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Best 3d scanners under $1000
The Best 3D Scanners in December 2022 (Hobbyist & Commercial)
3D scanners are changing how we make, design, and see the world. By scanning nearby objects, people and almost anything else, these scanners create entire 3D digitized models of physical objects in just seconds.
Sometimes called 3D laser scanners, 3D model scanners or 3D object scanners, 3D scanners are integral for custom 3D printing and other fun home 3D scanner uses, for saving historical artifacts as digital models, dentistry – and so much more.
What’s more, you can now pick up powerful low-cost 3D scanners for just a few hundred dollars, and if you’re content with low-quality basic scans, you can even use your phone!
BUDGET PICK
Revopoint POP 2Versatile and portable with handheld & stationary options and color scanning
Up to 0.05mm accuracy on a small scanner that costs under $1000
Available At revopoint here Amazon here
MID-RANGE PICK
Matter & Form V2Accurate 0. 1mm scans
Powerful stationary scanner for 25x18cm objects
Comes with specialized software
Available At matterhackers here amazon here
PREMIUM PICK
Shining 3D EinScan H0.05mm scan accuracy and 0.25mm resolution with 1.2 million points/s
Infrared scan sensors make scanning darker colors easier
Available At Dynamism here
To rank the best 3D scanners, we considered:
- Accuracy and resolution
- Scan area (benefiting handheld scanners that can scan larger areas)
- Scan speed
- Ease of use
- Price-performance ratio
- Versatility
We also separated our 3D scanner reviews into three main price categories:
- 3D scanners under $1000
- Mid-range 3D scanners ($1,000 to $10,000)
- Industrial 3D scanners ($10,000+)
The Best 3D Scanners for All Prices Ranges
| 3D Scanner Brand & Name | Type of 3D Scanner | Price | Where to buy and where has the best price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revopoint 3D POP 2 | Structured Light | $699 | Revopoint 3D here |
| Creality CR-Scan 01 | Structured Light | $700 | Creality Store here |
| SOL 3D scanner by Scan Dimension | Desktop 3D Scanner | $699 | Amazon here |
| BQ Ciclop | Laser Triangulation (DIY) | Depends if pre-assembled or DIY | Amazon here |
| Matter & Form V2 | Desktop 3D Scanner | $749 | Amazon here |
| Shining 3D EinScan SE | Desktop 3D Scanner | $1,399 | Amazon here |
| EinScan H | Handheld | $4,999 | Dynamism Store here |
| Shining 3D EinScan Pro 2X Plus | Handheld 3D Scanner | $6,800-$8,300 | Amazon here |
| Scantech iReal2E | Handheld 3D Scanner | $3,980 | Scantech Site |
| Artec EVA | Industrial 3D Scanner | $19,800 | |
| Scantech SIMSCAN | Portable 3D scanner | Contact for price | Scantech site |
| Scantech KSCAN | Handheld 3D Scanner | Contact for price | Scantech site |
But before we get into the best scanners, here’s a quick intro to how 3D scanners work:
How Does a 3D scanner Work?
3D scanners work by creating point clouds based on images taken of a solid surface or object — basically huge numbers of data points that denote where an object is — to create a 3D model of the scanned part.
Millions of individual data points make up the model, which you can then export as an STL, OBJ or other file type and import to CAD software, or 3D print via a slicer.
3D scanning includes several different technologies, such as Structured Light scanning and Laser Triangulation, while some are stationary and some are handheld.
The Best 3D Scanners 2022: Budget Picks
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Revopoint POP 2
- Price: $699 — Available at Revopoint Official store here
- Precision: 0.05 mm
- Scan Speed: 10 FPS
- Minimum Scan Volume: 20 x 20 x 20 mm
- Single Capture Range: 210 x 130 mm
- Working Distance: 150 – 400 mm
- Point Cloud Distance / Single-Frame Accuracy: 0.15 mm
We were extremely impressed with the Revopoint POP 2 when we tested it recently, and overall we feel it’s the most versatile and powerful 3D scanner under $1,000.
While there are some great stationary scanners like the Matter and Form V2, the Revopoint’s usability for turnstile stationary scanning, color scanning, as well as handheld scanning for faces and bodies makes it the ideal multi-use 3D scanner.
The POP 2 notably upgrades on the original POP, with precision increased from around 0.3mm to up to 0.05mm (our tests found it to be in the 0.07mm range, which is still very impressive), a slightly faster scan speed of 10fps vs 8, and a slightly smaller minimum scan volume of 20mm³ vs the original POP’s 30mm³.Testing the precision accuracy of the Revopoint POP 2 during calibration.
It scanned color images well when we tested it on some kids toys and a multi-color Rubik’s cube, and scanned faces accurately (but you need to change some settings around to prevent any noise distorting your scanned faces).
Overall, we highly recommend it as one of the best scanners in its price range – standard scanning, face scanning, color, or entire body scanning, it’s good for all uses.
Testing the color 3D scanning and editing the scan in Revo Studio software.Compare the scanners: Revopoint POP vs POP 2
Creality CR-Scan 01
- Price: $650-$700 — Available at Creality Official store here / Amazon here
- Accuracy: 0.1 mm
- Resolution: 0.5 mm
- Max Scan Volume: 536 x 378 mm
- Technology: Structured light
- Speed/Frame Rate: 10 FPS
With a cemented reputation for offering some of the best budget 3D printers on the market today, Creality aims to do very much the same with the affordable Creality CR-Scan 01 3D scanner.
It employs structured light technology to feel out the shape, size, and texture of a 3D object to generate a digital reproduction.
Creality has fitted the CR-Scan 01 with both a handheld mode and a stationary turntable mode, each with their own set of advantages:
- In handheld mode, the scanner quickly works through larger objects, offering flexibility and on-the-fly capture.
- Switch to turntable mode, and the tripod-mounted Creality CR-Scan 01 creates an automated, higher-accuracy 360° scan as the object rotates on the turntable.
Both modes offer accuracy of 0.1 mm, a resolution of 0.5 mm, 24-bit high-fidelity color mapping, and marker-free scanning thanks to a clever alignment algorithm.
The Creality CR-Scan 01 also makes smart adjustments based on light levels, making it suitable for low-light environments. These are all excellent features for the asking price and sufficient for most hobbyist scanning needs, although somewhat lacking for high-precision scanning.
However, where the Creality CR-Scan 01 shines is a distance of 400-900 mm, which outclasses most budget 3D scanners, with a scanning area of 536 x 378 mm. In practice, you can scan medium to large objects further away with a larger frame size, which speeds up the scanning process considerably.
Finally, the bundled Creality’s CR Studio is a robust post-processing suite with all manner of editing, repair, color, and smoothing tools to polish off digital scans ready for 3D printing or other applications. It’s a solid competitor to the Revopoint scanners.
SOL 3D Scanner by Scan Dimension — Perfect desktop 3D scanner
- 3D scanner price: $699 — Available on Amazon here
- Accuracy: up to 0.1 mm
- Scan volume: up to 170 x 170 mm
- Scan speed: 10 min in Turbo mode, 20 min normally
SOL is a desktop laser scanner designed for scanning small yet detailed items, with good accuracy for the price.
The actual scanner itself weighs just 7 pounds, and can scan objects that weigh up to 2kg. This light weight makes it a perfect portable 3D scanner if you’re on the move.
It has two different modes depending on what you’re scanning:
- Near mode: for scanning objects of up to 100 mm in diameter and 100 mm in height.
- Far mode: for scanning objects up to 170 mm in diameter and 170 mm in height.
