commercially, laser scanning has been found to be very effective in the documentation of structures such as oil and chemical refineries, highways, bridges, and other complex structures, producing accurate “as-built” measured drawings in very little time and with very little expense compared to traditional methods.
Today, handheld 3D scanners are growing within the Heritage field as an acceptable standard for site documentation. Immediately upon scanning, the point cloud can be used directly to visualize the subject and to accurately access measurements. In addition, the point cloud data can be processed through various software applications to create a variety of deliverables such as CAD document measured drawings, contour maps, 3D models, and animations.
There have been many research projects undertaken via the scanning of historical sites and artifacts both for documentation and analysis purposes. The following sub-sections give some examples of the application of handheld 3D laser scanners in the field of cultural heritage.
5.7, Medical CAD/CAM
Handheld 3D scanners are used in order to capture the 3D shape of a patient in orthotics and dentistry. It gradually supplants tedious plaster cast. CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/ Computer-Aided Manufacturing) software is then used to design and manufacture orthosis, prosthesis, or dental implants.
Many Chairside dental CAD/CAM systems and Dental Laboratory CAD/CAM systems use handheld 3D Scanner technologies to capture the 3D surface of a dental preparation (either in vivo or in vitro) in order to produce a restoration digitally using CAD software, and ultimately produce the final restoration using a CAM technology (such as a CNC milling machine, or 3D printer). The chairside systems are designed to facilitate the 3D scanning of preparation in vivo and produce restoration.
5.8, Quality Assurance and Industrial Metrology
The digitalization of real-world objects is of vital importance in various application domains. This method is especially applied in industrial quality assurance to measure the geometric dimension accuracy. Industrial processes such as assembly are complex, highly automated, and typically based on CAD data.
The problem is that the same degree of automation is also required for quality assurance. For example, it is a very complex task to assemble a modern car since it consists of many parts that must fit together at the very end of the production line. The optimal performance of this process is guaranteed by quality assurance systems. Especially the geometry of the metal parts must be checked in order to assure that they have the correct dimensions, fit together, and finally work reliably.
Within highly automated processes, the resulting geometric measures are transferred to machines that manufacture the desired objects. Due to mechanical uncertainties and abrasions, the result may differ from its digital nominal. In order to automatically capture and evaluate these deviations, the manufactured part must be digitized as well.
For this purpose, Dreambot3D handheld 3D scanners are applied to generate point samples from the object’s surface, which are finally compared against the nominal data. The process of comparing 3D data against a CAD model is referred to as CAD-Compare and can be a useful technique for applications such as determining wear patterns on molds and tooling, determining the accuracy of the final build, analyzing gaps, and flush, or analyzing highly complex sculpted surfaces.
At present, handheld 3D scanners, laser triangulation scanners, structured light, and contact scanning are the predominant technologies employed for industrial purposes, with contact scanning remaining the slowest but overall most accurate option.
5.9, Object Reconstruction
Dreambot3D low coast handheld 3D scanner can be used to collect the spatial location of points rapidly and abundantly and obtain three-dimensional coordinates of the target surface, which provides new technical means for the rapid creation of a three-dimensional image model of the object.
Obtaining a 3D model from objects is a challenging problem and has been an important research topic in the areas of photogrammetry and computer vision for many years. Focusing on a three-dimensional modeling study on a spatial object using the spatial data captured via a ground-based handheld 3D laser scanner and a method of using laser range images for the reconstruction of 3D scene models.
This approach implements a collection of algorithms for 3D reconstruction, known as image segmentation and range registration based on planar features. After the acquisition of range data, images are segmented to extract planar features and registered to detect the initial configuration between the sensor’s coordinate system of two views. Finally, triangular meshes are built to generate a three-dimensional surface model.
Frequently asked questions of 3D scanner
How do I use a handheld 3D scanner?
Handheld 3D scanners used in 3D photography typically rely on structured light to calculate the geometry of the subject being 3D scanned. They were designed for and had numerous applications in engineering.
How handheld 3D scanner works?
3D scanning someone with a handheld 3D scanner works by having the person stand still as you slowly move the 3D scanner around them to capture the different parts of their body. The process normally takes 2-3 minutes. Once the data has been captured, some manual intervention is necessary to match the resulting point clouds; then, it takes another 2-3 minutes to generate a full 3D model.
