FARO’s new Freestyle3D X Handheld 3D Laser Scanner has Amazing Accuracy

After being announced earlier this year, 3D scanning industry leader FARO has this week officially released their ridiculously powerful Freestyle^3D  X Handheld Laser Scanner. The Freestyle^3D X is probably the most advanced handheld laser 3D scanner on the market, and it certainly brings a new level of scan detail to the industrial 3D scanner market. Designed for businesses and applications with a demand for extreme accuracy, the Freestyle^3D  X is ideally suited for multiple industrial uses, including architecture, engineering and construction projects. It is also ideal for a growing trend in law enforcement that uses handheld scanners to preserve and document crime scenes in more detail than is possible with 2D images.

Based on the product’s details and early reviews alone it seems that the Freestyle^3D X is the real deal. The scanner is capable of enhanced scanning accuracy down to one millimeter at a one meter range. It will also include a US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) traceable calibration accessory that will offer users verifiable data accuracy, a critical component for applications where digital data is tightly regulated such as forensic scanning. All calibration data is available on-site as well as exportable in PDF format, making real time monitoring of scan data possible.

The Freestyle^3D X 3D scanner can be used as a standalone device or paired with FARO’s stationary Focus^3D  X Series Laser Scanners for an even higher level of accuracy. Any collected point cloud data collected from both devices can be seamlessly integrated, even while in grayscale mode. The Freestyle^3D X will also include an automatic flash mode, which makes capturing 3D data in a wide variety of lighting conditions possible, including low light conditions that may be found at a crime scene or inside of poorly lit construction or renovation projects.

Here is a promotional video showing off the potential applications:

“The Freestyle^3D X sets the industry standard for ease-of-use and verifiable accuracy among professional, portable scanning devices. The new features such as automatic flash mode, best point filter and new algorithms decisively enhance the overall scanning experience and enable users to carry out more projects with better quality at the same time. Moreover, the new Freestyle^3D X will allow the most demanding users to achieve better accuracy in their projects,” said Senior Vice President and Managing Director of FARO Asia Joe Arezone.

The scanner will also include a connected tablet device that allows users to control and monitor the scanning progress and alter the scanning parameters in real time. The included software will stream a detailed visualization of the point cloud during the scanning process, and it also includes an integrated best-point filter which will enhance the quality of the scan by selecting the best data and reducing noise by nearly 35%. The post-processing speed has also been improved by increasing the data writing rate up to five times the previously available speeds.

The FARO Freestyle^3D X is an incredibly versatile 3D scanner that will quickly and efficiently document full rooms, external structures and capture stand alone objects in full 3D. The data will generate high-definition point clouds than can be used in a wide variety of industries and applications, specifically challenging projects that need to be quickly scanned from multiple perspectives. It can reliably operate in environments with a wide range of temperature variances ranging from 32° to 104° Fahrenheit (0-40°C). All in a package that weighs a little over two pounds. 

With an indoor scanning volume upwards of eight square meters, the Freestyle^3D X offers the largest handheld scan volume on the market and is easily one of the most advanced 3D scanners available. The cost of the Freestyle^3D X will vary from seller to seller but will retail in the range of $11,000 to $12,000 so this is not a 3D scanner for hobbyists. You can find out more about the Freestyle^3D X and read more about the scanner’s specs and features over on the FARO website.

Let us know if you’ve used this new 3D scanner.  Discuss in the Freestyle 3D Scanner forum thread on 3DPB.com.