3D Scanners - What are the Options?

[This post represents a collaboration between me, the teacher, and a number of my middle school students.  It continues to be a work in progress!]

While CAD is fun, I am keenly interested in students' capturing their own data to work with and print.

So, we looked into a couple of ways we could make this happen:

1. Photogrammetry is the science of making measurements from photographs - geometric properties (gives texture, and is dynamic). Photogrammetry relies on triangulation (Using triangles to determine the XYZ coordinates of a voxel) to make a 3-D model of an object An example of this is Autodesk 123D Catch which allows you to take about 70 pictures of an 3-D shape

          and make a 3-D model of it.   

2. Laser line 3D scanning is a non-contact method of capturing the shape of a 3 Dimensional object. It uses a laser and 1 DSLR camera. If  you have the camera the cost can run as low as $20. The laser allows you to use triangulation because it creates a known angle in relation to the camera.
    






3. A structured-light 3D scanner is a 3D scanning device for measuring the three-dimensional shape of an object using projected light patterns and a camera system. Good tutorial





More notes we are working on:

• utilize a 3D scanner (some DIY models run as low as $300 / higher end models run into the $1000s)

• xbox Kinect, which can be easily hacked to serve as a 3D scanner - ReconstructMe and of Skanect - now available in a Mac version (as of 8/12/13)! You can read this Adafruit tutorial to learn more.

• Fuel scanner

• Matterform - view their Kickstarter project.

• https://www.matterform.net/review

• http://www.matterform.net/faq

• http://solidsmack.com/fabrication/matterforms-photon-3d-scanner-is-a-point-cloud-of-beauty/

• Makerbot Digitizer

• (new) Structure Sensor - a Kickstarter for a mobile scanner for your iPad.

• (added11.12.13) 3D Systems Sense 3D scanner - just heard about it, need to learn more

• visit a local makerspace that may allow you to run your own scans on their equipment

• use a service like Autodesk123DCatch - http://apps.123dapp.com/catch/ - where you send in a series of 2D photos (taken in class) and they send back a file with a 3D reconstructed constructed model.

Time-of-Flight Scanners
Triangulation Scanners
Structured-light Scanner
Stereoscopic Scanner
Photoscopic Scanner
Silhouette Scanner


structured light vs laser CCD

David Laser Scanner

CadScan 3D (now called Cubik)

Other things to watch: 

http://www.trimensional.com/

http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/16/insert-coin-semifinalist-moedls-3d-scanner-for-your-phone-hands/
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/photon-3d-scanner/


Open Source CT scanner (cool!) http://makezine.com/magazine/make-38-cameras-and-av/open-source-ct-scanner/