How do you do a 3D scan on yourself?
To 3D scan yourself, you should use a process called photogrammetry, which is taking several pictures from a phone or normal camera, then uploading them to 3D reconstruction software, a great one being Meshroom. You can then clean the imperfections of the model using the Blender app and 3D print it.
How long does a handheld 3D scanner last?
As a rule of thumb, a professional 3D scanner should last about ten years. This makes the scanner’s accompanying software a significant factor in picking a scanner. This is a space that is rapidly advancing, so a regular cadence of software upgrades is needed to keep pace.
What can you do with a 3D scanner?
3D scanners enable you to take a physical product, scan it into a digital format (e.g., the STL file format), and work with the digitized model to create prototypes that are then printed by 3D printers.
How do I scan something for 3D printing?
To scan something for printing, you need to make a 3D model of the item or object. There are many ways to make a 3d model, but one of the coolest is to 3d scan an existing object. With a 3d scan and the right printer, you can reproduce any object of any size, from a house to an earring. You can also use the scan as a starting point for a new creation.
What affects the scanning speed of a 3D scanner?
The 3D scanning system. The second factor that dictates the quality of a 3D print is the scanning system. There are five factors that influence the 3D scanning system quality: the lighting, the system calibration, the capture speed, the texture resolution, and the geometry resolution.
Can you 3D scan a car?
Yes, you can 3D scan a car. However, you might want to keep in mind that before the actual scan can occur, the car is prepped by spraying a very thin white coating on the reflective or transparent surfaces, namely the windows and lights. This prevents the dispersion of the 3D scanner laser beams. Additionally, positioning targets are placed throughout the body of the car, spaced about 4 to 5 inches apart. These reflective sticker targets will help form the reference model for the scan.
What is the last step in the 3D scanning process?
3D printing and fabrication. 3D printing can be performed for prototyping or verifying part fitment before machining expensive material. In some circumstances, the 3D printed part can even serve as a duplicate replacement. Through a fully developed CAD model, drawings and CAD files are delivered to a machinist who determines the most cost-effective and appropriate process for fabricating the part. Finally, cost savings are again realized when the part fits perfectly, avoiding start over – remeasuring, and fabricating.
How much is a handheld 3D scanner?
Handheld 3D scanners start at around $3,000, with the most advanced models costing over $100,000. Though less expensive 3D scanners might seem more appealing in the short term, remember that it is an investment and look at the bigger picture.
What does a 3D body scan show?
It shows your weight, of course, alongside measurements — hips, waist, thighs, arms, and so on. It also gives you body composition and even provides body fat percentage by body part, so you can know if your torso is 20 percent fat.
How accurate is handheld 3D laser scanning?
Several studies suggest that 3D optical scanning can actually be quite accurate. The technology has been around for over two decades, says John Shepherd, a professor of biomedical imaging at the University of California-San Francisco.
What are the advantages of a scanner?
High-quality digital scanning relieves the burden of filing paper forms and simplifies document sharing. Using special software, you can extract the text from scanned documents, making them easier to search. Scanning has also proven a boon to photographers, who can retouch and repair old photographs digitally.
Why have a 3D laser scan?
3D laser scanning is a way to capture a physical object’s exact size and shape into the computer world as a digital 3-dimensional representation. 3D laser scanners measure fine details and capture free-form shapes to quickly generate highly accurate point clouds. You need a 3D laser scanner if you desire immediate information, which improves accuracy and quality.
Conclusion
At this junction, we believe there is nothing more to say. From all the details and intricacies of handheld 3D laser scanners to the buying opportunities Dreambot3D is bringing your way, we’ve covered it all.
In wrap, it’s important you keep in mind that Dreambot3D is amongst the few handheld 3D scanner manufacturers looking to help you enjoy a smooth and efficient scanning process. All our products are equipped to help you enjoy the ease and proficiency that comes with scanning.
If you are still skeptical as to which handheld 3D scanning device to buy or you need someone to guide you through the buying process, please don’t hesitate to get in touch; our customer support work round the clock for the simple purpose of helping you scale through.