Industrial 3D Scanning on a Budget

Portable scanners are invaluable tools in quality control, and Revopoint 3D’s MIRACO aims to be an entry point for manufacturers looking to reap their benefits.

 Revopoint 3D has sponsored this post.

At its core, quality control in discrete manufacturing is about ensuring consistency between individual units and the design on which they’re based. Not so long ago, this meant taking individual measurements of all the relevant dimensions, which was both time-consuming and subject to operator skill and experience. Nowadays, the geometry of many parts and products is captured entirely through 3D scanning, providing vastly more data in a fraction of the time.

According to Vivian Li, the Product Director at Revopoint 3D, this is a trend that’s still ongoing: “Similar to how vernier or digital calipers have become essential tools found on every engineer, machinist or fabricator’s desk or workstation, we expect 3D scanners will integrate seamlessly into the standard workflow for providing accurate 3D models that are ready for effective quality control checks and reverse engineering tasks.” 

Of course, 3D scanners have their own limitations: while coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) are generally slower, they beat out 3D scanners for highly accurate and precise measurements.

Technical specifications aside, one of the biggest barriers to the adoption of 3D scanners is cost. Industrial-grade 3D scanners can easily be in the five- or even six-figure range, especially for those with the level of precision demanded in aerospace or automotive manufacturing.

That may seem to put 3D scanning out of reach for many job shops and other small enterprises, where quality budgets are often thin to begin with. But a new generation of budget 3D scanners is aiming to lower the barrier to entry. Revopoint 3D’s new MIRACO portable 3D scanner is one such example.

(Image: Revopoint 3D.)

(Image: Revopoint 3D.)

MIRACO by the numbers

“High-accuracy 3D scanners are often prohibitively expensive,” says Li, “particularly when you’re scanning objects of various sizes and require multiple scanners. MIRACO was made to unify 3D scanning needs for objects of all sizes into one cost-effective, highly portable device.” Li believes that by integrating 3D scanning and model post-processing into a single unit, MIRACO should appeal to manufacturers working on a tight budget.

In terms of its specifications, MIRACO has a single-frame accuracy of up to 0.05mm and 48MP resolution are comparable with other professional-grade scanners, and the 256GB onboard storage should leave enough room for processing and editing multiple 3D scans. You can find the rest of MIRACO’s specifications in the table below.

Specifications

Product Name

MIRACO 3D Scanner

Scanning Type

Standalone Handheld and Desktop

Technology

Quad-Camera Infrared Structured Light

Scannable Object Size

Small to Large

Single-frame Precision, up to

0.02 mm

Single-frame Accuracy, up to

0.05 mm

Fused Point Distance, up to

0.05 mm

Single Capture Range @ Nearest Distance

28 x 53 mm @ 100 mm

Single Capture Range @ Furthest Distance

975 x 775 mm @ 1000mm

Angular field of view, (H x W)

Near 40 x 30°, Far 56 x 42°

Minimum Scan Volume

10 x 10 x 10 mm

Maximum Scan Volume

4000 x 4000 x 4000 mm

Depth Camera Resolution, up to

2 Megapixels

RGB Camera Resolution,up to

48 Megapixels

Color Scanning

Yes

Tracking Methods

Feature, Marker

Outdoor Scanning

Yes

3D Light Source

Class 1 Infrared Light

White LED Flash

Yes

Infrared Fill Lights

Yes

Internal Processing

Depth map computing, point cloud processing, and editing

Position Sensors

9-axis IMU

CPU

8 core ARM A76, 2.4GHz, Mali G51 GPU

Built in Chip Computing

Depth Map Computing, 3D Scanning, Point Cloud Processing and Editing

Internal Storage

256GB eMMC

Memory(RAM)

16 GB or 32 GB DDR4 Memory

Touchscreen Display

6 inch

Buttons

Yes

Minimum PC Requirements

No PC required

Recommended PC Requirements

No PC required

Compatible Operating System

Native android system

Output File Formats

PLY, OBJ, and STL

Ready to print 3D Models

Operating System

Native Android System

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 6

Bluetooth

4.1

Connector Type

USB Type-C

Power Requirements

DC 7-11V, 5A; Support 50 watt fast charging

Battery

Internal 5,000 mAh, Support 65-watt Fast Charging

Scanner Weight

750g

Dimensions(L x W x H)

250 x 50 x 110 mm

Special Object Scanning

Use scanning spray for transparent, dark, or highly reflective objects.

User Revalibration

Yes

Supported Accessories

Large Turntable, Dual-axis Turntable, Large Calibrationi Board for MIRACO, Power Bank

Note:
1. Precision is how close repeated measurements of the same object are to each other.
Accuracy is how close a measured value is to the actual (true) value. They were both acquired in a controlled lab environment. Actual results might vary, subject to the operation environment.