The SOL boasts an accuracy of around 0.1 mm, extremely good for the price range. You scan objects with their included SOL 3D software, and can then easily export your scans as OBJ or STL files and import them into a 3D slicer for 3D printing.
Danish company Scan Dimension promotes this impressive 3D visualizer not only for makers or hobbyists, but also for entrepreneurs. They sell the SOL 3D scanning camera as a way for entrepreneurs to show their products off with a 360-degree view, with easy ways to share these scans on Facebook.
Additionally, Scan Dimension say the scanner is also perfectly suited for education, for teaching students STEM education through scanning and editing structures.
Overall, it’s well suited as both a 3D scanner for businesses, as well as a home 3D scanner for hobbyists.
BQ Ciclop — Home-made 3D scanner for technical makers
- Price: Depends if buying or DIY — Available on Amazon here
- Resolution: 0.5 mm
- Scan time: 2-8 mins
- Maximum scan volume: 200 x 200 x 205 mm
- 3D scanning technology: Laser Triangulation
Unlike many scanners, this DIY 3D scanner is open source, with all the files hosted on Thingiverse for you to download and print. The Ciclop has proven popular, with tens of thousands of downloads on Thingiverse alone.
BQ provides all of the information, software, and electronics for this 3D scanner kit which you can modify for yourself on their website, and other variations have been brought to market offering tweaks and improvements on the opensource design, such as CowTech’s version.
Read more: the other variations of Ciclop feature in our DIY 3D scanners review
The BQ Ciclop 3D scanner uses laser triangulation technology, and can scan objects in a few minutes. Moreover, the simple and well-written instructions allow anyone, no matter their skill level, to build the scanner in under an hour. BQ host downloads for all the drivers for the camera and firmware that you need, and developed a specialized 3D scanner app called Horus for scanning on your Ciclop.
It’s simple but effective. It’s made from ten 3D printed parts (download .STL files from Thingiverse), a threaded rod, a Logitech C270 webcam, two line lasers, and a turntable platform with a stepper motor, though you can edit and modify it as you wish.
The BQ Ciclop scans a volume of 250 x 205 mm and has a resolution of up to 0.5mm. It can be connected via USB or Bluetooth, making it a versatile and affordable low-cost 3D scanner for beginners.
Spanish tech company BQ have released this open-source 3D scanner which you can put together inexpensively.
Matter and Form V2 MFS1V2 — Portable 3D scanners under $1,000
- 3D scanner cost: $749 — Available on Amazon here / Available on Matterhackers here
- Scan volume: 250 x 180 mm
- Accuracy: within 0.1 mm
- Scan speed: up to 65 seconds
The Matter and Form V2 is an updated version of the original desktop 3D scanner made by the Canadian tech startup. This low-cost 3D scanner uses 2 lasers and an HD-CMOS sensor to produce high-resolution, full-color 3D scans.
The scanner has an accuracy of up to around 0.1mm, and is easily connectable to your computer through USB to transfer over your scans.
For editing scans, the Matter and Form scanner comes with specialized Mfstudio, and +Quickscan which boosts scan speed to up to 65 seconds. You can then export the STL file and print them with your 3D printer.
The 3D scanner can scan objects in sizes up to 25 cm tall and 18 cm in diameter.
It is compatible with every major OS, so Mac users needn’t worry. What we like most however is that it folds up, making it a perfect portable 3D scanner.
Medium Priced 3D Scanners: $1,000 to $10,000
Shining 3D EinScan SE — Best 3D scanner under $2000
- Price: $1,199 — Available on Amazon here / Dynamism here
- Scan accuracy: within 0.1 mm for single shots
- Scan range: single scan = 200 x 150 mm, maximum scan range = 700 x 700 mm
- Scan speed: a single shot is under 8 seconds
Shining 3D have made a name for themselves in the medium-range 3D scanning sector, with cheaper options such as the EinScan-SE as well as more expensive scanners like the EinScan Pro 2X Plus.
The EinScan SE is one of the best 3D object scanners in its price range. It scans in around 8 seconds (versus 4 seconds for the EinScan SP) and can complete a whole 360-degree scan in its Automatic Scan mode in around 2 minutes.
It can scan objects up to around 200 mm wide and 150 mm tall, with a single shot accuracy of within 0.1 mm — making it one of the best 3D scanners under $2000. For a fixed scan without the turntable, max scan volume increases up to 700 x 700 mm.
Overall, this 3D model scanner is accurate, reliable, and makes it easy to quickly scan stationary objects and 3D print them with ease. The EinScan SP — described in more detail further in this guide — is more precise, but costs more. Therefore, it’s a matter of your budget and how important this additional quality is for you personally.
EinScan H
- Price: $5,000 — Available at Dynamism here
- Accuracy: 0.05 mm
- Resolution: 0.25 mm
- Max Scan Volume: 780 x 900 mm
- Technology: Hybrid structured light LED and infrared
- Speed/Frame Rate: 1,200,000 points/s, 20FPS
The EinScan H is a professional-grade handheld 3D scanner that combines speed, accurate reproduction, and ease of use with a particular emphasis on bringing usually tricky 3D objects to digital life.
The EinScan H combines two light sources – structured LED and invisible infrared – to cover a wide range of 3D objects, modes, and applications.
For example, the infrared light excels at capturing the detail and intricacies of darker colors, notably those of human hair and general facial scanning – with dark hair the bane of any experienced face 3D scanner.
An added benefit of the invisible light is more comfortable scanning for the subject and no on-face glare to complicate the scanning process.
Manufacturer Shining 3D has also gone to considerable lengths to merge impressive accuracy and resolution along with fast scanning speeds. The EinScan H pushes a resolution of 0.25 mm with accuracy as low as 0.05 mm, all at roughly 1,200,000 points/s at 20FPS.
The scanner also features authentic, full-color reproduction with solid texture mapping that translates to systematically excellent scan quality.
According to Shining 3D, it’s possible to scan an entire human body in fine detail in a matter of minutes.
A generous 420 x 440 mm single capture range helps keep things speedy even when scanning large objects aided by an optimized alignment algorithm to keep scans crisp and precise.
Although priced at $5000, the EinScan H falls roughly in the affordable range and is a versatile tool suited for healthcare, art, forensic science, and other professional 3D modeling applications.
Scantech iReal 2E Color 3D Scanner — A complete 3D scanning solution
- Price: $3,980
- Scanning area: Up to 850 mm x 800 mm
- Accuracy: Up to 0.100 mm
iReal 2E is a professional handheld color 3D scanner manufactured by Scantech. The company specializes in developing, manufacturing, and selling intelligent visual inspection equipment and sells an entire range of 3D scanners for various applications and sectors.
The iReal 2E uses red VCSEL structured light technology to offer you a simple and safe 3D scanning experience, eliminating the issues of dazzling lights and difficulties in hair 3D scanning.
Without attaching markers, a quick and accurate texture and geometry scan can be achieved with a wide scanning area of 850 mm x 800 mm, 750 mm depth of field, 1.5 million measurements per second, and at 0.100 mm accuracy. Mixed alignment modes meet various scanning situations.
Shining 3D EinScan SP
- Price: $2,599 — Available on Amazon here / Dynamism here
- Scan range: single scan = 200 x 150 mm, max scan range = 1200mm³
- Accuracy: within 0.05 mm for single shots
- Speed: single shot speed of under 4 seconds
The second Shining 3D medium-range 3D scanner in our ranking, the EinScan SP is more accurate than the EinScan SE, with accuracy up to 0.05 mm rather than 0.1 mm, and scans single shots in half the time (4s vs 8s).
To save you time: double the price, double the accuracy — and half the scanning time.
The scanner uses white light scanning technologies to make very accurate scans of objects as small as 30 x 30 x 30 mm.
