How to get high-quality 3D scans at home

If it seems like this series has been a bit unfocused, well, it has been. While we’re pretty good at running a project car series, we’re total amateurs at building a home machine shop. 

That’s why we started by learning about CAD and technical drawings before meandering our way through 3D printing, CNC routers, two (now three) different …

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Timely.  

Last night I did my second project with my new Einstar scanner.  S197 Subframe so that I could start working on revised LCA mount points and engine mounting.  

This is the point cloud as it existed in the Einstar software - 

And then a meshed STL surface model pulled into SolidWorks

I'm into it for more than you guys, but only half of a challenge car more. 

Good article on 3D scanning and quite informative as well.  This is something I would love to get into and will probably do so late this year or maybe next year.  The possibilities are endless, it seems, and I am looking to do more and more independently if possible.  Need to buy a better welder first! 

DILYSI Dave said:

Timely.  

Last night I did my second project with my new Einstar scanner.  S197 Subframe so that I could start working on revised LCA mount points and engine mounting.  

This is the point cloud as it existed in the Einstar software - 

 

And then a meshed STL surface model pulled into SolidWorks

 

I'm into it for more than you guys, but only half of a challenge car more. 

What Einstar scanner?  I demo'd one this winter and it was such a shining pile of poo I sent it back.  Maybe they have improved it?

Also what software did you use to get the scan data from a point cloud to an STL.  Can you actually do mates and other solidworks goodness with it as an STL?

I think there's only one model of Einstar. Shining has other scanners, of which Einstar is their entry level one.  I have heard that the current software is way better than the earlier stuff. Also, I have a pretty healthy hot rod of a computer, which seems to be a legit prerequisite. 
 

Used the included software (Einscan maybe?) to do the scanning, cleanup, mesh generation, and mesh cleanup, then exported as STL. I then used Meshlab to simplify it (fewer triangles, smaller file). Then imported into Solidworks as an STL surface body (versus graphic body which is the default). With that, I could orient it, create mating features, etc. 

It's far from seamless, but it took me from plugging the scanner in to useful geometry in Solidworks in about 3-4 hours. 

They must have improved the software, then.  I had an absolute unit of a laptop running their software (MSI Vector, i9, GeForce RTX, so on so forth) and while I was trying to scan some stuff in on my Econoline van I was unable to get anything of value.  I tried to scan my bench vice and even that was a bit of a boondoggle.  

Probably user error, but color me unimpressed.  

Sounds like you have had more success, maybe I should give it another go.

I snagged one after Dave's review of it, but haven't tried it yet.  It's for work and there are some IT hurdles of course.  Might just try it with a personal computer first to see if it has any merit before I fight the corporate bureaucracy.

93gsxturbo said:

They must have improved the software, then.  I had an absolute unit of a laptop running their software (MSI Vector, i9, GeForce RTX, so on so forth) and while I was trying to scan some stuff in on my Econoline van I was unable to get anything of value.  I tried to scan my bench vice and even that was a bit of a boondoggle. 

I've used an Einstar to scan most of a car (in sections) on a machine with only 32GB ram and a GTX 1660Ti. I use some workarounds for meshing and file size management but the actual scanning goes pretty smoothly. Should note that I have not updated to the latest software version so ymmv?

I've watched a number of YT reviews of different brands and while the hardware seems capable, most reviews contained negative comments about the supplied software. I need to see reviews where it "just works" before investing in a tool I don't really have an application for at this time.

kb58 said:

I've watched a number of YT reviews of different brands and while the hardware seems capable, most reviews contained negative comments about the supplied software. I need to see reviews where it "just works" before investing in a tool I don't really have an application for at this time.

I would love a "just works" answer.  I imagine we'll get there eventually, but I also think it's a ways off, especially in the hobby space.  The good news is the results I'm getting out of this $1000 hobby machine are as good as what I was getting from $500k machines a decade ago.  The bad news is that the process is just as much of a PITA as it was a decade ago as well.  

Seems like Apple could produce something in this price range that would blow everything else out of the water... though that's not really their thing, lucky for everyone else.

Hi everyone,
Just registered to chime in - my name’s Andy, I run a small auto repair shop and often deal with reverse engineering parts.

I used to work with an Einstar, and while it got the job done, it was pretty slow and the scan quality left a lot to be desired. Eventually I switched to the Artec Leo (https://www.artec3d.com/portable-3d-scanners/artec-leo) - and the difference is huge. It’s a much bigger investment, but honestly, it’s already paid for itself.

Artec Studio isn’t perfect in terms of UI, but once you get the hang of it, it saves me a ton of time. I use it alongside SolidWorks, and that combo has made the whole process way more efficient. Just my 2 cents in case anyone's on the fence.
 

kb58 said:

Seems like Apple could produce something in this price range that would blow everything else out of the water... though that's not really their thing, lucky for everyone else.

I need to play around with the lidar scanner on the iPhone. Seems like it would be just software away from useful to a hobbyist. 

Random tip.  If you are using a cheaper scanner (I borrowed a coworkers Creality Ferret), you can "enhance" the geometry of your stuff to make tracking more reliable.  That's how I did the floor of my van (still not perfect, still would prefer to use Einstar)