3D scanning is revolutionizing product development and manufacturing, especially when combined with 3D printing. Often referred to as a “3d Scanning Printer” in combined workflows, a 3D scanner plays a crucial role at both the beginning and end of the 3D fabrication process. Professionals across engineering, product design, and research utilize 3D scanners as an efficient method to create digital models. This is vital for incorporating existing designs through reverse engineering, digitizing artistic creations like hand-sculpted clay models, or capturing precise human body shapes for customized applications.
Post-fabrication, the function of a “3D scanning printer” extends to quality control. It enables verification of 3D printed part accuracy and performance analysis. For instance, scanning a deformed part can reveal stress points, guiding design improvements in subsequent iterations.
The market offers a diverse array of 3D scanning solutions, from portable handheld devices to precise desktop systems. Selecting the optimal “3D scanning printer” that aligns with your specific needs and budget can be challenging. This guide explores the key considerations for purchasing a 3D scanner, emphasizing its synergy with 3D printing and highlighting pivotal applications enabled by this powerful combination.
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3D Scanning and 3D Printing for Enhanced Workflows and Applications
Integrating 3D scanning and 3D printing creates powerful workflows applicable to diverse fields like replication, restoration, reverse engineering, and precise measurement. Delve deeper into these applications and learn how to effectively implement these technologies by downloading our comprehensive white paper.
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Exploring Different 3D Scanning Printer Technologies
Various 3D scanning technologies are available today, each offering unique strengths and limitations when used in conjunction with 3D printing, effectively making them different types of “3D scanning printers” in a broader sense.
Laser Triangulation: This technology projects laser light patterns onto an object and captures the reflected light with sensors to measure the object’s geometry. A “3D scanning printer” utilizing laser triangulation can capture millions of points per second, making it highly accurate and ideal for parts with intricate details and opaque surfaces. Laser triangulation scanners are often favored when high precision is required in 3D printed outputs.
However, laser triangulation has limitations. Its sensitivity to movement makes it less common in portable scanners, as stability between the laser source and object is crucial. Transparent or shiny surfaces can also pose challenges, often requiring reflective markers to be applied and subsequently removed—a process that can be cumbersome depending on the object. Safety is another consideration; laser dots can be harmful to eyes, necessitating safety measures when scanning living subjects. Always verify the eye-safety rating of a laser triangulation “3D scanning printer”.
Structured Light Scanning: Also known as white light or blue light scanning, this method projects patterns of light onto an object and uses cameras to observe the light’s deformation. A “3D scanning printer” using structured light captures multiple images which are then combined into a 3D snapshot. This technology is prevalent in both stationary and portable “3D scanning printers”, with handheld structured light scanners being particularly common.
Structured light scanning is widely adopted in medical applications due to its safety for scanning humans and animals, and its effectiveness with non-static objects. While traditionally slower than laser triangulation, advancements have narrowed this gap. The versatility and safety of structured light make it a popular choice for a “3D scanning printer” in diverse settings.
Structured light scanning is a cornerstone technology in many handheld 3D scanning printers, offering versatility and safety.
Depth-Sensing Cameras: These cameras project an infrared (IR) dot pattern to map a 3D scene. As components of a “3D scanning printer”, depth-sensing cameras are user-friendly and cost-effective. However, they offer lower accuracy and resolution, potentially missing fine details. While suitable for large objects, accuracy decreases with distance and steep angles. For applications demanding high fidelity 3D prints, depth-sensing camera-based “3D scanning printers” may be less suitable for capturing intricate details needed for printing.
Photogrammetry: This technique involves deriving measurements from photographs. A series of overlapping photos of an object are processed using algorithms to create a 3D model. Smartphone-based 3D scanning often relies on photogrammetry due to the advanced camera capabilities of modern phones. While photogrammetry is the most affordable entry point to 3D scanning and can be integrated into a basic “3D scanning printer” setup, it is generally the least accurate and not recommended for professional or business-critical 3D printing applications requiring high precision.
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) Sensors: Found in high-end smartphones and tablets, LiDAR sensors enhance mobile “3D scanning printer” capabilities. Devices like the latest iPhones and iPads equipped with LiDAR offer improved scanning performance compared to photogrammetry-only devices. While offering a step up in accuracy, smartphone-based LiDAR scans may still require post-processing in CAD software to refine meshes and prepare models for professional 3D printing, especially to address gaps and imperfections. For users needing basic model capture for digital integration and who possess CAD skills, LiDAR-equipped smartphones can serve as viable, entry-level “3D scanning printers”.
