The peel 2-S and the peel 2 CAD-S are optimized for parts from 50 to 500 millimeters.
The engineers at peel 3d have a simple goal: to make 3D scanning technology as accessible as possible.
In February, the company announced the release of a new 3D scanner product line for scanning smaller parts, the peel 2-S and the peel 2 CAD-S. The scanners are set to measure parts in the 50 to 500 millimeter size range and provide a resolution as fine as 0.1 millimeters. The peel 2 CAD-S is built for users who are trying to do reverse engineering, with more focus on output file formats.
The peel 2-S and the peel 2 CAD-S
While the smaller size and tighter scanning resolution are the main differences from the current peel 1 and peel 2 models, the 2-S keeps the same measurement rate of 550,000 measurements per second and volumetric accuracy of 0.5 millimeters per meter (0.3 mm/m for the CAD-S). Technical differences for the 2-S are the smaller scanning area, standoff distance, and depth of field. Target stickers can be placed on the object for ease of scanning, and the texture of objects can also be used to develop the scan points. Scan files can be exported in the .dae, .fbx, .ma, .obj, .ply, .stl, .txt, .wrl, .x3d, .x3dz, and .zpr file formats.
Peel 3d’s product pages offer a frank assessment of what the scanners do best and where they have trouble. Metals, clays, ceramics, and plastics will all work well with the scanning technology. Translucent surfaces, mirrored surfaces, hair, fur, and large flat objects may give the scanners trouble. My favorite thing about 3D scanners is always the idea that you can bring a physical object into digital space, but the peel 3d site also adds reverse engineering, heritage preservation, and human body scanning into the possible uses for a scan file. Scanners come with a rugged carrying case, a USB cable, a power supply, and targeting dots. The ugly holiday sweater branded with the peel 3d logo probably isn’t included, but it’s my favorite item in the merch section.
Scan the Object, Finalize the Mesh, and Export the File
The peel 3d scanning software remains the same as with previous models, and peel says that the software’s ease of use and functionality are big selling points. The software can clean up a model, merge multiple scans of the same object, smooth an object, trim an object, or mirror an object. Remeshing is an option when you want to make the model watertight, and decimation is possible to produce fewer polygons for a smaller file size. The simplified explanation on the software page says it’s as easy as scanning the object, finalizing the mesh, and exporting the file.
Peel 3d’s commitment to educating its users is remarkable, with a robust YouTube page full of videos for new users. There’s a nice demonstration video of the 2-S in use (curiously, back in December 2020 this iteration was called the Go!Scan 20). The page also has several videos showing end user applications for the scanners. One nice plus for me is that there are videos showing customers using the scanners – made by the customers, not by peel 3d. My biggest issue with using handheld scanners in the past has been the mismatch that comes from scanning fronts and backs of objects and then knitting the surfaces together. From what I’ve seen, the software’s merge tool seems to handle this better than solutions I’ve used in the past.
There’s something comforting about a company that is committed to being great at one thing and working to improve on that specialty. I’m impressed by the Quebec-based company’s long list of patents and their commitment to academia, while educating their users not just on their own products but on 3D scanning in general.
