It’s a given today that handheld scanners should be wireless, but the new Libre, in the EinScan series from Shining 3D, goes a step further. You don’t simply save data to the scanner’s memory or connect the scanner to a laptop via WiFi for processing; the processing is done on the scanner itself.
The onboard Nvidia Jetson Orin NX chip with 16GB memory and an 8-core CPU turns the raw point cloud (a collection of data points in three-dimensional space that represents the external surface and color of the scanned object) into a usable 3D model or mesh. Make basic edits and download files as STLs, OBJs, or other formats right from the device.
Libre features a 14 cm onboard display. And, although you’ll still need to export files to a CAD program for complex editing or manipulation, the onboard processing gives you the assurance that the part has been thoroughly and accurately scanned. A data quality indicator highlights areas of a model that require further scanning.
There are other quality-of-life features that solve some of the headaches of scanning typically found in 3D scanners of this price range.
First, there’s a convenient green projected range indicator box that shows the area that you’re currently scanning so you don’t need to constantly watch the scanner screen instead of the object being scanned.
There’s also the ability to adjust the scan resolution as you’re scanning without having to start a new scan. Users can also set a working data collection distance to avoid accidently capturing unwanted background data.
Overall, with battery, the unit weighs 1.8 kg (about 4 pounds).
IR and Laser Scanning in One Unit
This compact, full-color, standalone system also has both eye-safe blue laser scanning and infrared light scanning.
The laser mode (with 101 blue laser lines) is for high detail and is aimed at areas with textures and features or a part size of about 5 cm. Shining says there’s a “texture alignment” feature that is “specifically designed to assist in scanning objects with challenging surface materials, such as metallic finishes or colorful vases.” This is too vague to be counted as a feature just yet; we’ll have to get our hands on a Libre to take that for a spin.
Laser scanning mode doesn’t require scan markers (those little stickers placed on the scanned object that act as reference points) but you can use them for a boost of accuracy.
The infrared light scanning is for rooms, scenes, and larger objects up to 10 meters. Shining 3D says users can easily switch between the Libre’s three scan modes to adapt to various materials and object sizes, whether scanning indoors or outdoors. Even larger scenes can be stitched together for a wider field of view.
Let’s make a quick feature comparison to similarly priced 3D scanners on the market today.
You can get slightly better resolution with some other devices but are sacrificing some scan speed.
Although you don’t need scan software with the Libre, Shining 3D offers it anyway. The company’s new EinScan Libre software enables you to manage projects, fuse resolutions, and use other data editing tools.
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