Full objects are typically scanned in less than a minute, and images in less than four seconds.
What’s more, despite its cheaper price, many buyers have reported that it can compete with scanners costing ten times as much for scan quality. It also comes with a tripod for stationary object 3D scanning.
Shining 3D EinScan-Pro 2X Plus — One of the best 3D scanners around
- Price: $5,999 (full industrial pack costs extra) — Available on Amazon here / Dynamism here
- Accuracy: up to 0.04mm in fixed scan turntable mode
- Volumetric accuracy: 0.3mm/m
- Speed: fixed scan single shot in under 0.5 seconds / up to 30fps with handheld use
The EinScan-Pro 2X Plus costs more than the EinScan SP and H, and can be used as a fixed or handheld 3D scanner to capture various-sized objects.
It uses white light 3D scanning technologies to increase accuracy and scan faster (sub 0.
5-second single shot scans), creating high-quality scans in record time.
You can simply hold the scanner and point it towards the object or room you want to 3D scan, and instantly record crisp scans of your surroundings. Whereas lower-cost scanners limit you to desktop sizes, the Pro 2X Plus frees you to capture entire rooms.
You may want to 3D scan a car, your friend, or even turn it into a baby 3D scanner for a 3D memory of your child before it grows up!
You retain the accuracy however with the scan volume freedom, with accuracy up to 0.03mm for objects less than 4m away.
Industrial & Professional 3D Scanners: $10,000+
Artec EVA — Powerful handheld 3D scanner
- Price: $19,800
- Accuracy: up to 0.1 mm + 0.3mm/m
- Resolution: up to 0.2 mm
- Speed: captures up to 16fps in HD and full-color
- Working distance: 0.4m – 1m
Creating new innovative solutions in 3D technology since 2007, Artec 3D is a global leader in handheld 3D scanners.
Their most popular scanner, the Eva, is a handheld, industrial 3D object scanner, and an excellent solution for medium-sized objects ranging from motorcycle wheels to car exhaust systems, human busts and facial close-ups.
Light, quick, and versatile, Artec Eva captures precise measurements in high resolution, while structured light scanning technology makes the scanner safe to use in any situation – even difficult to scan surfaces such as black or shiny surfaces are effectively captured by Eva.
Ideal for use in industries including product design, heritage preservation, healthcare, and reverse engineering, this market leader can accurately scan full-color objects at a range of up to 100cm with color and texture, making it a great solution for fast and accurate 3D models.
Scantech SIMSCAN — hand-sized portable 3D scanner
- Accuracy: up to 0.020 mm
- Resolution: up to 0.025 mm
- Scanning area: up to 410 x 400 mm
Scantech’s SIMSCAN consists of two sets of industrial black & white cameras, a laser projector with 30 laser lines, and a set of multifunctional buttons.
Its high-quality components ensure fast and stable 3D scanning.
It features three scanning modes: ultra-fast scanning, hyperfine scanning, and deep hole scanning optimized for different scanning situations. With its intelligent auxiliary lights, it can even scan darkly lit objects.
Powered by a robust algorithm, SIMSCAN’s measurement rate can be up to 2.02 million measurements/s with an accuracy of up to 0.020 mm. It has a field of view of up to 410 x 400 mm.
With a net weight of 570g, SIMSCAN can be among the top list of the most lightweight and portable 3D scanners in the market. It is designed for both beginners and professionals to conduct 3D scanning regardless of ambient conditions. Thanks to its compact size and portability, SIMSCAN enables on-site and efficient 3D scanning, and it suits well for scanning hard-to-reach areas.
Made from aerospace-grade aluminum-alloy, Scantech’s SIMSCAN scanner is sturdy and durable and performs well in heat dissipation. Its material ensures a prolonged use of the 3D scanner.
With an anti-slip shell and a hand strap, you can orient this scanner in any way you choose to suit your 3D scanning needs.
Scantech KSCAN-Magic — industrial handheld 3D scanner
- Resolution: 0.010 mm
- Scanning rate: 1,350,000 measurements/second
- Scanning area: 1440 x 860 mm
Esteemed 3D scanner company Scantech have announced the launch of their latest KSCAN 3D scanner, with 5 five different modes for all types of scanning. These include a large area scanning mode, fast scanning mode, photogrammetry, as well as a fine scanning mode. Featuring both infrared lasers and blue laser technologies allows the KSCAN-Magic to accomplish a wide range of scanning functions effectively.The KSCAN-Magic 3D scanner can handle large, industrial objects like plane parts, as well as intricate, smaller objects.
It scans accurately, quickly, can handle small and large objects, and is designed to accelerate time-to-market. The 41 equipped laser lines can handle an incredible 1.
35 million measurements per second, creating detailed scans in record time.
If you are looking for leading-edge 3D solutions for your business, KSCAN definitely surpasses expectations with its resourcefulness and precision.
Are 3D Scanners Worth It?
3D scanners are almost always worth the investment, but to decide which is best for you, you’ll need to consider your budget, needs, and priorities. Keep an eye on scan resolution quality and accuracy, scan speed, and price to find a 3D scanner that’s worth it for you.
Buyer’s Guide – Things To Consider When Buying A 3D Scanner
Budget
Expect to pay anywhere from $400 to $200,000 for a 3D scanner. There are numerous options suited to all budgets dotted between those two extremes.
Entry-level hobby scanners suitable for 3D printing are available for less than $1,000, while more robust machines suited for light-professional scanning sell for around $5,000.
Should you want the cream of the crop scanners designed for the most-demanding industrial-level applications such as engineering, expect to pay more than $10,000.
Speed
When applied to 3D scanners, speed refers to the rate at which a machine captures or scans a 3D object. Consumers and most professional 3D scanners record speed in points per second or frames per second. The higher the count, the faster the scanner.
If you’re buying for a professional setting where productivity is critical, we recommend eyeing faster printers, which generally push points per second into the millions and frame rates around 20 FPS.
Resolution and Accuracy
Accuracy refers to how well the finished digital object matches its real-world counterpart. Accuracy pops up in specification sheets expressed in mm, which indicates to what degree the 3D scan sticks to the shape, size, features, etc., of the real-world object.
For a budget 3D scanner, 0.1-0.2 mm is a solid reference point, while much more expensive industry scanners can jump to as low as 0.009 mm on the most powerful devices.
Though similar to accuracy, the resolution refers to the smallest possible distance between points on a 3D scan.
In layman’s terms, a higher resolution delivers finer details and more intricate, faithful features. You’ll find manufacturers refer to resolution in mm, a measure that balloons and shrinks based on the price of the 3D scanner.
Budget printers waver around 0.3-0.5 mm, while professional scanners can push resolutions as high as 0.1 mm.
Software and Connectivity
Connectivity refers to how a 3D scanner allows you to scan, export work, and interface with a PC or other device as well as the source of power. In most cases, USB is the standard, with some outliers offering Bluetooth.
If you’re looking for portability, consider handheld scanners that pair with Smartphones and power banks so you can quickly scan on the move.
Software tied to 3D scanners come in all shapes and sizes, from barebones scanning tools to advanced suites with all manner of post-processing touch-up options.
It goes without saying that software capabilities match the target audience of each scanner.
Pay more for a professional scanner, and the software generally features a more robust set of tools.
Use Case
Entry-level 3D scanners are a good option for hobbyists looking to scan objects with 3D printing in mind. They are just about affordable and work well, although they lack the detail and speed of pricier models.
We recommend handheld 3D scanners for larger models. These grant a degree of freedom and movement to capture all the detail and breadth of bigger objects. A large scan area helps speed up scanning large objects, too.
