3D Scanning Adventures
We recently had the pleasure of getting a Pop3 3D Scanner from Revopoint and it has been an awesome addition to our toolset at the lab! After a few workshops and a lot of testing I think we have got it pretty figured out.
However, that is a major thing I would like to clarify. We were working under the assumption that you can quickly pick up the scanner, plug it in, and scan pretty much anything you want quickly and easily. This isn't necessarily true. Like most other maker types of products (3d Printers, laser engravers, etc.) you need to be aware of your settings, materials, and the process. As long as you do that, this scanner is amazing!
We started by scanning random objects we found laying around at the lab using the base settings in the Revopoint software. Some scanned well, some not so well, and some not at all. Again, this was mostly related to the settings but it also allowed us to figure out the basics of the scanner and what types of materials are best to use.
For example, when we scanned a stuffed monster, it got a LOT of detail but when scanning a hairy box it struggled a lot. This is likely due to the dramatic changes in the hairs or even the size and settings we used which, I found to be the main issue we were having with a lot of items. And when we scanned a level, certain parts of the item would not scan at all, for instance, the glass tube holding the liquid and bubble. Glass I was aware of but it was still a good test. We also scanned the little sculpture that came with the packaged unit and that scanned perfectly fine.
After that we took a step up and attempted to scan a stackable container. This is where we first started having issues. So we decided to do more digging into the settings and even reached out to Revopoint for help.
I sent them some videos of the scans we were having problems doing and they gave me some great tips on what settings to use and where to get more information. They also offered a 1 on 1 video call to help solve my issues. Apparently this is something that is provided to everyone as part of their normal support. That is an amazing thing to offer and shows they are dedicated to this product. That motivated me to really figure this thing out! Per their suggestion, I went on their forums to search around for the issues I was having and I found a TON of great info. They have a huge community that is willing to share information and help each other with their products.
Before I got their email I had attempted to scan something a bit different from what we had previously scanned. I borrowed a sculpture from my artist Dad's collection and made a quick attempt at scanning it. This scan turned out perfect! It didn't take long, picked up amazing detail, and even printed perfectly on my 3D printer! With the excitement of this win, I went back to the Bottle Brick and compared the differences. The brick was a bit bigger but it was also a slight translucent color. With previous tests and the information I found in the forums, I knew that clear things didn't scan as well as the light from the scanner goes through them. So I grabbed some flat white spray paint and painted the brick. Obviously, some scanning spray would be ideal here but I was given permission to use this brick as a test and paint it if needed. Scanning spray can be a bit expensive but from what I can tell, it is worth the money depending on what you are scanning.
By the time the paint dried I had gotten Revopoint's email about the settings and technique I should be using. One setting was to set the image size to something bigger like "body". This allowed me to back up from the object and get a better view. The other suggestion was to make sure there were at least two plains in view at all times. It sounds obvious now but before they told me that, I didn't think of it.
Because this is a bigger object with some fairly big plains, the setting to scan body seemed to be the only option. While scanning I just made sure, as the object rotated on the platform, I kept multiple plains in view by slowly moving the camera all around. After the first try using those settings and technique, I got an almost perfect model!
The next thing you need to consider is that the model will not be 100% perfect and usable right after the scan. You will likely pick up random "artifacts" around your model that need to be removed. Depending on the model complexity, you may also have some holes that need to be filled. Keep in mind, there is some post processing that needs to be done. Luckily, the Revo Scan software can do most of this for you. You can manually select the artifacts or use the auto settings. With the hole detection, if you still have some holes that need fixed you can use another software such as Fusion 360, Blender, zBrush, or Meshmixer. Meshmixer seems to be the best option for me but Autodesk has stopped supporting it. I believe there is an alternative in Fusion but I have not had a chance to give it a try yet. Revo Scan has improved significantly over the past few revisions so I am excited to see what else they improve in the future!
I was hoping to have another use case to demonstrate before posting this blog but we didn’t come across any others yet. Such as scanning something broken to design a replacement, something mechanical that needs a specific bracket or part, etc. The scanner was perfect for the Bottle Brick project though. The member is planning to use scaled down 3D prints of them to demonstrate what the used bottle bricks can be used for instead of throwing them out and creating plastic waste. In fact, part of the project involved stuffing them with plastic waste in order to keep even more from entering our landfills.
For now, we are having fun scanning random objects to 3D Print and continuing to learn more about the best practices of scanning. In the future, I would like to combine scanning items (or even people) and combine it with some digital sculpting to make art pieces. Maybe some custom Christmas Ornaments, jewelry, or other random trinkets.
Thank you to Revopoint for sponsoring us and providing the POP3 3D scanner for us to utilize at our Makerspace! If you are interested in getting your own scanner, check out Revopoints’s website at https://www.revopoint3d.com/