3D Printing Industry reviews the Scan Dimension SOL PRO 3D scanner.
Based in Denmark and operating as a division underGlobal Scanning,Scan Dimensionis a fast-rising competitor in the 3D scanning market space. The firm’s product portfolio is two-strong, comprising the originalSOLand the higher-performanceSOL PROfull-color desktop 3D scanners.
The SOL PRO is the more recent offering and is intended for small to medium part scanning applications. Much like its predecessor, the machine aims to combine affordability and accessibility, sporting a streamlined and automated scanning workflow that takes much of the load off the user. This isn’t to say it’s exclusively beginner-friendly, however, as there are still plenty of options and parameters for more advanced users to play around with.
Sol Pro的价格仅为1,899美元，非常适合制造商和教育工作者，但也适用于工程和设计公司的商业用途。在上下文中，工业级3D扫描仪的价格通常约为15,000美元或更多。
An impressive hardware package
那些寻求交钥匙3D扫描仪的人不必再看了，因为Sol Pro是完整的软件包。包装盒中包括您开始3D扫描所需的一切，包括扫描仪和转盘，两根电缆，以及一个辅助的涂黑帐篷，旨在创建完美的扫描环境。
SOL PRO在扫描Dimension的Red Laser二极管技术上运行，这对于无意间的暴露是安全的，但在长时间内不能安全，尽管在帐篷中进行扫描时，这不是问题。该设备还具有两个W Seehite LED，以提供光线和8MP摄像头，以捕获图像。这种令人印象深刻的电子产品组合使机器可以准确地扫描0.05mm的对象。
但是Sol Pro可以处理哪些对象？大小和重量约束在很大程度上受转盘的尺寸约束，因此最小对象大小为20 x 20mm，最大对象大小为170 x 170mm，最大对象重量为2kg。多亏了激光器，该系统还应该能够比竞争的结构化轻型技术更好地捕获黑色对象，而无需使用任何定位目标。
As with any scanner on the market, objects that are too reflective may still give the SOL PRO a hard time. To combat this, you can make use of a special primer spray or powder-coating spray to coat parts before placing them on the turntable. These sprays provide a matte finish that makes the parts less reflective, meaning the scanner has an easier time registering the geometry.
校准Sol Pro
Scan Dimension markets its scanners with accessibility at the forefront, and this is evident in the SOL PRO’s calibration process.
To calibrate the machine before every scan, all the user needs to do is run the automated calibration process from the scan processing software (we’ll look at this in the next section). The SOL PRO analyzes the white sections of its own turntable and is able to determine its exact position relative to the scanning area based on just the circular patterning. The process usually takes a couple of minutes for normal and turbo mode and that’s it, you can begin scanning.
由于这是扫描尺寸阵容中的高性能产品，因此Sol Pro还采用了“高精度分析”校准方法，以进一步提高系统上进行的扫描质量。要选择此过程，您需要使用包装盒中包含的小型塑料校准缸来校准Sol Pro。尽管大约在13分钟左右的时间稍微乏味，但我们发现更高精确的校准方法值得它值得，尤其是当扫描质量优先考虑时。
SOL PRO Creator and SOL PRO Viewer
The SOL PRO comes with its own set of software packages: SOL PRO Creator, which is used for scan processing, and SOL PRO Viewer, which is used to view and export scans.
Since Scan Dimension is really going for a streamlined user experience here, all you need to do to start a scan with SOL PRO Creator is hitStart,place the object on the turntable, and wait for the system to complete the scan. It’s possible to scan an object up to five times in different positions to capture sections that the scanner couldn’t catch the first time around, such as the underside.
Once complete, SOL PRO Creator automatically aligns the scans and opens the SOL PRO Viewer software to display the final 3D model. There’s not much to say other than the fact that this works and it works well, the one-click scan approach is as easy as it sounds.
For the more experienced users out there who want a more hands-on workflow, SOL PRO Creator also packs a number of configurable parameters. Specifically, there are options to exclude textures, scan unstable objects, and scan dark objects. SOL PRO Creator even allows you to manually align the scans in the event that the automatic procedure fails in some way, which we found to be extremely useful.
It’s worth noting that we did unfortunately run into several bugs when using SOL PRO Creator. This included being unable to install the software at all on one of our PCs, although this should indeed be resolved with the current version of the program.