For small fixed object scanning, where capturing all the rich details and texture of a model tops your list of requirements, look to stationary scanners, ideally with a turntable, tripod, and an optimized alignment algorithm.
3D Scanning to 3D Print
3D scanners are often used to create 3D printable models, with 3D scanner and 3D printer setups allowing you to replicate almost anything in front of you. Simply use the 3D scanning camera to create a digital model of your object, and then 3D print the scan.
Large objects can be scanned using handheld 3D scanners and moved around the object’s dimensions, and then sized down and 3D printed as a scale model. These 3D printer scanner combos offer almost limitless versatility.
3D Scanner Cost
Budget/entry-level
Thanks to efforts from companies like Creality and Revopoint, there’s a concerted effort to lower the cost of entry and boost accessibility to 3D scanners.
It’s now possible to buy a decent entry-level scanner for under $1,000, with ultra-budget options like the Phiz 3D scanner dropping as low as $400.
Even though the experience and features measure up to the price paid, budget 3D scanners offer everything needed to create decent quality scans suitable for hobbyist applications.
Read more: the top low-cost 3D scanners
Mid-range
Jumping up to the mid-range category, you’ll find 3D scanners priced anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000. These are generally professional-grade machines with a range of tech, modes, and excellent scan quality, striking a balance between functionality and price.
Top-range/Industrial
The top-shelf 3D scanners. Expect to pay upwards of $10,000 for industrial-grade devices. These are very much no-compromise options boasting the peak in accuracy, resolution, and scan speeds for industry applications such as scientific measurements, reverse engineering, demanding 3D visualization, architecture, and rapid prototyping.
3D Scanner Uses
Medical: custom orthopedics, wheelchair and mobility aids, prosthetics, plastic surgery implants, protective equipment, realistic dummies for training.
Dental: bespoke implant and crown design suited to specific patients.
Jewelry: bespoke designs, repairs, and easy duplication/replication of damaged family heirlooms or discontinued jewelry with sentimental value.
Hobbyist 3D Printing: scanning real-world objects for reproduction using a 3D printer. Miniatures, cosplay, household items and repairs, toys, and other functional parts.
Virtual Reality and Game Design: real-world object/landmark scanning for use in VR environments, and body scans to create realistic animations and in-game models.
Engineering: tolerance testing, quality control, data analysis, fully textured models, infrastructure building and monitoring.
Reverse Engineering and Repairs: automotive, aviation, naval repairs, and restoration of antique or discontinued vehicles.
Archeology and Conservation: heritage conservation of objects, artifacts, and skeletal remains.
Architecture: building scanning for surveying, design, and reverse engineering degraded exteriors for repair.
Forensics: digital replicas of crime scenes to capture evidence such as shoe prints, blood stains, bullet holes, and so on.
Types of 3D Scanners
The main types of 3D scanners include:
- Laser triangulation 3D scanners
- Structured light 3D scanning
- Photogrammetry
- LIDAR (time-of-flight)
- Metrology 3D scanners
- Intraoral 3D scanners for dentistry
- 3D body scanners
The two most-used technologies are structured light scanning and laser triangulation.
Structured Light Scanning
Structured light scanning is commonly used in handheld 3D scanners and involves projecting patterns of light at an object, with two cameras usually placed on either side of the projector to measure the light pattern from each side and calculate precise differences at every point in their field of view.
These cameras measure how the light deforms the light pattern, and by triangulating these multiple different reference points across different images of the scan from each camera view, you can accurately calculate the dimensions of the object.
As a result of its portability and accuracy, dental 3D scanners typically use structured light scanning to scan patients’ mouths and create dental implants and models. Beyond this however, architects and historians are using these types of 3D scanning to keep digital records of priceless historical monuments, and NASA even use it to map interplanetary terrains.
However, the use of projected light makes it very sensitive to the lighting conditions in the scanning environment, so working outside or in other similar environments can be difficult.
Laser triangulation
Laser scanning involves projecting a laser point on an object and then using sensors to capture the reflections to gather data on the object’s size. Based on the reflection angle from the laser’s sensors, the 3D scanner can create accurate textures and surfaces using trigonometric functions.
However, because it works off reflections it can be ineffective if scanning shiny or reflective surfaces, and won’t work well with anything transparent.
Structured light scanning is generally considered more accurate than laser scanning, with less noise in scans.
LiDAR 3D scanning and Time of Flight 3D scanning
Another form of 3D scanning, and the technology used in the latest iPhone 12 Pro, is LiDAR. Light Detection and Ranging involves shooting out light beams and calculating the object’s area — based on the speed of light — on the time taken to reflect back to the Lidar 3D scanner.
These are very similar to time-of-flight 3D scanners.
These scanners shoot light pulses, calculating the time of flight for each pulse to create a 3D visualization — or point cloud. They’re commonly used to map terrains, measure real estate, and in architecture and construction.
Handheld 3D Scanners
Portable and versatile by design, handheld scanners allow you to efficiently and freely scan large objects, narrow spaces, or all the details of a human subject, for example.
Stationary 3D Scanners
Fixed scanners are a solid option if you plan to scan small objects and want the device to do most of the heavy lifting. They generally come with a stand or tripod and turntable. Automated scanning is also typically part of the deal here, with different modes of alignment to choose from.
3D Body Scanners
As the name implies, 3D body scanners are specifically designed to capture a full 3D scan of human bodies.
Towering machines, usually priced in the tens of thousands of dollars, 3D body scanners provide a fast and accurate 3D body scan for various applications, including health, fitness, animation, and more.
Read more: our feature story on 3D body scanners.
3D Scanner FAQs
Which is the Best 3D Scanner?
For those on a budget, our top pick is the Revopoint POP. It’s versatile, portable, affordable, and offers a solid level of accuracy for the price.
The EinScan H is a solid mid-range option for businesses and professionals looking for fast, highly-accurate printing.
Finally, if you want the best on the market today and have the budget to spare, Scantech’s SIMSCAN and KSCAN or the Artec EVA are all top-shelf options for the most demanding applications.
Who Makes the Best 3D Scanner?
Revopoint with their POP 3D scanner range, along with Creality’s low-cost scanners, make some of the best 3D scanners for hobbyists at home.
Companies like Artec, Shining 3D with their Einscan range, Scantech, and Creaform are known for high-quality commercial scanners.
What Is The Best 3D Scanner For Small Objects?
We recommend a stationary 3D scanner like the BQ Ciclop for affordable home scanning, and the Shining 3D EinScan SP for professional small object scanning.
What Is The Best 3D Scanner For 3D Printing?
We recommend the Creality CR-Scan 01. Creality has made the most of its 3D printing know-how to design a scanner that blends seamlessly into the 3D printing workflow. It’s compact, versatile, and reasonably accurate, perfect for most 3D printing hobby applications.
What Is The Best 3D Scanner For Reverse Engineering?
Scantech’s SIMSCAN rises above the rest as our top choice for reverse engineering. It’s particularly adept at capturing highly-detailed and accurate scans of objects in hard-to-reach spaces, perfect if you’re looking to reverse engineer a part from an aging piece of machinery or antique car, for example.
10 Best Cheap 3D Scanners in 2022 (That Work Well)
So you’re interested in getting into 3D scanning? First thing you’ll need: a 3D scanner. You could also make your own DIY 3D scanner, but this requires time, effort and skill, and many would prefer to buy their own affordable 3D scanner online and save the hassle.
But, you also don’t want to break the bank.
You don’t need a $20,000 professional piece of kit designed for precise prototypes and industry, you just want an easy-to-use, accurate and affordable 3D scanner you can use to scan your favorite miniatures and other fun designs, or even to scan you and your friends/family’s faces to 3D print them!
