I’ve already written about 3D scanners, and at the time mentioned the price range varied a lots from just around $100 fo entry-level models to over several thousands dollars for professional solutions.
This morning I saw a tweet for one of the cheap model by HE3D, where they claimed the scanner to be “open source”, so I asked, and while you could buy the kit with or without camera for $83.30 or $116.53 respectively, the company shared a rar file with documentation, and design files, so you could also built it yourself, or modify it.
3D scanner kit content:
- bq ZUM BT-328 controller board
- micro USB cable
- Logitech C270 HD webcam
- 42-stepper motor
- 2x Laser
- 12V/1.5A power supply
- 8mm Bobbin
- 4x M3*12 self-tapping screws
- 2x M3*20 self-tapping screws
- 10x M3*10 screws
- 6x M3 nuts
- 28x M8 nuts
- 18x M8 washer
- 2.5mm hexagon wrench
- 3x M8*30 screws
- 1x 16014 bearing
- 2x M8*382mm Screws
- 1x M8*302mm Screw
- 4x M8*152mm Screws
- 11x Injection molded plastics parts
- 1x calibration checkered paper
- 1x calibration board (3mm acrylic plate)
- 1x countertop (7mm acrylic plate)
- 1x 24 black non-slip mat for the acrylic plate
If we check out the content of the rar file, we can see it’s the Ciclop 3D scanner designed by bq a few years ago. I think I had already seen this design, but not really paid much attention. But indeed, the design is open source hardware with 3D printable files, hardware design files for the controller board, and Horus open source 3D scanning software all provided in the rar files, as well as on Github. More details can also be found on bq website.
This scanner may be OK to experiment and get started with 3D scanning, but as HE3D explains, it is NOT suitable for scanning irregular and complex objects, only for nearly cylindrical objects.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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