ReconstructMe Makes 3D Capture Easy

A new project by PROFACTOR GmbH attempts to vastly simplify 3D scanning. ReconstructMe is software that uses a Microsoft Kinect 3D sensor to capture highly detailed 3D models of nearby objects. 

 

But wait, you say, that's been done before. Well, kinda. All of the Kinect 3D capture software we've seen so far simply takes "still" face-on 3D images. In other words, if you were to scan your face with these other systems you'd see only the front of your face, while the back of your head would remain as mysterious as the far side of the moon. 

 

ReconstructMe takes this approach much, much farther by allowing the scanner to move around the object - all the while keeping track of the position of each 3D point, gradually building up a complete, 360 degree 3D model. In other words, the sensor can move around and capture the back of your head! 

 

The software is not yet released and in fact they're soon launching a beta version to ferret out the bugs. You can sign up for the beta at their site - but be warned they're seeking individuals with a lot of spare time to test and who have hefty machines to run their software. This gives us a glimpse into the future requirements for running ReconstructMe, by the way. The software is highly likely not going to be open sourced, according to PROFACTOR. 

 

Please watch the video on their site, which demonstrates quickly capturing the shape of an office chair in only two minutes. We've inspected to 20Mb STL model from this scan and must admit it's extraordinarily detailed, right down to what appears to be wear dimples on the seatback. 

 

We can't wait to see this software in the wild. 

 

Via ReconstructMe and YouTube

Scan The World With MatterPort

Startup company MatterPort is doing something we've long desired: inexpensive instant 3D scanning of arbitrary objects using a handheld device. 

 

Their solution is software and seems to use an XBOX 360 Kinect as the capture hardware. By moving the device manually around the scan target, the software gradually builds up a highly detailed 3D model of the target, even including textures. Please watch the video above as what they are doing is quite startling. 

 

The implications of this are profound: if this software works, we'll inevitably see the hardware collapse into a mobile phone. Then we'll see an explosion of digital 3D models and adaptations. That can only be good! 

  

Via MatterPort

DAVID Laser Scanner Updated

The inexpensive DAVID Laser Scanner has been updated to version 3.0 with some interesting improvements. This device can be used to capture complete digital 3D models of physical objects - which you can then print, of course. 

 

For some time the scanner has supported laser scanning, but now version 3.0 adds the ability to do what's called "Structured Light Scanning". This is a completely different approach in which a projector illuminates your object with a standard set of gridlines. The appearance of the gridlines on the object are interpreted by software into the digital model. 

 

What makes "SLS" better is the speed. Rather than having a laser laboriously dance across an object's surface, the gridlines are able to capture much more information simultaneously. The captures are also more reliable because there is little mechanical movement involved. However, you must perform the scan in a very dark environment, which may limit the ability to scan certain kinds of objects. 

 

This scanner is to be shown to the public at the TCT conference. We're not sure of the price, but the original version of the DAVID Laser Scanner was priced at £320.

 

Via YouTube and A1 Technologies

The Spinscan

Thingiverse user tbuser has been working on an open source version of a 3D scanning turntable, complete with cross-platform software. While 3D printer owners are amazed at their ability to produce things, it gets a bit more tricky to create models. Scanning is obviously a great way to get great models for printing - or teleportation to friends, for that matter. 

 

Why did tbuser embark on this project? Let him answer that: 

 

Frustrated by no working cross platform open source turntable laser line 3D scan software that works in OSX - I'm taking the plunge and trying to write one using Processing.  I make no promises that I'll be able to find the time to work on this...

 

We're hoping this project will work out, since there's always room for an inexpensive 3D scanning solution that works well. 

 

Via Thingiverse and GitHub. And GitHub again. 

Trimensional Upgrades, But Not Enough

This January we wrote about an amazing new USD$0.99 iPhone app that apparently was able to produce 3D models simply by taking a few snaps and applying image analysis. At that time the app could produce a 3D image, but not export models suitable for printing. 

 

That's now changed as Trimensional now offers in-app purchase of extended features to export your 3D model in either OBJ, STL or PLY. As you can see, there's also options to "smooth" the model and close the back, making the model solid - very handy for printing. 