2. Class 1 Laser: Avoid direct eye exposure for extended periods.

3. Outdoor scans should avoid direct sunlight.

4. MIRACO’s flashing lights may not be suitable for people with photosensitive epilepsy.

(Source: Revopoint 3D.)

While the basic specs put MIRACO on par with other industrial 3D scanners, there are several features that set it apart. Onboard processing and editing via the integrated touchscreen (including one-tap editing options) is the most obvious example, but there is also the 5,000 mAh battery, which covers up to two hours of continuous scanning and recharges to 80 percent capacity with 50W fast charging in 35 minutes.

In addition to conventional fast continuous scanning, MIRACO offers a single-shot mode that allows users to progressively capture even hard-to-scan objects with stable tracking, reduced point cloud overlap, and increased accuracy. It even makes it easier to scan in hard-to-maneuver environments.

Finally, it’s worth noting that MIRACO uses a structured light depth camera system for 3D scanning. As Li explains, this is also beneficial for manufacturers. “The quad-depth camera layout of the MIRACO is advantageous for manufacturing needs since it’s capable of scanning from small to large, which would typically require three separate 3D scanners. It can also accurately capture color-coded markings, annotations or visual indicators, comprehensively representing the object’s surface properties for subsequent analysis or communication.”

Industrial Applications for 3D Scanning on a Budget

There are plenty of ways to leverage 3D scanning technology in manufacturing, from reverse engineering to quality control. When it comes to working with more affordable 3D scanners, some applications—such as automotive, aerospace, or medical device manufacturing—will most likely have tolerances which are tighter than the scanner’s accuracy, but that still leaves many other applications available.

(Image: Revopoint 3D.)

(Image: Revopoint 3D.)

Li cites automotive design as one example: “MIRACO is highly suitable for automotive design applications, both for interior and exterior components and accessories. Detailed 3D scanning capabilities aid in capturing the geometries of automotive parts, and this is essential for designing and prototyping components while ensuring proper fit.”

For similar reasons, affordable 3D scanners can be useful in manufacturing and fabrication job shops, where engineers and other professionals often need to capture geometric data from customer samples for replication or modification in a CAD environment. When it comes to forming and molding applications, “[A 3D scanner] enables analysis of components under controlled conditions,” says Li. “This is beneficial for various processes, such as stamping, bending, forging, vacuum forming (including composites), blow and injection molding.”

As is often the case, 3D scanning, and 3D printing go hand-in-hand, so for shops starting to dip their toes into the additive manufacturing (AM) water, so to speak, an affordable 3D scanner is a worthwhile option for ensuring a good return on investment from a new 3D printer. Finally, and perhaps most interestingly, Li offered the example of woodcarving, an ancient technique that’s more technologically sophisticated than most people realize.

MIRACO can capture complex wood carvings, generating digital models that can be replicated using computer-aided manufacturing [CAM] software,”  Li says. “The scanned data can be combined with compatible software like DeskProto to create tool paths for CNC machines, enabling the replication of intricate wood carvings.”

From 3D printing to CNC woodcarving and everything in between, there’s no shortage of work to be done with a capable 3D scanner.

Getting Started with 3D Scanning

As with any new tool, the most important thing when starting out with a 3D scanner is training. Depending on how simple and user-friendly a tool is, that can mean hours of tutorials or minutes of instructions. As Li explains, MIRACO falls firmly into the latter category: “MIRACO comes with an in-the-box quick start guide, which provides step-by-step instructions similar to receiving a new piece of any other mobile tech. Following the quick start guide allows users to power on the device easily and begin with entry-level scanning procedures.”

In addition, Revopoint 3D offers 24/7 support via online messaging, voice calls, and email to help manufacturers with any issues or questions they might have. The company also offers 1-on-1 training sessions by request in case users need instructions or guidance specific to their applications.

The other often overlooked aspect of getting started with 3D scanning is on the software side in terms of compatibility. With so many CAD platforms and file formats, it’s essential to ensure that the 3D scanner you start with can be easily integrated into your existing enterprise ecosystem. MIRACO, as an example, exports files in PLY, STL and OBJ formats and is compatible with major CAD applications, including Fusion 360 and SOLIDWORKS.

“Software such as Geomagic Design X,PointShape Design, and Fusion 360 can seamlessly integrate with MIRACO’s output for dedicated reverse engineering tasks and for metrology tasks, Control X is a suitable option.”  Li adds.

Whatever your application, if you’re looking to start using 3D scanning, don’t make the mistake of thinking you need to spend in the five- or six-figure range to get started. Affordable 3D scanners are making the technology more accessible than ever before.

For more information, visit the Revopoint 3D website.