So, we’ve put together the absolute top picks for low-cost 3D scanners that still work great, from the lowest price range of $150 (though you have to build most of it yourself), to the $500-ish price range we recommend to get a good quality scanner – our Revopoint POP scanner is this price and we’re very happy with it – and also some more premium options for precise detail scanning.
What Makes a Good Cheap 3D Scanner?
- Price-performance ratio — offering bang for their buck
- Accuracy and resolution
- Versatility — are they portable, and can they be used both handheld and stationary?
- Ease of use — from simple setup, to software compatibility
BUDGET PICK
Revopoint POP
Has a grip for holding it to scan people/bodies, and turnstile and stationary object scanning
0.
3mm accuracy and 8fps scanning
Available Revopoint here
MID-RANGE PICK
Matter & Form V2
Accurate 0.1mm scan quality
Powerful stationary scanner for intricate 25x18cm objects
Available At matterhackers here Amazon here
PREMIUM PICK
Shining 3D EinScan SE
“Cheapest professional-level 3D scanner”
Scans 70x70x70cm objects to 0.1mm scan accuracy and can rotate objects
Available AT Dynamism here Amazon here
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| Name and brand | Type of 3D scanner | Price | Best price available at: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revopoint POP | Stationary/Handheld | $500 | Revopoint 3D here |
| BQ Ciclop | Laser triangulation | around $165 | Amazon here |
XYZ 1. 0 Pro | Low cost handheld 3D scanner | $445 | Amazon here |
| Revopoint POP 2 | Stationary/Handheld/Color | $699 | Revopoint 3D here |
| Sol 3D scanner | Laser triangulation | $799 | Amazon here |
| Matter & Form V2 | Desktop 3D scanner | $749 | Amazon here |
| Shining 3D Einscan SE | Stationary 3D scanner | $1,199 | Amazon here |
| Scantech iReal 2E | Handheld 3D scanner | $3,980 | Scantech site |
| Shining 3D Einscan SP | Stationary 3D scanner | $2,599 | Amazon here |
Cheap 3D Scanners Under $500
Revopoint POP – Best Cheap 3D Scanner
- Price: around $500 — Available at Revopoint store here
- Resolution: 0.3 mm
- Max Scan Volume: 210 x 130 mm
- Technology: Structured light & infrared scanning
- Speed/Frame Rate: 8fps
The Revopoint POP is one of the best low-cost 3D scanners around, with a single frame accuracy of up to 0.
3mm, and the versatility to be used portably to scan faces, bodies and animals, as well as a stationary scanner for sculptures, prototypes and other objects.
Weighing just 200g, it’s portable and light, and can easily fit into any backpack or transporting equipment you have.
Whether you use iOS or Android, MacOS or Windows, it’s compatible with your smartphone, tablet or laptop, and connects seamlessly via USB to scan and export — and can export in STL, OBJ or PLY file formats. It comes with cables to connect to PC or Mac, as well as a portable stick that connects to your smartphone for previewing your scans in handheld mode.
For scanning faces, the infrared sensors (similar to more expensive 3D scanners like the Einscan H) makes for a zero-glare solution that doesn’t hurt your eyes, and helps with scanning darker features (though dark hair will still be a problem).
The entire kit includes a smartphone rig, mount and grip, LED light to support scanning, mini tripod, and a turntable for scanning stationary objects.
Revopoint bundle the POP 3D scanner with their own software for editing and optimizing your scans, including multiple continuous splicing, making it a great all-around affordable 3D scanner workflow.
Read more: Revopoint POP 2 3D scanner review
BQ Ciclop — Great Cheap 3D Scanner Under $200
- Resolution: 0.5mm
- Price: around $150 — Available on Amazon here
- Scan time: 2-8 mins
- Maximum scan volume: 200 x 200 x 205 mm
Most 3D printing experts will know of BQ’s 3D printer range. In addition to their printers, BQ also designed the Ciclop, an affordable 3D scanner that’s completely open-source. You can either build it yourself at home if you prefer a DIY project, or buy it pre-assembled online.
This nifty budget 3D scanner has a good scanning volume — up to 250 x 205 mm — so it’s no slouch for the price. It utilizes laser triangulation technology, so you don’t need to hold the scanner and move it around the object.
And since it’s open-source, you can modify it however you want — following the RepRap 3D printer philosophy. It’s a great cheap laser scanner, and one of the best value 3D scanners out there.
In terms of specs, it’s actually very good for the price — with resolutions between 0.3-0.5mm. You can easily scan to a free 3D software tool (the BQ Ciclop comes with Horus) via Bluetooth or USB, though experienced makers may prefer to work in a more professional 3D software package.
Overall, the BQ Ciclop is a plucky, low-cost 3D scanner that’s great for new makers looking to get 3D scanning. One drawback is that it isn’t the easiest 3D scanner to assemble, so less experienced DIY-ers may opt to buy it pre-assembled online.
XYZprinting Handheld 2.0
- Price – Check price on Amazon here
- Resolution: 0.2 mm – 1.5 mm
- Max Scan Volume: 100 x 100 x 200 cm
- Technology: Stereo imaging
- Speed/Frame Rate: 40 fps
Building on the success of its first low-cost 3D scanner, XYZ is back with the new XYZprinting 3D Scanner 2.
0, promising, rather grandly, 3D scanning for a new frontier. Much of the focus here is on wiping out the reliability issues of the original while also increasing the resolution substantially.
Powered by an Intel RealSense module, the XYZprinting 3D Scanner 2.0 leans on portability, fast scanning, and greater detail as its chief attributes. It employs two cameras equipped with stereo imaging technology to measure the depth, shape, and size of objects.
Housed in a light and compact shell (itself designed to fit comfortably in the hand or clip onto a laptop or PC screen) weighing a feathery 382 g are some impressive specifications. It features full-color scanning at up to 1920 x 1080p at 40 FPS and 640 x 480 at 30 FPS depth imaging.
Resolution sits at a decent 0.2 mm to 1.5 mm, far better than the original’s 1.0 to 2.5 mm. It has a 25-60 cm operating range and a scanning distance of 20-120 cm. Alongside it boasts a max scan size of 100 x 100 x 200 cm for quick scanning of relatively large objects or bodies.
Firing up the XYZprinting 3D Scanner 2.0 gives you three modes: one tuned to capture objects, one optimized for headshots and portraits, and the last designed for full-body scans. Scanning is the usual process of capturing an object from multiple angles. The scanner then creates a digital mesh model replica, exportable to STL, OBJ, PLY, and FBX file formats.
Overall, the XYZprinting Handheld 2.0 punches above its price point and is a sound investment for those that need an affordable 3D scanner. The only negative is that the scanner is tethered to a USB cable, which detracts a little from its overall portability as you’ll always need a computer to scan objects.
Low Cost 3D Scanners ($500+)
Revopoint POP 2 – Best Under $1000
- Price: $699 — Available at Revopoint Official store here
- Precision: 0.05 mm
- Scan Speed: 10 FPS
- Minimum Scan Volume: 20 x 20 x 20 mm
- Single Capture Range: 210 x 130 mm
- Working Distance: 150 – 400 mm
- Point Cloud Distance / Single-Frame Accuracy: 0.
15 mm
We already feature the Revopoint POP on our affordable 3D scanner review, but the newer upgraded version, the POP 2, improves in almost every area.
It’s one of the best, if not the best 3D scanner under a thousand dollars, and works superbly for stationary scanning (it comes with a movable turntable to scan all sides), handheld scanning of objects, faces, bodies and more, as well as accurate color scanning.
