Maker Spaces FabLab NExT Lab Robotics Lab Print Room and Loans

Using the Scanners

Setup

Eva

Each Scanning kit contains:

  • One Artec EVA 3d Scanner

  • One Power Cable

  • One USB Cable

  • One Powerpack with portable power cable

  • Laptop with peripherals

To begin using the scanner, do the following:

  • Turn on the Dell Laptop and log in

  • Plug in the EVA to power and to the laptop

  • Open up Artec Studio. The Artec scanners must be used with the Artec software.

Before scanning your object, ensure that there is adequate room to move around the object, so you can gather data from different angles.

The EVA itself contains three front-facing cameras which converge to a point roughly 700 mm from the scanner. An array of LED strobe lights around the middle camera will flash during operation. The EVA is a Structured Light Technology (SLT) 3D Scanner and uses the cameras to measure the deflection of light on a surface.

The rear of the scanner features an indicator LED, which flashes when in use, and two buttons. A play/pause/preview button and a stop button.

Using the Turntable

The turntable or Lazy Susan can be extremely helpful in scanning smaller objects. The turntable has been modified to include registration marks. These registration marks make it easier for the scanner to track the base as a moving object.

Leo

The kit contains:

  • Leo Scanner

  • Battery + Charger

  • Micro SD + Adapter for data transfer

  • Ethernet Cable for data transfer

  • Laptop with peripherals

Before scanning your object, ensure that there is adequate room to move around the object, so you can gather data from different angles.

The scanner must also be warmed up for 25-30 minutes for maximum accuracy.

HD Mode

Can be turned on to better deal with thin and hard-to-scan surfaces.

Scanning & Transfer

The following information is for the EVA, but the same concepts apply for the LEO when scanning. Once you have finished scanning, copy your project over to the provided Micro SD card if not using HD mode. In HD mode, you must transfer over LAN with the ethernet cable. In Artec Studio, use File > Import > Project / Connect to Scanner respectively.

Artec Studio

You must use the laptop supplied with the scanner when loaned. Dell Laptops have the licenses already. HP Laptop - run .bat file in C:/artec/ by double clicking.

Artec Studio is the only software which we are able to use with the Artec Scanners.

Artec studio consists of a tool panel on the left-hand side of the screen, a model/preview panel in the centre, and a layer panel on the right.

After clicking scan to start, or the preview button on the back of the scanner. A preview is generated in the center of the screen.

Reference Video:

Distance Meter

The distance meter refers to the green waveform on the left of the preview pane. The numbers to the left indicate distances (in mm) from the scanner. While the waveform itself represents the information the scanner is detecting. As the cameras are pointed at a fixed distance, for best results when scanning, try to have the majority of the information in between 520 and 880 mm from the device (the green squares). The object will likely cut off if the scanner is too far away or too close to the object.

Features to Track

In the scanning screen, the 'features to track' - in effect a frame of reference for the scanner - is represented with a green outline. The size of this frame should be monitored. The larger the frame, the more information the scanner is able to use as a reference point while moving. If the frame is small, the scanner may lose tracking easily.

Field of View

The scanner should be kept perpendicular to the scanned object. This ensures a larger field of view and will result in the best possible tracking.

Real-Time Fusion

The real-time fusion feature in Artec studio is a fast method to build a 3D model.

Whilst real-time fusion requires little to no post-processing, multiple scans cannot be overlaid upon one another. It is also limited by the processing power of the computer it's used with.

For this reason, real-time fusion should only be used for small objects and quick scans.

Scanning Technique

In general, the scanner should be used handheld, in a slow and steady motion. The operator should use the computer as a reference rather than the object itself, to ensure stable tracking.

Setting Up

For small objects, make sure the voxel size is 1.0 mm. This can be done in the Artec Studio Settings menu:

File > Settings > Performance > Voxel Size (mm)

Place the object either on the Lazy Susan or in an open area which you are able to move around.

You can select real-time fusion if desired, but deselect [enable automatic base removal]

Start the scan by using the controls either on the computer or on the EVA.

Scanning

For best results, objects should be scanned a number of times, with the object's orientation changed between scans to ensure all fine details are detected.

Using real-time fusion allows you to better monitor 'features to track' as you rotate the object.

Complete one or two full rotations with the object in each orientation.

Processing

Head in to the Artec Studio Editor on the right hand side panel.

The first step in manual post-processing is to either delete or hide the 'fusion' layers in the right hand side layer panel. Real Time Fusions cannot be edited.

Reference for Processing:

Base Deletion

  1. To remove the Base which the model was scanned on, select the [Erase] tool, and choose [Cutoff Plane Detection].

    Editor > Erase > Cutoff Plane Selection

  2. Hold down ctrl and select a small portion of the base on opposite sides of the model. This will create a plane.

  3. By holding ctrl + shift + mouse wheel up or downthis plane can be moved up or down.

  4. Hit delto delete the plane

  5. Repeat these steps for each layer in the layer selection panel

Aligning Scans

  1. Select all scans in the layer selection pane on the right of the screen.

  2. Hit the [Align] button on the left of the screen

  3. In the [Rigid] Tab, select all three layers and choose [Auto-alignment]

  4. Click [Apply]

Global Registration

Global Registration refines the data captured across all scans

  1. Go to [Tools] > [Registration] > [Global Registration]

  2. Select [Geometry] from the drop down menu

  3. Hit [Apply]

For objects with little geometric features, choose [texture and geometry] instead

Smooth Fusion

Fusion takes all the scans as point cloud data and creates an output mesh. For the Artec EVA, Smooth Fusion works best.

  1. Go to [Tools] > [Fusion] > [Smooth Fusion]

  2. Choose your resolution. This must be the same number or higher than the [Max Error] figure displayed in the layers pane.

  3. Under [Fill Holes] select [Watertight]

Small-Object Filter

The small-object filter should be used after every fusion. It will remove any small objects or artefacts that may have been detected in scanning, leaving the largest object.

  1. Choose the small object filter[Tools] > [Postprocessing] > [Small Object Filter]

  2. Under [Mode] select [Leave_biggest_object]

Mesh Simplification (Optional)

Some meshes can be extremely large and therefore, difficult to work with afterwards. To check the face/vertices count of the mesh, double click the [Fusion] from the layers pane

If the file is too large, you can reduce the mesh under [Tools] > [Postprocessing] > [Mesh Simplification]

Texture Mapping

  1. Select your Fusion and go to [Textures]

  2. Select all scans. This data will be used to fill in the texture information.

  3. Make sure [inpaint missing textures] is selected

  4. The textures can be modified in the subsequent menu

Export

To export your file as an .stl or .obj go to [File] > [Export Meshes]

3D Body Scan

When attempting to scan a body the two main things to note are:

  1. Hair is extremely difficult and a hat/cap should be worn by the model

  2. Legs should be scanned one at a time, taking care to capture the floor

Reference video for Body Scanning:

Other Features

Manual Alignment

pageManual Alignment

Fill Holes

pageFill Holes

Smoothing

pageSmoothing

Frame Selection

pageFrame Selection

Limitations

  • Transparent and reflective objects do not work very well

  • Very thin objects have a hard time registering

Further Resources

PreviousArtec Handheld 3D ScannersNextManual Alignment

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