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3D scanner
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3D scanner
Anyone use a 3D scanner to make models for printing, or CNC? I’ve noticed a number of inexpensive scanners on the market that appear to be an able to scan with fine detail and accuracy. I’ve wondered if they could be used to scan a guitar neck, or arch top mandolin plate to then cut on a CNC after tweaking in a CAD program.
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3 Replies
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My knowledge is about 10 years old.
Back then, it was the quality of the software, and not the hardware, that determined the success of the scan. But, my experience was limited to what my employer used.
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A while back I did a video of cleaning up a scan with one of the newer scanners. I cant remember which one now. Bottom line is that the scans are brute force vert clouds and are very heavy and still fairly dirty. If you are interested using them, I would get used to the idea of using a program, like Blender, that is designed for mesh modeling.
There is a workflow in CG modeling called retopology that is worth looking at. Most game/movie assets are now made using sculpting tools, which also leave really heavy, dirty models. I think a crafty person could use this to clean up models enough to get them back into a nurbs modeler for more precision manipulation.
All that being said, if you’re thinking this might be a decent workaround for the pain in the ass of learning Fusion or Rhino, it is not. At this point, considering the current state of the art, it would be more difficult not less.
Here’s that video.
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That’s kind of what I thought. The scan comes out dirty and needs more manipulation in software which can be more work than drawing it in the first place. I was curious as there are now numerous ads for these inexpensive scanners which make it look like a breeze. I had thought it would be cool to make a 3D library of interesting neck shapes when guitars come through my shop to use later with CNC for guitar builds. I have scanned my arch top mandolin plates with a CNC scan probe. It took forever, but I did get a decent looking STL file from it. It needs further cleanup in a program which I have yet to learn how to do. I’ve been using Aspire for years for 2D work. It has 3D capability, but I have found that program to be frustrating and not intuitive. I’d love to learn Fusion to be able to clean up my mandolin plate scan and start using it to rough carve my plates with CNC someday.
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