3D Scanner Buyer s Guide Includes all of the following: 3D scanner types The different 3D scanning technologies available A comparison of the most popular 3D scanners (+ pros and cons) Benefits of SCANIFY Sample 3D scans SCANIFY vs Competitors Applications
Types of 3D scanners There are many different types of 3D scanner available on the market today, with prices ranging from a few hundred dollars up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Each type of 3D scanner has its own limitations which are dictated by both the physicality of the scanner and the technology that powers it. The table below gives an overview of the main types of 3D scanners on the market: Type Microsoft Kinect ipad mounted Turntable Handheld / Portable Sweeping Laser Line / Full Body Scanners Description Some low-cost handheld scanning solutions are being developed using the Microsoft Kinect platform. A low cost scanning solution which can be clipped on to an ipad to produce a full 3D scanning unit. The more basic and lowest cost 3D scanning systems use laser point or line projection onto an object positioned and rotated on a turntable. Handheld 3D scanning enables maximum scan flexibility for working around objects of almost any shape and size. To enable scanning of larger objects, scanners are available that project a laser line, which sweeps across a stationary subject. Price range < $500 < $600 $300 - $2,000 $300 - $50,000 $20,000 - $50,000 As you can see, prices vary greatly between high end and low end 3D scanners, and even between scanners that are visually very similar. This fluctuation in price comes down to a number of factors including: the type of technology that powers the scanner, the resolution, accuracy, export options and ultimately the applications for which it can be used.
3D scanning technologies Structured light s A light pattern is projected onto the surface of an object and the scanner measures the deformation of the light pattern in order to measure the shape of the surface. Laser triangulation s A laser beam is projected onto the surface of an object and the scanner measures the deformation of the laser. s s s s Stereoscopic imaging Stereoscopic 3D imaging resolves depth using optical triangulation, which involves resolving distance from parallax. Photometric-stereo Several images are taken of the subject illuminated by a single dominant light source from a number of different directions. This allows the 3D scanner to understand the shape of the object and build a detailed 3D map of the surface. Now that you ve got a better understanding of the types of 3D scanners and the technology behind them, let s compare some of the most popular scanners on the market.
Comparison of popular 3D scanners Name Cubify isense Matter and Form 3D Scanner Cubify Sense SCANIFY 3D Scanner Artec Eva Creaform Handyscan 300 Type ipad mounted Turntable Handheld Handheld Handheld Handheld Technology Structured light Laser triangulation Structured light Photometric-stereo Stereoscopic imaging triangulation Structured light Laser triangulation Max resolution (lower number = higher resolution) Average accuracy lower number = higher accuracy 0.9mm 0.43mm 0.9mm 0.35mm 0.5mm 0.1mm 1mm 0.25mm 1mm 0.3mm 0.1mm 0.04mm Color Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Scan distance 0.35m - 3m < 0.2m 0.35m - 3m 0.4m 0.4m - 1m 0.3-0.55m
Comparison of popular 3D scanners cont... File export options STL, OBJ, PLY STL, OBJ, PLY, XYZ STL, OBJ, PLY STL, OBJ, PLY.OBJ,.PLY,.WRL,.STL,.AOP,.ASCII,.PTX,.E57,.XYZRGB.DAE,.FBX,.MA,.OBJ,.PLY,.STL,.TXT,.WRL,.X3D, X3DZ,.ZPR Pros Affordable Portable Easy to use Lightweight Affordable Affordable Portable Easy to use Portable. High Resolution Affordable Versatile Easy to use Continuous scanning High resolution Portable Continuous scanning High resolution Portable Scan objects of all sizes Cons Low scan quality Low accuracy Fixed position and limited applications Lower resolution Low scan quality Low accuracy Manual stitching Not a consumer product - price tag too high. Not a consumer product - price tag too high. Price (approx) $499 $599 $419 $1,490 $19,800 $20,000 - $50,000 Source: Aniwaa.com
The Benefits of SCANIFY 1 Low cost SCANIFY aims to bring high resolution, accuracy and portability to the masses by bringing the price point down to one that consumers can afford. As you can from the resolution and accuracy data in the table, SCANIFY is able to produce scans comparable to those produced by 3D scanners which cost over 10 times the price. 2 Portability Being handheld, SCANIFY can be taken anywhere in the world and used for multiple applications, including: 3D printing, education, custom jewelry, archiving and many more. Unlike fixed position 3D scanners such as turntable types, SCANIFY isn t limited to items which fit on top of the device. 3 Resolution When compared to other low-cost scanners on the market, scans produced by SCANIFY are in the region of three times higher resolution and accuracy. 4 b a c Ease of use SCANIFY uses a simple point-and-shoot capture method which is similar to that of a conventional camera. Therefore taking 3D scans with SCANIFY is easy and familiar, even for the most inexperienced user.
