3D Scanners for your 3D Printer

What is a 3D scanner?

3D scanners are capable of scanning an object and reconstructing it digitally. They work by measuring the distance between a network of points along each surface of the object. That data is then fed to a software program that re-assembles the points into a 3D scanned model.

One of the biggest limitations of 3D scanners is that they can only scan the visible surface of an object. Let’s say you have a toy house. Four walls, a roof, maybe a door and a window, and the interior walls that separate the room. The scanner would get all of the outer details – walls and roof – correct, but will not be able to see the wall between the living room and the kitchen.

Many 3d scanners get around this problem by taking multiple scans from as many different angles as possible, and combining those with scans of various cross-sections. For example, if you cut the house in half and took off the top, then the scanner could see the interior walls.

Types of 3D scanners

There are three basic categories of 3D scanners: contact, non-contact active, and non-contact passive.

CONTACT 3D SCANNERS – Like the name implies, these 3d scanners use physical touch to map an object, either by resting the object on a flat plate or using an articulated robot arm to probe each point. They’ve been used for years by companies like Pixar or Dreamworks to translate clay models into their 3D scanned counterparts. These scanners are slow, and can potentially damage delicate objects.

NON-CONTACT ACTIVE 3D SCANNERS – You’ve already seen these in action if you’ve ever had an X-ray or a CAT scan. This 3d scanning send out either light, ultrasound, or x-rays, and measure their reflection and/or absorption to get a picture of the object.

NON-CONTACT PASSIVE 3D SCANNERS – These 3d scanners don’t emit any kind of radiation or light themselves, and simply measure how the object interacts with background radiation. This type of scanning can be done with simple digital camera set-ups.