Open Source 3D Scanner

An Open Source 3D Scanner Made with Raspberry Pi

By making use Raspberry Pi, we created an easy to build 3D scanner to be used for the acquisition of three-dimensional models via a video camera and a laser

Boris Landoni | July 29, 2016

3D printing keeps on establishing itself, mostly thanks to the availability of more user-friendly 3D printers and price drops. Those who use a 3D printer do it both for printing a original models of their work (such as for example, the scale model of a building or the replica of mechanic particulars), and to print items modelled from others for which STL files are often available. In order to reproduce an item – if the STL is not available – you will have to create it, and there are two ways to do it: either using a 3D modelling tool or by acquiring a 3D drawing for the item,  by means of a specific three-dimensional scanner. 3D Scanners are used in various fields, going from industry (for the copy of an object, starting from a model, a mould or an item to be replicated) to medicine (it is used, for example, by dental technicians so to scan the mouth’s cast and pilot CNC machines or 3D printers with which to build dental crowns and tooth caps, but also for the modelling of orthopedic implants). The scanner is also needed to acquire an object’s model and to remotely send it, where a 3D printer may replicate it; this is needed, for example, if it is necessary to send a sample from the other side of the world, but you cannot wait for the times needed by the couriers.

TECHNICAL FEATURES

5 megapixel video camera

Colour scan

Up to 6,400 steps per plate rotation

0.25 mm resolution

Scannable volume 200 X 200 X 150 mm

Assisted calibration

Power supply’s voltage: 12 Vcc / 700 mA

Source: http://www.open-electronics.org/an-open-source-3d-scanner-made-with-raspberry-pi/

As for the technique with the video camera only, the advantages are:

it does not require lasers, nor their calibration, it is therefore insensitive to the lasers’ positioning and alignment;

the hardware is much simpler;

it better shoots the surfaces having different light reflection coefficients.

          Source: http://www.open-electronics.org/an-open-source-3d-scanner-made-with-raspberry-pi/

Sample Scan, screen image. Source: http://www.open-electronics.org/an-open-source-3d-scanner-made-with-raspberry-pi/

<more at http://www.open-electronics.org/an-open-source-3d-scanner-made-with-raspberry-pi/; related articles and links: https://store.open-electronics.org/Electronics_3D_Scanner and http://www.open-electronics.org/3d-scanning-with-microsoft-kinect/ (3D Scanning with Microsoft Kinect. May 6, 2015)>