Choosing a 3D scanner
This guide helps you understand which criteria to compare before you buy a product. We do not claim to have tested any product, and the guide contains no price or stock information.
Checklist
- Decide on the size of objects you will scan: small parts, people or whole cars.
- Compare accuracy and resolution in millimetres for the kind of detail you need.
- Check whether it is handheld or on a turntable, and whether it needs markers.
- Check how it handles dark, shiny or transparent surfaces.
- Check the computer requirements for the scanning software, especially the graphics card.
- Check the export formats (STL, OBJ, PLY) for your 3D printing or CAD software.
- Compare the software licence, updates and the support offered in your region.
Before you head to the store
Confirm the exact model number, whether it can be delivered to your address, the final total price, shipping costs, the return period and the seller's reliability directly with the store. For cross-border purchases, taxes, customs and warranty terms may differ.