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Sardauscan 3d scanner


Sardauscan 30$ DIY 3D Scanner

Sardauscan is an open source diy 3D scanner you can build for approximately 30 USD. It can be a low cost entry into the field of 3D scanning.

3D scanning is a very important tool in any ones arsenal since it can extend your making abilities. You will be able to work with objects that are not in any repository like Thingiverse or that are not custom designed by you. What you can scan you can make.

You’ll need some basic knowledge of electronics to make a Sardauscan but the construction guide is very detailed so you shouldn’t have any problems.

Sardauscan 3D laser scanner. On the left you see the rotating platform with the scanned object and the webcam with lasers on the right.

So how does it work? Well the basics of a 3D laser scanner are simple and described in the project documentation as follows:

  1. A picture of the object is taken without any lasers firing
  2. One laser is switched on and another picture is taken
  3. Computing the difference between the two images, a laser trace (profile of the object) is obtained
  4. By knowing the positions of the camera and laser you can derive the 3D coordinates of all the points on the profile
  5. You do the same for all the lasers, turn the table and repeat the process until the table has made a full revolution
  6. And there you go, you have a complete point cloud representing your object.

Here is a video of the Sardauscan scanning a small figure:

All the files needed to build it by yourself with the instructions can be found at:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:702470

The software to run it (still under development) can be found at:

https://github.com/Sardau/Sardauscan

Detailed building guide can be found on the Instructables:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a-30-laser/

Here is the summarised Bill Of Materials with estimated prices that may vary depending on the source:

  • Bunch of M3 (16 and 20 mm)
  • Bunch of M4 (12 ans 20 mm)
  • 1x Chinese Arduino Nano (Chinese copy, $4)
  • 1x Chinese Stepper Motor and controller ($5)
  • 1-4x Line laser ($2. 5 piece)
  • 1x Hercules HD twist webcam ($15)
  • 20×20 profile which can be printed: for example http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:280318
  • Optional 3x 4mm roller ($0.3 piece)
  • Total estimated price: $26.5 (1 laser) to $35 (4 lasers)

Sardauscan is developed by Fabio Ferretti. Please keep in mind that this project is still in development and you will not be able to get the same professional grade results obtained by high end much more expensive industrial 3D scanners. You should view it as learning and hacking project.

In the near future we’ll see more and more 3d printer / scanner hybrids just like the paper printer and document scanner on your desk.

Sardauscan, the Sub-$30 DIY 3D Scanner - Open Source 3D Printable Files Released - 3DPrint.com

The sooner that affordable 3D scanners are made available, the sooner the consumer side of the 3D printing market will expand. You see, currently the majority of us lack the 3D modeling skills and capabilities to design our own models for printing. We generally rely on 3D model repositories such as Thingiverse, 3DSha.re, and MyMiniFactory to come up with items to print. Although there are literally hundreds of thousands of models available, many of them free, there still is something missing from the overall 3D printing ecosystem.

The ability for almost anyone to copy an item on one’s desk could have major implications on the economy in general, but most of all on the 3D printing and design spaces. Although this is already possible via 3D scanners, just like we’ve seen with 3D printers, prices for scanners have started out quite high.

Over the last three to four years we have seen 3D printer prices drop by an order of magnitude, if not more. This has enabled pretty much anyone who can afford a smartphone to afford one of these amazing machines for about the same price. 3D scanning technology may be a few years behind in terms of price drops, but significant declines in prices have already begun. Scanners are already available for under $1,000, allowing for adoption by a greater number of individuals. One man, however, may have just taken affordability up several notches.

A 3D Scan Sample

A designer from Graty, Belgium named Fabio Ferretti has recently designed and posted the schematics for a 3D printable, open source 3D scanner which has a cost of under $30. Yes, I said under $30!

Called the Sardauscan, the files for this device, which also include a list of parts one must purchase, have been uploaded to Thingiverse for anyone to download and 3D print out. Ferretti’s design has 13 separate 3D printable files, and will require the following easy-to-find non-printed components (Ferretti used and linked to the most affordable ones he could find):

  • M3 Screws (16 and 20 mm)
  • M4 Screws (12 ans 20 mm)
  • Chinese Arduino nano ($4)
  • Chinese stepper motor and controller ($5)
  • 1 to 4 line lasers ($2.5 piece) 
  • Hercule HD twist ($15)
  • 20 x 20 profile (can be printed or purchased)

Based on the above, components needed will run between $26. 50 and $35 depending on the number of line lasers used. The more lasers added, the better the resolution of the scan will be, but also the tougher it will be to calibrate each laser.

Ferretti is still in the process of developing Arduino firmware and an application for the scanner, which is inspired by FreeLSS. Currently he has uploaded an alpha version of the firmware to GitHub, but has a lot of work left to do.

This design certainly enables almost anyone with a few skills to print and assemble their own 3D scanner with minimal costs. Now it’s just a matter of time before a company takes this open source design and begins mass producing it for a slightly higher price. Let us know if you have printed out and assembled this incredibly affordable 3D scanner. Share some scans with us in the Sardauscan 3D Scanner forum thread on 3DPB.com.

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Tagged with: affordable 3d scanner • belgium • build a 3d scanner • cheap 3d scanner • diy 3d scanner • github • open source • print a 3d scanner • Sardauscan • thingiverse

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(There is a solution) Open source 3D scanning

3d-design scanning open-source

I'm trying to make a 3D structured light scanner using one camera, a light projector and a turntable.

After a few days of googling, I didn't find any solid open source projects that I could get to work. SLStudio did seem like a good choice, but it didn't compile properly.

I was wondering if anyone knows of a good open source code that they used with the same setup? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm blocked here. nine0003

@Hamza Tasneem, iry