Once 3D printers became more and more affordable, all eyes turned next to the 3D scanner. Just a mere matter of months ago, it would seem, that this particular piece of equipment was still cost-prohibitive. Soon though, with need being the greatest motivator behind many new creations, numerous makers and tinkerers began constructing and providing their own innovative and highly functional open-source designs of their own, with many landing on Kickstarter and other crowdfunding platforms. At the same time, larger companies began offering a bevy of different services, from the 3D printing booth offering full-body scans to products like Microsoft’s Kinect.
With self-service available as well as handheld and PC-integrated tools, the processes for 3D scanning are becoming much more available, as well as options in what we can scan. You can feasibly scan anything you can see from your smartphone in many cases.
XYZ Handheld Scanner
What has been missing though until now is serious affordability combined with quality; however, just announced by XYZprinting is exactly what many have been waiting for, as the company claims it to be the ‘best valued 3D scanning solution to hit the market.’
At just $299, the XYZprinting 3D scanner is a versatile handheld device that is quick, easy, and accurate. Employing Intel’s RealSense built-in 3D camera technology, the innovative scanner has ‘advanced depth sensing capabilities,’ which works for users of all levels but is especially helpful to novices just learning to use scanning technology. It will be available in spring of 2016 via most of XYZprinting’s current retailers.
The handheld scanner allows for:
- Speed and high performance
- Scanning of objects at any size or of any shape, capturing fine color details
- Editing and enhancing
- Sharing
“Making 3D printing technology affordable and approachable has been XYZprinting’s biggest goal. Through our collaboration with Intel, the XYZ Handheld Scanner will, once again, break down the barriers for users that don’t know how to create 3D models, and unlock countless possibilities to replicate a wide variety of objects using 3D printing technology,” said Simon Shen, CEO, XYZprinting.
Not only is the scanner easy to carry due to its small size, but users can actually turn their laptops into a scanner quickly due to the snap-on design that allows it to be easily clipped on to the screen. Additional specs include:
Performance
- Scan Volume: (Max) 2m x 2m x 2m (Min) 0.1m x 0.1m x 0.1m
- Operating Range: (Max) 1.5m (Min) 0.3mv
- Accuracy: 1.0mm
- Depth Image Size: 640 x 480
- Color Image Size: 1080p
Software
- Supports OS: Windows 8.1 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- Free Scanning Software: XYZscan
- Scan Color: Monochromatic
- Output Format: STL, OBJ, PLY
- Max Image Throughput: 30 fps
Have you been looking into purchasing a 3D scanner? Could this be the product for you? Discuss in the 3D Scanner forum over at 3DPB.com.