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Key Factors in Choosing Your 3D Scanning Printer
Accuracy vs. Budget for a 3D Scanning Printer
Accuracy is a critical differentiator among “3D scanning printers”, and price typically correlates with precision. The necessary tolerances for your final 3D printed parts should guide your accuracy requirements when selecting a scanner.
| High Precision, Higher Cost (>$15,000) | Accurate, More Affordable (<$12,000) | Entry-Level, Lower Accuracy |
|---|---|---|
| Zeiss T-Scan Hawk, Scantech Simscan, EviXscan Optima+ M, Creaform HandyScan 307 Silver Series | Peel 3D Peel 1, Peel 2 & Peel 2-S, FARO Freestyle 2, Polyga Compact S1 | iPhone Pro & iPad Pro, Structure Sensor, Matter and Form 3D Scanner V2, Revopoint POP |
Laser and structured light “3D scanning printers”, offering accuracy of 0.1 mm or better, are well-suited for professional applications and complement high-resolution 3D printers. Formlabs SLA resin 3D printers, such as the Form 3+, achieve comparable accuracy and build volumes, making them ideal partners for many desktop 3D scanners.
Beyond point-to-point accuracy, resolution—the density of captured points—is also crucial. Resolution dictates the level of detail a “3D scanning printer” can capture. A high-accuracy, low-resolution scanner might capture the overall shape of jewelry but miss fine details on individual pieces. Consider your project’s detail requirements carefully.
Remember: accuracy refers to measurement error, while resolution is measurement density. Accuracy can vary based on manufacturer and scanning technology. Handheld scanner accuracy can depend on distance and scan reconstruction quality, whereas desktop scanners offer consistent accuracy within their scan volume. For precise measurements, compare specifications directly.
Structured light scanning generally provides superior resolution and accuracy compared to laser scanning. For artistic 3D printing applications, high detail might be paramount, while absolute accuracy is less critical. In such cases, photogrammetry-based “3D scanning printers” offer a cost-effective solution.
Depth-sensing cameras and photogrammetry are adequate for scanning large objects for scaled 3D prints or capturing human body shapes. Entry-level laser “3D scanning printers” offer a starting point for replicating small objects at a 1:1 scale, providing sufficient detail for decorative items where extreme accuracy isn’t essential.
For infrequent 3D scanning needs, consider professional digitization services, which offer scanning, CAD translation, and accuracy inspection.
Scan Volume and Coverage of a 3D Scanning Printer
The capture area, or scan volume, varies significantly among “3D scanning printers”. Select a scanner that matches your size and resolution needs without excessive overhead, as cost often scales with scan volume.
Handheld “3D scanning printers” offer greater flexibility, capable of scanning objects from basketball-sized to entire rooms. High-end handheld scanners extend this range further, accommodating objects requiring precise measurements but unsuitable for desktop scanners. Handheld scanners also excel at rapid capture, making them ideal for human measurements in ergonomics and medical fields where subject movement is a factor.
Gaps in scan coverage lead to missing data in the 3D model. While software can auto-repair small gaps for 3D printing, these repairs are rarely perfectly accurate. For high-precision parts, manual repair may be necessary. Consult MeshMixer tutorials for advanced STL file editing for 3D printing to address these issues.
Turntables enhance scan coverage. Sophisticated turntables in some “3D scanning printers” offer multi-axis rotation, capturing objects from more angles—crucial for reverse engineering complex parts with deep features.
Scanners may employ turntables to access occluded areas. Red zones represent areas hidden from the scanner, resulting in missing scan data. Deep features pose capture challenges even with single-axis turntables due to occlusion.
Cost considerations are direct: budget and scanner usage frequency will dictate investment levels. Higher-cost “3D scanning printers” provide detailed meshes requiring minimal CAD touch-ups. Handheld scanners often command higher prices due to portability. The entry-level market presents diverse options, requiring informed selection.
Flowchart: Selecting the Ideal 3D Scanning Printer for Your Application
Use this flowchart to guide your “3D scanning printer” selection based on accuracy, scan volume, and budget.
Download a high-resolution version of this infographic here.
The Synergistic Relationship Between 3D Scanning and 3D Printing
A “3D scanning printer” significantly enhances the capabilities of a standalone 3D printer. Together, they form a potent digital workflow, streamlining and enhancing processes across numerous industries.
A 3D scanner outputs a mesh of triangles representing an object’s surface at real-world scale. Scans can sometimes be directly used for replication without CAD, or integrated into hybrid workflows combining solid CAD models with scanned 3D data. For example, capturing a physical imprint for customized ergonomics can be combined with mechanical designs.
“3D scanning printers” are also invaluable for quality assurance in 3D printing, measuring manufactured part accuracy. They provide clear insights into material performance in demanding applications by revealing 3D print accuracy deviations.
Combining 3D printing and 3D scanning unlocks powerful workflows:
- Reverse engineering for replacement parts and custom ergonomic products.
- Replication and restoration, particularly in art and jewelry.
- Custom consumer audio earpieces.
- Patient-specific dental and medical solutions.
- Metrology for validating manufactured object accuracy.
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Building a Digital Workflow with 3D Scanning Printers and 3D Printers
“3D scanning printers” and 3D printers are integral to modern digital workflows. Download our white paper or watch our webinar for in-depth guidance on integrating 3D scanning to optimize part design and production, and to explore diverse applications in engineering, product design, and beyond.
Further explore the 3D printing aspect: learn about stereolithography (SLA) and selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printing technologies and request a free sample 3D printed part to experience Formlabs’ advanced materials firsthand.