Sample scans - Sense vs SCANIFY To give you an idea of SCANIFY s scan quality in comparison to lower cost scanners like the Sense, below are some sample scans of the same object by each. Scan of owl statue from the front using Sense 3D scanner. Scan of owl statue from the front using SCANIFY 3D scanner.
Sample scans - Sense vs SCANIFY To give you an idea of SCANIFY s scan quality in comparison to lower cost scanners like the Sense, below are some sample scans of the same object by each. Scan of owl statue from the back using Sense 3D scanner. Scan of owl statue from the back using SCANIFY 3D scanner.
Sample scans - Sense vs SCANIFY To give you an idea of SCANIFY s scan quality in comparison to lower cost scanners like the Sense, below are some sample scans of the same object by each. Close up scan of owl using Sense 3D scanner Close up scan of owl using SCANIFY 3D scanner
Making the right choice for your applications. Objects with the following characteristics generally scan well with SCANIFY: continuous surfaces with smooth curvature; varying color or texture; matte, non-shiny surfaces; opaque finishes. SCANIFY is great for 3D capture of the human form; fabrics; stone and masonry; wood carvings; sculptures; plants, flowers and other organic objects. As with all 3D scanners, there are some scenarios in which SCANIFY will resolve data better than in others. Objects with certain characteristics may not be suitable for scanning, or may require technical workarounds to capture scans successfully. Here s some further guidance on where SCANIFY might not be suitable: Objects with cavities or protrusions: where the scanner can only image what it sees from its view point and cannot capture part of an object that is hidden behind another; Very dark objects: where the object will absorb light from the flashes which lowers the amount of detail; Mono-color objects: with no texture, which do not provide surface information for the scanner to work effectively; Reflective or shiny objects: where light reflects off the surface to prevent accurate surface measurement; Transparent objects: where light transmits through the surface to prevent accurate surface measurement; Objects with sharp edges and corners: where the scanner will trend to smooth objects with geometric features with flat surface and sharp corners.
Applications and example uses Building a 3D model of a head or body SCANIFY is a fantastic tool for generating high resolution 3D scans of objects with colour and texture. For this reason, SCANIFY is a great solution for scanning faces; it captures the detail of a face with a level of accuracy that s normally only possible with much more expensive 3D scanners. However, SCANIFY doesn t work well with very dark objects such as hair and dark clothes. For this reason we don t recommend using SCANIFY on its own to achieve a full head or full body scan. We speak with many SCANIFY users and have frequently been told that combining SCANIFY with other, lower-end, continuous scanning technologies in order to achieve a full body scan is possible. Products like the Sense are good for capturing the general shape of an object but lack the detail needed in areas of importance, such as the face. Check out this post on our blog where SCANIFY was combined with another 3D scanning technology in order to achieve a full head and shoulders 3D model which was 3D printed.
Applications and example uses continued... Archiving and preservation SCANIFY is a great solution for carvings, statues and artifacts alike. Their texture and detail make for some really impressive scans, like the sculpture on the right. View this model in 3D on the Fuel3D Sketchfab» Education SCANIFY is a popular choice for students of all ages. Its simple point-andshoot capture method makes it an ideal solution for younger students, whilst its level of accuracy and detail makes it a popular choice for higher education students, including those conducting their own research. SCANIFY was born out of research by Oxford University lecturer Ron Daniels and the company is still based in the heart of Oxfordshire. We re very proud of our educational roots and knowing that SCANIFY is being used for this purpose. If you intend to use SCANIFY for this purpose please contact us for an educational discount. Order today! We hope we ve given you a better understanding of how SCANIFY compares to other 3D scanners on the market and the types of applications for which it s suited. If you ve got any further questions please visit our support centre or contact us. 100% Satisfaction guarantee We re so confident you ll love SCANIFY that we offer a 90 day money-back guarantee on all orders of scanner units. If at any point during this time you feel that it s not for you then simply send it back to us for a full refund.