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Kinect scanner for 3d printing
Microsoft Kinect 3D Scanner In-Depth Review
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8Expert Score
Microsoft Kinect
Microsoft Kinect is a simple scanner that’s able to produce decent quality 3d scans at a reasonable price.
Affordability
9
Quality
8
Speed
7
Capability
7
Practicality
7
User Expectations
10
PROS
- High-resolution scans
- Extremely compatible software
- Easy scanning process
CONS
- Need good lighting to produce good quality scans
Table of Contents
The Kinect 3D scanner uses similar 3D scanning technology to photogrammetry. The process consists of taking multiple pictures from different angles of an object. The scanner comprises a camera, an infrared camera that is meant for calculating the field of depth of object as well as around.
Both the cameras used by Kinect permits users to make a decently accurate 3D scan of almost any object that they wish to scan. But how does the scanner rank when seen in terms of value: money ratio? We can only tell by looking at it in-depth. So, let’s get started.
Features
Some of the most valuable features of the scanner are mentioned and explained below.
Affordable
Because Kinect can be constructed easily and its complete information is available online for free, you don’t need to undergo any complex process of setting it up and shipping it from anywhere. Also, the parts of which Kinect is made up, are comparatively cheaper.
So, if you have a 3D printer all you have to do is buy the components that are necessary to make the scanner run and that’s it. You need not spend much on this scanner.
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DIY Kit
The complete assembly of components, as well as 3D printing of the necessary parts, can be done on your own. Just refer to the online instructions available to complete the setup.
Kinect can be constructed as other DIY kits and this makes up a great opportunity for all those who are willing to invest time in learning a little deeper about 3D scanning technology.
Easy to use software
Skanect as well as the other software that is compatible with the scanner are extremely user-friendly. Their interface allows you to reach the tool that you are searching for, extremely fast.
Also, the entire system is relatively easy to grasp. Even if you do not have any sort of technical background, it’s fine. You will still be able to operate the scanner pretty easily.
Open-source
Kinect is an open-sourced 3D scanner. This presents a great opportunity for those who wish to innovate and use a machine for obtaining the kind of work they wish to achieve. Also, it means that nothing is fixed.
The scanner can be scaled according to your project. Moreover, everything is accessible to everyone from the internet.
Specifications
Kinect is equipped with two cameras that take multiple images of an object that you wish to scan. It needs a PC adapter and a PC to produce high-quality scans of parts and functional prototypes. The device can be connected using a USB port.
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Price
Since it’s available as a DIY and needs to be purchased in terms of components, there isn’t any fixed cost for this scanner.
First Impression
Credit: all3dpThe first thing that you need to do is acquire the required hardware i.e. three things in order to start with the scanner:
- The Kinect: can be bought either from Xbox 360 or Xbox One.
These are available from almost any electronics shop. - The PC adapter: Because Kinect is made to be used in its respective Xbox and not in a PC like other scanners, you’ll have to obtain a Kinect 360 to PC adapter.
- A PC: It can be either a laptop or desktop with a free USB port.
The minimum requirement to get you started is:
- Latest Kinect drivers downloaded
- A 64-bit Processor
- Dual-core (3.1Ghz) or faster CPU
- A 4GB of Ram
- Nvidia CUDA graphic card or a Kinect Fusion compatible GPU
- A compatible USB 3.0 port one that is offered by Intel or Renesas chipset
Setup
Credit: all3dpAlthough the Kinect needs to undergo some process before starting 3D scanning with the same, it’s good to say that you can plug it into a power source and start scanning.
After having plugged it into your PC, you can download its drivers. These codes will instruct your computer on how to handle the Kinect.
For users who are running it on Windows 10, it’s likely that the drivers inside will get downloaded automatically after the recognition of Kinect by your PC. In case this doesn’t happen, simply download the drivers from Microsoft. Other than this, you will have to download software that allows you to use your Kinect for 3D scanning.
To set up Skanect, open the .exe file as soon as it’s downloaded. A simple interface will await you once the process is completed. The setup will take three steps:
- Clicking on the New section that’s present on the menu under the title “Prepare.” By doing so, you can mess around with various settings depending on which object you wish to scan.
- Choosing the bounding box size that is the most appropriate for the object. Doing so lets you choose from the presets that are already provided.
Instead, you can also use a custom one by clicking the slider and moving it with the mouse. - Choosing a path for saving the scanned object. Note that this would not be the final model, but only the .skn file of the same that can be later opened in the Skanect.
After finishing the setup, click the start button to be taken to the next step of the scanning process.
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Scan Type
The process of scanning is quite simple. All you need to do is just hover the Kinect 3D scanner around the object as if it were orbiting the part.
While doing so, the software will use the background to help track the position of the object. So, in case you wish to rotate the object, the background will be scanning and will always be the same. This scenario applies especially to photogrammetry and for normal 3D scanning.
Ensure that there is a good amount of lighting during the entire scanning process because bad lighting won’t just make it harder, but also lead to a final render with the poorly colored model.
So, take your time and ensure that the scans are done slowly and with patience.
Also, check that Kinect is passed through the entire object from all the angels. This can be done by keeping an eye on your PC. Moreover, scanning makes certain that all the areas of the object are appearing neatly.
Scan Quality
Credit: all3dpKinect’s scan quality is just about average. You can see the brightness is very inconsistent. And this is because of its camera not being locked. This means that the scanner will adapt the brightness based on the direction that you’re pointing to the sensor. Also, because the cameras present on the Kinect are at wide angles to each other.
Such an arrangement makes it extremely appropriate for sensing motion as well as the depth of people present in front of the TV playing games. But it has its own downsides i.e. 3D scanning on a manual turntable is almost impossible because the tracking gets confused as your arm enters the frame.