Scanning a toy with the Revopoint POP 2 using the “fill holes” setting (often leave it off and sort any errors in post).However, you can’t scan black or shiny features unless you spray them to become visible to the camera.If budget is important, then the standard POP is fine. But, if you want that extra quality, the POP 2 offers up to 0.05mm precision (vs 0.3mm for the POP), a faster 10fps scan speed (vs 8fps on the POP), and it can scan smaller parts, starting at 20mm³ vs the original POP’s 30mm³.During our test and review, the calibration showed an accuracy of around 0.
07mm.
It scanned color images well when we tested it on some kids toys and a multi-color Rubik’s cube, and scanned faces accurately (but don’t select the “fill holes” setting as it will create deformed faces by creating a mesh cloud that includes background noise).
Overall, it’s probably the best cheap 3D scanners around – standard scanning, face scanning, color, or entire body scanning, it’s good for all uses.
Color scanning and editing test.Read the full review: Revopoint POP 2 hands-on test and review
Compare: Revopoint POP vs POP 2 and MINI
Sol 3D scanner — Low cost laser scanner
- Price: $799 — Available on Amazon here
- Resolution: up to 0.1 mm
- Scan volume: up to 170 x 170 mm
- Scan speed: 10 min in Turbo mode, 20 min normally
Costing under $1,000, the Sol 3D scanner is an affordable laser scanner capable of scanning small and medium-sized objects with strong accuracy.
For small parts or objects, it has a specialized Near Mode option, and for larger objects, you can use Far Mode.
Specialized 3D scanning software comes with the Sol scanner, easily enabling you to export object scans in either STL or any other file formats, for either 3D printing in a 3D slicer, or importing into a 3D CAD software tool for editing and optimizing.
The scanner is positioned towards hobbyists as well as entrepreneurs looking to expand their product range presentation.
With Facebook now letting anyone upload 360-degree images of their products that customers and fans can view, it has never been more important to have 3D scans of your best-sellers, with the Sol perfectly suited for this.
Overall, it’s a great low cost 3D scanner for effective scanning of small and medium objects.
Matter & Form V2 3D Scanner
- Price: $749 — Available on Amazon worldwide here / Available on Matterhackers here
- Scan volume: 250 x 180 mm
- Accuracy: within 0.
1 mm - Scan speed: up to 65 seconds
Featuring very accurate scanning at up to 0.1mm due to its 2 lasers and HD-CMOS sensor, the Matter & Form V2 is up there as the most precise cheap 3D scanner under $1,000.
Like many of these desktop 3D scanners, the Matter & Form comes with its own 3D software tool for editing and transferring files, and comes with Mfstudio and Quickscan for fast 65-second scanning.
If you’re looking to 3D print your scans, you can seamlessly import them into your 3D printer software and either print remotely via WiFi, or slice and export to a USB or SD card.
The only thing that may rule it out for some people is its relatively small maximum scanning size. Because it sits stationary when scanning, it can only scan objects that fit on its scanning platform (up to 25cm tall and 18cm diameter), so those who plan on scanning people or larger objects will prefer a handheld scanner instead.
Apart from that, it’s a fantastic, very precise 3D scanner perfect for scanning intricate, small objects.
Shining 3D EinScan-SE — Best value 3D scanner
- Price: $1,199 — Available on Amazon worldwide here / Available on Dynamism Store here
- Scan accuracy: a single shot is within 0.1 mm
- Scan range: single scan – 200 x 150 mm / maximum scan range – 700 x 700 mm
- Scan speed: a single shot under 8 seconds
Proclaimed the “cheapest professional level 3D scanner” by Shining 3D, their EinScan SE model is their entry-level 3D scanner. Some of their other scanners, for example the Einscan Pro 2X can cost upwards of $7,000, though just because it’s their cheapest scanner doesn’t mean the EinScan SE isn’t impressive.
It can scan up to 70 x 70 x 70 cm, which should be enough for your printing needs unless you’re scanning entire cars, or people. Moreover, it’s accurate to 0.
1mm so scan quality will absolutely not be a problem.
You can either have the object being scanned rotate, or do so yourself, the EinScan-SE supports a variety of options. Overall, it’s impressive for the price and a very strong 3D scanner.
iPhone With LiDAR Scanner
- Price: Check price on Amazon here
- Technology: LiDAR sensor
- Compatible Devices: iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro, iPad Pro
You may already have one of the best cheap 3D scanners in your pocket right now – an iPhone. The latest additions to Apple’s iPhone lineup, namely the iPhone 12 and 13 Pro family, along with the iPad Pro, feature a LiDAR sensor integrated into the camera assembly.
Light Detection And Ranging, or in simple terms, 3D laser scanning, beams light onto an object and then measures the time it takes for the light to reach back to the sensor to capture the size, shape, and other characteristics.
It does not just scan objects but also 3D spaces.
The sensor is chiefly equipped to boost the iPhone’s ability to capture crisp and clear images in less than ideal light conditions, but when paired with an appropriate app becomes a decent 3D scanner. The results aren’t quite on par with what you’d get with a dedicated 3D scanner, but they aren’t half bad for a device with a cheap LiDAR scanner you likely already own.
A growing number of apps make full use of the iPhone LiDAR sensor to scan and create 3D models, ready for export in various popular formats, which you can then edit in CAD software. Apps like Canvas, 3D Scanner, and Polycam are excellent starting points. Most are free, too, meaning you can 3D scan for no extra cost if you’re already the owner of one of the latest iPhones.
iReal 2E color 3D scanner
- Price: $3,980 – More info at Scantech store here
- Resolution: up to 0.2 mm
- Accuracy: up to 0.
1 mm - Weight: 850g
While not as cheap as some other options, Scantech’s iReal 2E is one of the most cost-effective professional handheld color 3D scanners on the market, capable of extraordinary accuracy and precise 3D object scans.
It’s specially designed for 3D scanning medium and large objects and human body scanning, equipped with four scanning modes: features, texture, markers, and mixed, giving you great flexibility for scanning different types of objects.
It features a large 580 x 550 mm field of view making it easy for beginners to operate, and a long 280 – 1000 mm scanning distance, ideal for larger items that lower-cost 3D scanners simply can’t manage.
Additionally, the iReal 2E color 3D scanner adopts infrared structured light technologies, with key advantages across invisible light scanning, environment/material adaptability (such as performing well on human hair, dark objects or under strong sunlight), and so many more.
Above all, if you are looking for a reasonably priced 3D scanner that can handle professional applications, this could be perfect for you.
It’s powerful and with the scanning modes and large field of view, it’s also very versatile. The iReal 2E is particularly useful for:
- Human body modeling — customization and re-creation of artistic portraits, film, video, game, VR, AR and other CG character modeling, medical rehabilitation, human body parts customization
- Art and design — medium and large-sized sculptures, cultural relics, college art training, clothing design, creative design, and derivative product development, etc
- Reverse engineering — castings, forgings, sanitary ware and other products with low precision requirements
- 3D printing
Shining 3D EinScan-SP
- Price: $2,599 — Available on Amazon worldwide here / Available on Dynamism Store here
- Scan range: single scan – 200 x 150 mm / max scan range – 1200mm³
- Accuracy: single-shot accuracy under 0.
05 mm - Speed: single shot speed of under 4 seconds
Having included the EinScan-SE, we had to also include its bigger brother, the EinScan-SP, as they’re both such standout 3D scanners. It’s not as cheap, and in fact, $2,500 is a lot of money, but compared to some industrial 3D scanners that can cost $50,000 plus, it’s comparatively inexpensive!
