If your project involves 3D fabrication, having a 3D scanner on hand is essential.
First off, a 3D scanner provides you with a faster, more efficient method for constructing precise digital models, which can then be 3D printed. Product designers, engineers, and researchers alike have been able to utilize 3D scanners for creating a vast number of models, from digitizing hand-sculpted clay designs to replicating the fine details of human anatomy.
But even after 3D fabrication, 3D laser scanning supports quality control too. For instance, you can use a 3D scanner to measure and verify the accuracy of 3D printed parts. And during test runs, a 3D scanner can track how well the 3D printed parts performed, identifying any areas that need reinforcement or redesign in the next revision.
When it comes to shopping for a 3D scanner, the market is full of options. From desktop 3D scanners to portable, long range 3D scanners, deciding which 3D level scanner is best for your project can be confusing. But it doesn’t have to be stressful. Here’s how to choose the best 3D scanner for your 3D printer.
Accuracy Vs. Price
Based on their underlying technologies, some 3D scanners can guarantee higher accuracy than others. A structured light 3D scanner, for example, is a bit more accurate than a laser 3D scanner. This is because a structured light 3D scanner operates by projecting a focused grid onto a scanned object in order to coordinate its measurements; meanwhile, a laser 3D scanner uses laser lines to triangulate the approximate size of an scanned object. As a result, structured light 3D scanners generally achieve accuracy—within the range of 0.1 mm or better.
Unsurprisingly, the more accurate the scanner, the higher its price tends to go. So if accuracy is important for your project, it may be worth your investment to choose a pricier structured light 3D scanner. Plus, structured light 3D scanners offer higher resolution, which help to capture the extra fine details of the object you are scanning.
However, it is important to note that accuracy has a slightly different meaning for handheld 3D scanners and desktop 3D scanners. With handheld 3D scanners, accuracy is measured depending on the distance from the scanner to the object and the quality of scan reconstruction. But desktop 3D scanners maintain accuracy within the constrained scan volume.
Volume and Coverage
Just as with accuracy, the area that a 3D scanner can capture differs from scanner to scanner. And again, as coverage volume goes up, so does cost. Handheld industrial laser scanners face fewer size constraints, and since these 3D scanners are portable, you can manually move them around your scan objects to increase coverage. Desktop 3D scanners, however, are stationary, so volume and coverage will be a more prevailing factor to consider.
Many inexpensive handheld 3D scanners are suitable to scan objects from the size of a volleyball to an entire room. But high-end handheld scanners are equipped with an even wider coverage range, and are worth the investment if you need precise measurements of an area inaccessible to a desktop 3D scanner.
Complement Your 3D Scanner and 3D Printer
When you think about it, a 3D scanner is meant to expand the capabilities of your 3D printer, enabling you to clone the shape of virtually any object. Combined, these two technologies form an even greater tool with more powerful capabilities than each component has on its own. And when applied across various industries, they allow for a digitized, more sophisticated workflow. So make sure that while you shop for the right 3D scanner, keep your bigger picture in mind.
