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Jun 2016
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scr3wballl
Jun '16

Any suggestions for a MODERN free open source 3D scanning programs that can actually make use of 4, 6 and 8 CPU cores, and/or better video cards to produce at least decent 3D scans with minimal noise? Most everything I’ve found out there is either a call back to 2009 when everyone wanted to make their own free program, but then went commercial and closed source, or is such poor low resolution that you may as well create the mesh and model from scratch.

One item I am attempting to scan is a little black switch (12.15mm x 12mm x 15.3mm plus some small pieces that stick out) for my radio made in 1978 that is no longer found, made, sold, and almost no parts available for it. I plan to print it on my Prusa i3/Anet A8 clone once I figure out how to create it.
I have a 720p webcam, laser level, and area to scan on plain white paper.
I’ve tried MakerScanner - useless on anything dark colored or reflects the laser in a different direction, and for some reason limits the cam to 640x480, meaning it is unable to pick up the dim red of the laser on black/dark surfaces. Scanning a baseball work mediocre if you don’t mind only seeing/using a third of the ball and have weeks to recreate the mesh around the entire 3D ball.
I’ve used the old free version of DAVID-3 but it reduces the resolution so much (to 480x320) it makes anything scanned essentially useless.
I’ve used the Microsoft 3DScan and 3DBuilder programs on my Win10 system but those just place a flat 2D image/picture on top of a “block” and call it 3D. Trying to get the sides or back of any item is nearly impossible, so again is better to just learn to 3D model from scratch, which I would prefer to avoid (but will likely be my only option).
So again, any modern powerful FREE open source 3d scanning programs that can make use of modern computing power and isn’t stuck in the late 90s-early 2000s?

3dpGeek
Jun '16

Autodesk 123 catch maybe. People seem to have good results. Otherwise I don’t know anything else.

scr3wballl
Jun '16

I tried that, and it doesn’t work on my Win10 desktop system. It will only use the current camera as if it was a tablet/phone, but in my case it does not even recognize the camera, comes back with error “rear camera not detected”. Also there is no way to import a series of photos. Plus it is not open source. 3 strikes its out, any other suggestions?

3dpGeek
Jun '16

Wow that interesting. I know people used a Microsoft scanner program but they did away with it when 10 launched and I am not sure if they have brought it back yet.

scr3wballl
Jun '16

I tried Microsofts own win10 “apps” 3DScan and 3DBuilder. 3DScan doesn’t recognize my webcam either, 3DBuilder is just about very simple shapes with almost no fine control of faces or edges.

3dpGeek
Jun '16

Aah okay, I bought the converter for the Xbox camera then upgraded windows 10 and never had a chance to use it. ThankSorry for the infrastructure though