Whereas the EinScan-SE is accurate to 0.1mm, the SP is accurate to 0.05mm, an astonishing level of precision. This will result in clean, accurate and crisp 3D scans that can in turn be made into stunning 3D prints.
Additionally, it can scan larger objects, up to 120 x 120 x 120 cm, so unless you need to scan entire rooms or cars, you should definitely have enough space with the EinScan-SP.
What Makes A Good Cheap 3D Scanner – Buyer’s Guide
Portable
A handheld and portable cheap 3D scanner allows for more freedom of movement to capture scans of all shapes and sizes, even those located in hard-to-reach places.
Better yet, a scanner that works in both stationary and handheld modes offers the best of both worlds. Furthermore, portability usually means lightweight, making scanning more manageable and less of a strain when capturing an object from multiple angles.
Resolution
Resolution determines the quality of the 3D model obtained after scanning an object. Around 1 mm to 2 mm is a good starting point, but go lower if possible; ideally, about 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm to give you the best possible results on a budget. You’ll find cheap 3D scanners like the Matter & Form V2 3D Scanner drop to as low as 0.1 mm, but these tend to carry a higher price tag.
Scan Volume
This determines the size of the maximum scannable area you can capture in one go. Lean towards cheap 3D scanners with large scan volumes if you plan to make full-body scans as these reduce the number of angles you’ll need for a complete scan.
Ease of Use
Though the technology behind 3D scanners is relatively complex, the actual scanning process doesn’t have to be.
Look for scanners with one-touch scanning, multiple optimized modes, and user-friendly accompanying software.
Export File Formats
A good cheap 3D scanner needs to offer the ability to export scans to file formats that will be useful to you and compatible with CAD software. STL, OBJ, and PLY are generally available on most budget 3D scanners but check beforehand if you need a less standard format.
What You Can Do With a Cheap 3D Scanner – Uses and Applications
- Education and Schools – For developing 3D CAD modeling skills, design lessons, and general STEM education.
- 3D Printing – Scan real-world objects and convert them into 3D printed objects. Especially useful for those that don’t want to create 3D models from scratch in CAD software.
- Design – Rough, rapid prototypes based on real-world objects.
- 3D Room Scans – Renovation, digital real estate house viewings, interior design.
- AR and Animation – game development, app development, digital art.
FAQ
Which Is the Best Cheap 3D Scanner?
Revopoint POP is one of the most versatile cheap 3D scanners, thanks to both stationary and handheld modes, along with the tripod and turntable that ships alongside the scanner.
Among the best cheap stationary 3D scanners for objects, the Matter & Form V2 3D Scanner is a solid option offering high-quality scans thanks to an excellent 0.1 mm accuracy and fast scan speeds.
If you’re looking for pure value and the lowest price, nothing beats the cost-effective offering of the BQ Ciclop.
Lastly, if you need a scanner capable of higher quality results, the Shining 3D EinScan-SE is a value-packed professional 3D scanner at a mid-range price.
Who Makes the Best Low-Cost 3D Scanners?
Shining 3D is among the best 3D scanner manufacturers, as exemplified by the excellent EinScan-SE. If we drop in price, Revopoint’s versatile POP 3D scanner is largely unmatched when it comes to bundling a broad range of scan options into a lightweight, compact, and affordable device.
Also worthy of mention is XYZprinting and their 3D scanner range, notably the refreshed and updated XYZprinting Handheld 2.0, which offers excellent resolution at a great price.
Other articles you may be interested in:
- Professional 3D scanners buyer’s guide
- DIY 3D scanner kits you can build at home
- The best 3D scanners – ranked
- Top 3D scanner apps (for iOS and Android)
Top Ten 3D Scanners from $100 to $100,000 / Sudo Null IT News There are several ways for you: you can of course create your 3D model from scratch in a 3D modeling program or find a suitable one on the Internet, but you can also scan an existing object! The purpose of this review is to help you understand the variety of 3D scanners available and offer the best in every price segment from a photogrammetric smartphone app to professional 3D scanners.
Scanners are listed in ascending price order so you can choose the one that suits your budget and use the resulting 3D models for both 3D printing and animation.
If you are not satisfied with the proposed solutions, there is an extended overview at this link.
3D scanner in hand:
1. Best smartphone app: Autodesk 123D Catch (free)
Autodesk 123D Catch is a free photogrammetric application. It allows you to create a 3D model from photographs of an object taken from different angles. You can use it to scan objects, people, and even the landscape. For some applications, if you don't need perfect accuracy, you don't need special equipment. This application actually provides quite good detail and is easy to use. However, it will take you at least 30 minutes for the app to process your photos as the processing takes place on the server and it takes time to send them.
2. Best DIY 3D Scanner: Kinect ($99.99)
The Xbox Kinect is designed to expand your gaming experience. It is not designed for 3D scanning, but you can easily find manuals and third party software (like ReconstructMe) to turn it into a 3D scanner.
If your arms are growing out of your shoulders, this is an interesting and inexpensive solution for 3D scanning.
Price: $99.99
Resolution: 0.051mm
)
This scanner can be attached to your tablet or phone (generally designed for iPad, but can be adapted to other devices). Lightweight and easy to use, with a very good resolution. Suitable for large items (can scan a full-length person) and outdoor scanning. You will be able to use it with software running on Occipital's SDK. This will increase the resolution and give you access to special features like room scanning. It probably won't be something you'll use for 3D printing, but it's interesting for game development, for example.
Price: $ 379
Resolution up to: 0.5 mm
accuracy to: 4 mm
4. The best of cheap manual 3D scanners: Cubife ($ 399)
3D 3D-scanners can be quite affordable and easy to use if you choose from inexpensive portable models.
Cubify fits these criteria very well and has a relatively good resolution. But still, its capabilities are not enough for texture scanning and it is better to use it for subsequent 3D printing of one-color models.
Price: $ 399
Resolution: 0.9 mm
Resolution at a distance of 0.5 m: 1 mm
3D scanner on the table:
5. Best and cheapest table 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D 3D- Scanner: Matter and Form ($519)
If you're looking to take your quality to the next level, you can purchase a desktop 3D scanner. This model is compact, easy to use, and delivers good resolution, especially considering the price (not your go-to option if you're looking for perfection, but great for educational and demo purposes). The scanning process takes place with the help of a laser and a rotating platform. The scan takes about five minutes and simultaneously reads the texture of the object.
Price: $ 519
Resolution: 0.
43 mm
accuracy: ± 0.25 mm
6. The best device "two in one": XYZPRINTING DA VINCI 1.0 ($ 600)
is inexpensive combines a 3D scanner and a 3D printer. The quality of the models is not too high, but the price is very low for such a combined device. This makes the XYZprinting Da Vinci the easiest solution for beginners who want to get into the world of 3D scanning-printing.
Professional 3D scanners:
7. Best value for money portable 3D scanner: Fuel3D Scanify ($1490)
Very easy to use, intuitive, and feels good in the hand, this scanner delivers good accuracy and texture quality. The only limitation is that the size of the scanned area is limited, which is great for small objects, but for scanning a full-length person, for example, it will not work.
Price: $ 1490
Resolution: 0.35 mm
accuracy: to 0.
3 mm
8. Best price The scanner uses a different scanning technology than others. Instead of a dual laser scanning system, it uses a structured light source and cameras for fast scanning with very fine detail down to 0.06mm! The scanner comes with DAVID Pro Edition 3 software that works with OBJ, STL and PLY 3D file formats that can be exported to other programs for further editing.
