You can take 3D scan images using a mobile camera and a simple software. Today, software has been created that you can not give images of different views, and this software turns it into a three-dimensional object. This is the cheapest form possible. It's actually free

I would say that the Einscan SP gives poorer resolution than phitogrammetry. The Rovopoint is based on intel realsense (similar to the Xbox Kinect) and as such would also not be as good as photogrammetry.

Hello. Indeed, photogrammetry is the cheapest and fastest way for surface digitisation if there is no need for the greatest accuracy. Some accuracy issues can be overcome by the automation of the process; some years ago we published a method based on the low-cost Arduino technology and on an old rotating platform retrieved from a turntable. It could be a low-cost solution, also on the field, for fast digitisation: Article Measuring the shape: Performance evaluation of a photogramme...

The Arduino technology is very flexible, ad the code can be customised and/or implemented.

Hi Colline,

I agree with Saeed Talebi that all depends on the required precision for the project. Also +1 to Thomas George O'Mahoney: the two systems you mentioned may be enough for simple 3D model creation but would be insufficient for higher-precision requirements.

In my experience (close range) photogrammetry with a DSLR camera can be very, very good and versatile. If you know what you are doing and you have a good enough camera, you can get to millimetric precision. In some cases we even use DSLR photogrammetry point cloud as the reference data to TLS data... case in point:

Article Multi-Scale and Multi-Sensor 3D Documentation of Heritage Co...

Or in this following paper, where we even got to micron-level precision for point-based measurements using a Nikon D750 DSLR camera:

Article MODULAR BUNDLE ADJUSTMENT FOR PHOTOGRAMMETRIC COMPUTATIONS

Will portable 3D scanners get to the necessary precision level for high-end uses? Maybe. But in the meantime photographic sensor technology will also develop further. So... yeah, we'll see ^^

best,

arnadi

Thank you very much to all for your responses! It is overall what I suspected, and as you say, we will see in the future, technologies evolve so fast (and become more and more accessible in terms of price and use).

Thank you very much for the articles; they are absorbing!

Best

Colline

Another thing to consider is that image sensors are getting much better all the time. The latest generation of sensors are starting to trickle into the 3D scanning market and they represent a step change in acquisition speed (e.g. one manufacturer has already doubled frame rate for their handheld scanner and this isn’t even pushing the limits of the new gen of sensors). It may be wise to hold off from purchase for the next 12 months and use photogrammetry/buy time on microCT scanners while evaluating a more permanent solution for your lab (unless you have money that needs to be spent this financial year!)

Let some summary of methods to obtain 3D models:

1 microCT - resolution of micrometers (up to 0.2 mkm), very expensive equipment and time consuming computations;

2 photogrammetry - resolution of millimeters, ordinary equipment (including phone camera), but expensive professional software and time consuming computations;

3 LiDAR scanner + photogrammetry (e.g. realized in last IOS phones and tablets) - resolution of cm, expensive equipment, high speed.

4 - some kinds of 3D scanners - resolution of millimeters, expensive equipment, high speed.

5 - confocal microscopy and 3D microscopy - resolution of micrometers, very expensive equipment, high speed.