Benchmarking the SOL and SOL PRO
是时候将Sol Pro 3D扫描仪对其进行一些基准进行测试了。我们将系统通过各种涉及艺术模型，3D打印对象和功能零件的扫描测试。
The first of the tests was a 100mm long benchmarking cuboid of known dimensions. We scanned the model and compared the resulting scan file to the original STL of the part, giving us a quantitative method of evaluating the scanner’s dimensional precision (as shown in the heat maps below). For our point cloud analysis, we used theGOM InspectandCloudComparesoftware packages.
The precision of the SOL PRO was very impressive here, we obtained an average offset of -0.0188mm and a standard deviation of just 0.1127mm. For a system in this price range, this is a very small average imprecision and a very tight point cloud spread. To put this into context, when using this scanner you can expect 99.6% of your scanned points to be within -0.36mm and +0.32mm of their intended dimensions.
Then we tasked SOL PRO with scanning a set of generic full-color scan tests: a 3D Printing Industry trophy, a rubber duck, and a polymer head 3D printed on aMimaki 3DUJ-553.
The SOL PRO really held its own with this set of full-color scans, capturing all the minute details in the models and recreating them very faithfully. The surface features of the trophy, the tiny surface bumps on the duck, and the fine wrinkles lining the head all came through successfully. However, it’s worth noting here that the SOL PRO scans did seem to have a yellow-like filter over them, whereby the colors on the models are slightly off from their true shades.
Next up, we 3D scanned a set of CNC milled ornamental models: a lion, a horse, and a triple helix.
This set of scans was definitively among the strongest on the SOL PRO. All three models were preserved with grace, with accurate texturing and shadowing to really make the models pop. The level of detail in the lion’s mane is particularly impressive as it looks very much like the physical part in the real world. The curvature of the triple helix is also noteworthy, with smooth surfaces and a distinct lack of jagged tesselation.
We then put the scanner to the test with a set of electronic components: a Raspberry Pi Zero, a PCB voltage converter, and a stepper motor.
The electronic component scans were the first time the SOL PRO really slipped up. The scanner failed to capture both the Raspberry Pi and the PCB voltage converter successfully, as both 3D models had a few missing sections. We even tried the voltage converter three separate times on the SOL PRO and still couldn’t get a clean model, which we concluded has something to do with the black and glossy surfaces. As previously stated, surfaces such as these will require a 3D scanning spray, so it’s good to have one ready at all times.
Similarly, the stepper motor had huge sections that failed to materialize. However, the sections that did scan successfully were almost lifelike with minimal warping. We were particularly impressed with the quality of the writing as it’s perfectly readable without zooming into the 3D part.
最后扫描测试是一组六个不同的选项卡letop models 3D printed in a matte grey resin.
The SOL PRO went above and beyond on the 3D printed tabletop part scans. Each of the 3D models is faithful to the real thing, with an abundance of detail in the fine grooves and surface features. Here, the scanner’s performance approaches that of a full-fledged professional-grade system, despite being a fraction of the price.
The verdict
Sol Pro是一种令人印象深刻的3D扫描仪，其易于使用的易用性。因此，对于初学者，教育工作者和那些根本不必担心技术细节的人来说，这是一个不错的选择。经验丰富的工程和设计专业人员可能会发现缺乏高级参数有些限制。
Scan Dimension has built its hardware to bridge accessibility with performance, and the SOL PRO delivers on that front. On the other hand, the software at the time of testing did suffer from a myriad of bugs that affected the saving of files and the installation process. Scan Dimension has since rolled out an update to fix these issues, so it’s nice to see the care being taken here.
When it comes to scan quality, the machine is capable of preserving finer details such as writing and grooves with ease, which is astonishing given a price tag of just $1,899. Although the device did struggle with the electronic scans, 3D textures on the other tests largely emulated their real-world counterparts. The colors of the models also seem to be slightly faded, but they’re true to life for the most part and accurately convey depth.
如果你在市场全彩较小medium part scanning system without breaking the bank, we can safely say the Scan Dimension SOL PRO has proven itself to be a very cost-effective competitor in spite of its rough edges.
Technical specifications
| Max object size | Up to 170 x 170mm |
| 最小对象大小 | 20 x 20mm |
| Max object weight | 2kg |
| 工作范围 | 210 – 360mm |
| Accuracy | 0.05mm |
| Camera resolution | 8MP |
Buy the SOL PRO 3D scanner here.
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Featured image shows the SOL PRO. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.