Price: $ 3995
Resolution: 0.06 mm
accuracy: 0.5% of the size of the object
9. The best table professional 3D-scanner: SolutionIX REXAN 4 ($ 79 900)
The 3D scanner and its price provides much better scanning quality. Solutionix Rexcan is equipped with two cameras for greater accuracy. It uses optical phase shift triangulation technology and two high-resolution CCD cameras to provide high-precision data. The scanner can be used to scan larger objects by increasing productivity with a photogrammetric system.
As an option, it can be equipped with an automatically rotating platform capable of supporting up to 50 kg of weight.
Price: $ 79 900
accuracy: from 0.03 to 0.71 mm
10. Best professional manual 3D scanner: Metrascan 750 ($ 50,000 - $ 100,000)
Creaform Metrascan 750 is a complete professional, production solution for accurate 3D scanning. It is light, accurate, fast, and scans objects of any surface quality, with any texture with excellent accuracy.
Price: $79900
Resolution: 0.050 mm
Accuracy: Up to 0.03 mm
We hope this was a useful read and you found a 3D scanning solution suitable for your needs and your budget! If you want to learn more about photogrammetry, you can read this article.
Good luck with your 3D scanning!
How to choose a 3D scanner and not make a mistake
Experts recommend
Author: Semyon Popadyuk
Author: Semyon Popadyuk
Factors that determine the price of an industrial 3D scanner | The difference between industrial and budget 3D scanners | Practical comparison of two 3D scanners | Conclusions: Choosing the Right 3D Scanner for Professionals
How to correctly choose and buy a 3D scanner for solving professional problems? Why using budget devices can be a costly mistake?
Every year, sites like Pinshape and 3Dprint.
com publish guides for choosing the best budget 3D scanners available on the market, many of which are aimed at amateur use. But what about high quality 3D scanners for industrial and professional applications?
Creaform HandySCAN 3D is one of the most advanced handheld professional 3D scanners on the market.
Could insufficient coverage of metrology-grade 3D scanners in such manuals lead engineers and designers to use budget 3D scanners for their professional tasks? This article aims to complement such guides and explain why the use of low cost 3D scanners in professional applications can have costly consequences downstream.
Engineers and designers who want professional 3D scanning features but think they can get the same results with a cheap scanner will be disappointed.
Order a free 3D test scan!
Industrial 3D Scanner Price Factors
- Engineers and designers need a 3D scanner with high accuracy to ensure that the result matches the project exactly.
A deviation of as little as 0.01 mm can result in product rejection. - They also need the high resolution to ensure accurate positioning. If the data is incorrectly positioned, aligned, or integrated, the result is similar to scanning under unstable conditions.
- In addition to accuracy and resolution, industrial 3D scanners have other features: speed allows you to reduce the time it takes to digitize an object and increase the speed of data collection and transmission.
- With the versatility of the , you can scan a variety of items regardless of their material, shape, color or size.
- Finally, ease of use determines the quality of work and results.
By using 3D scanners that do not have these features, engineers and designers risk poor scan results and inaccurate data, which in turn can jeopardize the projects they work on and their own careers.
The difference between industrial and budget 3D scanners
Metrology-grade 3D scanners are designed to enable engineers and designers to solve their professional tasks, while budget devices are more suitable for non-industrial use, especially if accuracy is not critical.
Inexpensive 3D scanners are ideal for hobbyists, for home use, while high-tech 3D scanners are aimed at professionals and allow them to get efficient and accurate results.
Non-industrial application
Industrial Application
The professional Creaform Go!SCAN 50 3D scanner completed setup, scanning and post-processing in 5 minutes 42 seconds, while the inexpensive device took 35 minutes 20 seconds.
Practical comparison of two
3D scanners Below are the results of a comparative test of two portable devices for scanning objects up to 50 cm - an inexpensive scanner based on white light technology and Creaform's Go!SCAN 50 3D scanner (now an upgraded Go!SCAN SPARK model is being produced).
Many of the parameters of these scanners seem comparable at first glance.
Moving parts
- The inexpensive 3D scanner is designed with a flash lamp as a light source and must be fan cooled. In addition to making the scanner quite noisy, moving parts are an important source of potential failure and will need to be replaced.
- Go!SCAN 3D scanners, just like other technologies manufactured by Creaform, are solid state, which means they do not use moving parts. This minimizes the risk of malfunction and guarantees the longest possible period of reliable use.
Viewer
- The budget scanner's viewing unit fills up quickly, making it confusing and difficult to use. Also, only the last 50 last read frames are displayed. The
- Go!SCAN 50 offers superior real-time imaging.
Recalibration
- The non-professional scanner manufacturer states that recalibration of their scanners does not require special equipment and recommends that users recalibrate the scanner by using the wall as a flat surface.
However, the wall can in no way be considered a reference plane. The - Go!SCAN 50 comes with an extremely stable and reliable instrument that guarantees maximum performance through a simple recalibration procedure.
Tracking
- Inexpensive scanners are known for losing tracking during 3D scanning, making the process extremely difficult and tedious. If tracking is lost, the user can only start a new session or start over.
- Creaform's VXelements software features very powerful tracking capabilities. This makes it nearly impossible to lose track when scanning a part with Go!SCAN 3D.
Adding additional data
- When discontinuity occurs, the user of a budget scanner must skim through the original data, identify the frame of failure, split the sequence in this area, and then switch to manual alignment of the two sequences. This process must be performed every time a discontinuity occurs.
The - Go!SCAN 50 offers a continue scan feature (instead of manual alignment) that allows you to continue scanning from a user-selected point, the last edited 3D frame, known texture features, or any known mounted target applied to the part.
The result obtained on a professional 3D scanner
The result obtained on a budget 3D scanner
Performance data
- The ability to use target positioning can be offset by the lack of part geometry. A cheap scanner would have to use a workaround and mimic the geometry with external objects, or mimic the texture with colored stickers. The
- Go!SCAN 50 can use texture information for positioning (eg virtual target positioning) in a more reliable way, making it both more accurate and easier to use.
Workflow comparison
- The automated workflow offered by VXelements saves a lot of effort and time for the user.
- Because a conventional scanner does not flatten data and generates real-time aligned results, the user must go through several steps to create a mesh model. The calculations for some of these steps are very time consuming (20-30 minutes or more) and the user will have to go through this process to find out if more data needs to be collected for scanning.
Workflow comparison for generic scanning
Both devices were used to 3D scan the sculpture (800mm) at 2mm resolution. The Go!SCAN 50 completed setup, scanning and post-processing in 5 minutes 42 seconds, while its "opponent" took 35 minutes 20 seconds. Thus, it takes 30 minutes longer to complete and export a scan using a non-professional scanner, and when using Go!SCAN 50, it takes about 7 times less time.
Accuracy
Scanning a 900 mm long ball tip with 38 mm spheres and a 1000 mm long ball tip with 50 mm spheres revealed that the accuracy of the Go!SCAN 50 is 2-3 times higher than that of an inexpensive scanner.
The Go!SCAN 3D scanner showed a clearly higher reliability of the results: the standard deviation is 4-5 times lower.
Conclusions: Choosing the Right 3D Scanner for Professionals
As expected, the Go!SCAN 3D 3D scanner outperforms the non-professional device in every way. It's faster, more accurate, easier to use, and provides higher quality data.
Thus, professionals in the field of 3D scanning need higher quality solutions than amateurs and semi-professionals. The reason is simple: you have to pay for quality. You can't expect a professional 3D scanner to cost as much as a hobbyist's equipment and still offer metrological-grade performance.
In the material that we offer you to download below, Creaform experts compare two types of devices in more detail - budget and professional 3D scanners - and explain which tasks are more suitable for one or another type of scanner. In addition, a justification is given for the difference in price between the two classes of scanners, despite the seemingly comparable characteristics.
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