You're an Engineering Design professional. What 3D scanning equipment do you need?

1 Laser scanners

Laser scanners are one of the most common and versatile types of 3D scanning equipment. They use a laser beam to measure the distance and shape of an object, and create a point cloud of data that can be converted into a 3D model. Laser scanners can scan objects of various sizes, shapes, and materials, and they can achieve high accuracy and resolution. However, laser scanners also have some drawbacks, such as being sensitive to ambient light, requiring multiple scans from different angles, and being relatively expensive.

3 Photogrammetry scanners

Photogrammetry scanners are a type of 3D scanning equipment that use multiple images of an object taken from different angles to reconstruct its 3D shape. The scanner uses software to align and stitch the images together, and to create a mesh of polygons that represent the object's surface. Photogrammetry scanners can scan large or complex objects, and they can produce realistic and detailed 3D models. However, they also have some challenges, such as requiring a lot of images, having difficulty with uniform or featureless objects, and depending on the quality and resolution of the images.

4 How to choose

To choose the best 3D scanning equipment for your project, you need to consider several aspects, such as the size, shape, material, and detail of the object you want to scan, the speed, accuracy, and resolution you require, the budget and resources you have, and the software and format you want to use. Depending on your specific needs and preferences, you may find one type of scanner more suitable than another. For example, if you need to scan a small and intricate object with high precision, you may opt for a laser scanner. If you need to scan a large and simple object with low cost, you may prefer a photogrammetry scanner. If you need to scan a medium-sized and complex object with ease and speed, you may choose a structured light scanner.