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Software
Credit: all3dp3D Scan is a free Windows 10 application that uses your Kinect for creating 3D models.
It can be downloaded from Microsoft. Other than this, you can use Skanect which is third-party software that is compatible with Kinect. It can be used by subscribing to its free or paid version.
The only difference between both of these is that the latter permits you to export the model with more faces and in color. Skanect can be downloaded from Occipital.
Customer Support
Kinect customer support is all given by its community of active users. All the solutions to your problems are available online and are accessible for free.
Parameters Influencing Buying Decision
The key factors that’ll help you decide upon the scanner are mentioned below.
3D Scanner Cost: Affordable
3D Scanner Speed: Average
3D Scan Quality: Two cameras make it possible for the scanner to deliver high-quality scans even while processing parts with intricate geometries.
3D Scanner Capability: The scanner is capable of taking multiple images of the object and then combining them to produce a single scan.
3D Scanner Practicality: It can be used for scanning everyday objects of small size and not much complex geometry.
3D Scanner User Expectations: Hobbyists, academicians, and even small manufacturers can use the scanner to achieve good results.
The Verdict
In a nutshell, Microsoft Kinect is a simple scanner that’s able to produce decent quality scans at a reasonable price. There isn’t something very fancy about the scanner, at the same time there isn’t something too lacking about the device.
Although it isn’t capable of letting you go in-depth, it doesn’t disappoint by providing bad-quality scans. Even while scanning intricate geometries, the scanner does deliver. So, enjoy the simplicity that suits your pockets.
Researchers Use Microsoft Kinect Xbox 360 Scanner to Obtain Topography for 3D Printable Radiotherapy Phantom - 3DPrint.com
To verify treatment when giving radiation, doctors often turn to radiotherapy phantoms for quality assurance, since the dosage can’t be directly measured.
3D printing is making it easier to fabricate these tissue-equivalent materials for patient-specific dosimetry purposes, and N. E. Zain and W. N. Rahman, researchers from the Universiti Sains Malyasia (USM), published a paper about this very topic.
“This study investigates the application of Microsoft Kinect® Xbox 360 scanner to model human topography for 3D printed radiotherapy phantom fabrication,” the abstract states.
Standard anthropomorphic phantoms are often too expensive to use in most cases, and don’t always represent the condition of the specific patient. But 3D printing can now be used for dosimetry applications, such as using a surface scanner to make a radiotherapy bolus. While previous studies focused on making 3D printed patient-specific phantoms by digitizing radiographs or abstracting data from CT images, this one obtained the surface topography for a 3D printable radiotherapy head phantom with a Microsoft Kinect Xbox 360 scanner.
“In contrast to using patient CT data to obtain patient-specific topography, the use of low cost, structured light, 3D optical scanner are more comfortable and reduce unwanted radiation dose to patients,” they explained.
Figure 1. a) Microsoft Kinect sensor b) Head of the Alderson RANDO phantom.
Developed for the Xbox 360 video gaming system, the high-resolution Microsoft Kinect sensor is an inexpensive, short-range 3D scanning camera. Three features work together to detect motion and create a physical image for users on the screen:
- RGB (red, green, blue) color with a depth sensor
- VGA (video graphics array) camera
- Multi-array microphone
The original plan was to use the Kinect to eliminate game controllers, though as of 2018, Microsoft had discontinued all Kinect hardware for video games. But, because of its ability to measure color and depth simultaneously at video rate, the device actually gave Microsoft a leg up in academic and commercial applications. For this research in particular, the Kinect specifications make it “a great scanner to obtain the topography of the phantom.”
“In this study, we evaluate the Kinect® sensor by performing 3D scanning involving the head of the Alderson RANDO® phantom,” the researchers wrote.
Figure 2. Schematic diagram of the setup between the Kinect scanner and RANDO phantom.
To test the performance and feasibility of the Kinect, the scanner angle was set at ± 10° and the distance between it and the standard phantom was ± 50 cm. In order to get the right amount of data, scanning was completed 360° around the phantom several times at different positions. In order get the data for rendering the phantom image, the scanner was connected to a desktop with Skanect software, and 3D Builder was later used to edit the images, which were saved in STL format.
Figure 3. The repeated 360° clockwise scanning process using Skanect software; a) 0° position, b) 45° position, c) 270° position and d) 360° position.
“The total scanning time to obtain the image is estimated at around 1 to 2 hours ascribable to the low video-rate procured; ±10 frames per second (FPS),” the researchers said.
“It is vital to ensure both phantom and scanner to be static during image acquisition to avoid data tracking lost.
”
The researchers note that when a computer with a slow processor is used, the scanning time will likely be delayed several time. A computer with a higher CPU can ensure a streamlined video with high-speed FPS, and it should also have significant RAM in order to “contain and run the applications smoothly.”
Figure 4. Options for 3D printing a) Whole phantom b) Hollow phantom.
You can see the final phantom image in STL format above. There are two interior design options for the phantom – whole with slots, and a hollow slot insertion.
“The finding suggests that the radiotherapy phantom can potentially be developed using the Kinect® sensor, which is easier and cheaper to operate in comparison to other techniques of fabricating 3D printed radiotherapy phantom,” the pair concluded.
“The application of 3D printed patient-specific radiotherapy phantom for quality assurance and treatment verification might improve the overall treatment quality in radiotherapy, especially using a low-cost type of scanner to obtain patient image data.
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Tagged with: 3d builder • 3D printed phantom • kinect • Malaysia • microsoft kinect • radiotherapy • scanner • Skanect • study • xbox 360
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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!
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