 

However, there's a catch. The models just aren't terribly good. As you can see in the top image, we've captured a model of an arm and fist. But when you export the STL and import that into a modeling tool, (bottom image) well, you can see the results above.

 

Clearly you'd need to do a lot of fiddling with the mesh to produce something usable. This is not unexpected: the app merely takes four slightly off-angle pictures in the dark and attempts to interpret 3D information from them. Perhaps you might get better results than we did under perfect conditions, but our experiment should be typical. As powerful as an iPhone might be, it just doesn't have the hardware to do serious 3D scanning. Yet. 

 

Nevertheless, we're still encouraged by Trimensional. The results are not particularly printable, but it's still pretty impressive. It's the first app able to produce 3D models in seconds from a mobile phone, and there's lots of room for enhancement. Someday we're hoping to see an app that can produce models as good as those from dedicated handheld 3D scanners. 

 

Via Trimensional

The Ultimate Scanner?

University of Southampton researchers have a new tool available: a high-energy 3D scanner. The design of this scanner is fascinating: it's actually five different scanners in one, each capable of handling different resolution levels. When combined in this integrated system, the scanner is capable of scanning down to an astonishing 200 nanometers. All this within a volume of up to 1 cubic meter. 

 

One of the first items through the new £2.2M scanner was a fossil skull of a prehistoric pliosaur, some 2.4 meters in size. We suspect it took a few runs to capture the beast's head, as the skull was somewhat larger than the scanner's capacity. 

 

The Centre for Computed Tomography director Ian Sinclair says:

 

The scale and design of the scanner means we will be able to x-ray objects as large as a car engine down to something the size of an ant's head.

 

We can't wait to start printing bugs! 

 

Via University of Southampton

Amazing iPhone 3D Scanner

Shapeways has uncovered a really intriguing iOS app: Trimensional. This simple app uses a four-way flash to roughly capture the shape of a face or other object held motionless as far as 20cm away from the front-facing camera. Since the front camera is used by the app, it's only available for iPhone 4's and the 2010 iPod Touch at the moment.

 

When in position, a touch triggers a quick sequence of four "flashes", which are really white areas that suddenly appear on each of the four corners of the screen in sequence. By placing the subject in a totally dark environment and cranking up the brightness on your iPhone, the camera is able to capture four differently illuminated images that are presumably merged together to produce a wacky 3D image. At that close distance the perspective is a little screwy and so noses can seem to be somewhat larger than reality. At least ours, anyway. Hm.

 

The app lets you email or save the resulting images, but we immediately began searching for the "STL export" function. None was found. However, according to the Trimensional blog: 

 

3D model exporting is coming to Trimensional v1.02. For many 3D artists and 3D printing enthusiasts, this is the feature that turns Trimensional from an interesting toy into a useful tool, so the plan is (and always has been) to make exporting available to these advanced users as an in-app purchase for a few bucks.  (Note that this is the only feature I ever intend to charge extra for, all other improvements will come free of charge.) Based on feedback so far, OBJ is a format that would work for a lot of people. 

 

If you'd like them to support a different format, say STL for example, perhaps you should add your thoughts to this post. 

  

Nevertheless, if Trimensional is able to pull off either STL or OBJ output, it's a wonderful step. Imagine having in your pocket a rudimentary 3D scanner! You'd be able to quickly and conveniently capture the shape of objects as you encounter them. Try it now at the App Store for only USD$0.99

 

Keys will never be safe again. 

 

Via Shapeways and Trimensional

Capture That Onion!

Last year artist David Bowen produced a fantastic kinetic artwork entitled "growth modeling device" in which a live onion plant is 3D scanned once every 24 hours, and then that scan is 3D printed. Amazingly, the 3D prints are then shuffled along a conveyor belt so you can see (and touch) the various stages of onion growth. 

 

The RepRap-like growth modeling device uses an unusual "mirror" method for simultaneous scanning and 3D printing, as you'll see in the video. We're wondering if this simple approach might be useful for hobbyist 3D printers as an alternative to conventional 3D capture techniques?

  

Via David Bowen