Today, with the increasing penetration of technology, the market of 3D scanning is overflowing with an array of products of all sizes, prices, and shapes. Whether you’re looking to buy a new 3D scanner or upgrading an existing one, there are many considerations you need to look at. Deciding to buy a scanner for home, office or industrial purpose is an investment. Why not reap benefits from the investment by taking an informed decision? Sit back, sip a cup of hot coffee and start scanning – be it a toolkit, spare part, a toy for your kid – the possibilities are endless. The scanners will help you digitize the physical data and create an awe-inspiring experience by producing 3D objects.
Before you jump into the market, know your requirement and expectation from the equipment. Here are a few things to consider when purchasing a 3D equipment.
Considering the resolution of a 3D scanner
With the advent of high-resolution professional cameras, the first thing which will cross your mind is the resolution of the scanner. It may go without saying, but usually a low-quality 3D scanner produces low-quality results. And, with cameras boasting of resolution of more than 20-megapixel, a 1-megapixel scanner may seem utterly worthless. While choosing a 3D scanner, chuck the thought of resolution because if you’re capturing the features you need with a 2-megapixel scanner, you’ll be fine. So it is best to do a sample scan of a complex object and see the quality before making a final decision. Today, the scanners can scan objects of even 60-65 micron resolution. So, the resolution should not drive your decision or purchase a scanner.
3D scanner Accuracy
The accuracy of the scanner is crucial for many industries such as manufacturing, automobile, aircraft, etc. because of these industries 3D scan different parts of machinery. You may want to ask the vendor to scan a sample part before buying. The vendor may specify accuracy according to a single pass of the scanner, but the true accuracy should account for multiple passes that are necessary to capture an entire 3D model of the object. Paying higher for resolution may not always guarantee superior accuracy. It may be worth investing in both accuracy and resolution to accelerate the growth of your business.
3D scanner Software
In some cases, the only difference between an expensive scanner and a cheaper one is the software. There are some top six-figure scanners that contain hardware that would cost only a fifth of the price of the scanner to replace. You are really paying for the software. Good scanning software can merge all scans without having to transfer them into a different software such as Geomagic. The software may also be able to perform decimation, which retains high resolution in high curvature areas and removes the data from the flat regions to reduce file size without losing detail.
3D scanner speed, cost and Envelope
Certain 3D scanners provide fast results whereas others are sluggish in delivering the 3D models. However, you might have to compromise on accuracy and quality, if you want quick results. Also, it is important to make sure the scanning envelope is large enough to scan the typical part you will be using it for. So, look at the bigger picture before going for speed as you will have to sacrifice some critical aspects of the 3D technology. Furthermore, you will come across equipment at all prices. Although the price is an important consideration, it should not be ‘THE’ factor is making the final choice. The mathematics here is simple if the equipment you chose is incapable of delivering the desired results, the money invested lands in the trashcan.
So, if you’re looking to purchase a 3D scanner for your business or just to play around, the above are a couple of factors to take into account.
For your 3D scanning and 3D printing, call Arrival 3D at 866-687-7784.
