NextEngine scans 3D on the cheap
By Ryan Block 
posted Feb 1st 2006 10:51AM
posted Feb 1st 2006 10:51AM
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Any data available to see? Is it safe to look into the laser?
This is a robust, nicely packaged, commercial product.
A simple google search for '3d scanner' reveals that this the ideea is at least 8 years old, similar scanners were actually homemade some years ago : http://www.simple3d.com/#homemade
Hi all,
I contacted NextEngine and asked what would be necessary to transfer my license after if and when I sold the scanner on eBay to get back at least part of the $2500.00 I spent on this scanner.
Their reply? I got a call from them and the support person said that the NEW BUYER would have to pay $250.00 for a 3-year warranty in order to activate the software on their computer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WTF?! So, think about this before you try and sell it. Unlike a laser printer or video card, NextEngine wants to grab $250 every time a used scanner is sold!
I'm heading over to MaximumPC.com and asking the Dog to look into this since I'm pretty sure it is a ripoff. I'll also be making posts elsewhere on the net to make sure everyone is aware that once you get this scanner that you won't be able to get rid of it without forcing the BUYER to cough up money to get it working.
Sorry for the rant, but this really tweaked my day to learn this!
Techspecs read : point density on target surface is 400dpi in macro mode and 150dpi in wide mode.
I wonder how can that be constant ? Doesn't that depend on how far the target surface is ?
It is a ripoff. You aren't being sold a scanner. You're really paying for a crapload of +1000 dollar software that makes photoshop look like a bargain. You NEED this software to operate the scanner, and of course there is 0 chance of this scanner ever running on any other operating systems (like linux or macOS) because the software is not open source and there aren't enough of these scanners flying around for a reverse engineering attempt. It also takes a lot more work than you'd expect to scan. When the base rotates, it takes new scans of the model at progressive angles. These scans must be tediously meshed together manually by YOU to get a single full model. Despite the price going up on this scanner by $500, the scanner has not changed. They've upgraded the software, and that's exactly what you're paying for here. Don't buy, wait for something better.
The software the software... Is there any way to get the data out of Solidworks and into another package? How well does solidworks deal with a lot of data? Is this thing really practical for serious animation or engineering use?
Lt. Massa: The HD scanner uses a different CMOS setup with twice the resolution of the original model. The new version also uses a color wheel to sample up to 7 different color channels for better color accuracy. Oh, and we spent a year and a half developing new software to support the 4x increase in data throughput, justifying the $500 price increase.
As far as ease of use, I did this scan in an afternoon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCwu8TSurdQ&fmt=18
(And no, you don't have to manually "mesh" together scans. The software does it automatically. I'm guessing Lt. Massa works for one of our competitors, or is just an idiot.)
Regarding the value of the NextEngine ScanStudio software: It's based on RapidForm's XOR libraries for automatic genetic alignment, volumetric merging, global remeshing (retopologizing), hole-filling, and polishing. These algorithms are widely recognized as the best in the world. You can buy RapidForm's XOR product without the NextEngine scanner, but it will cost you over $20,000 (they come included with the NextEngine Scanner for under $3k).
a few reviews :
http://forums.sme.org/showthread.php?p=855
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-17878.html
Here's another review of the scanner:
http://groups.google.com/group/comp.cad.solidworks/browse_thread/thread/d42c60eb87483441
It also has some feedback on the optional SolidWorks tools.
Another review, related to shoe scanning:
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=165192
Not so bad... finally I can get closer to making cheap car parts at home!
hope i get first comment
very cool thing, I can see this thing in the home in the next 2 years. everybody will have them and there will be tons of anoying 3D spinning objects on the internet.
It takes Xeroxing your butt to a whole new level. Pretty darn nice for the money.
This will be great for animation design or any other application where you would like to accurately model real world objects in a digital domain!
man now we can scan things right in our home...
>.>
unzips pants....what dont you want one in 3D?
This is awesome, and for that price I think every household should have one. It's a wonder this wasn't manufatured years ago. Can't wait to Xerox my butt in 3D!
Now if only i had known how to make this thing a reality when i originally thought of this concept 15 years ago...
*sigh* Cue the Revolution rumors...
Think of future games where you can just scan your whole body and put it in a sims/quake like environment! yay!
Cool...I can make me a girlfriend, and in 3Dthis time.
Hey retards, you have to put the item in question on a spinning platter in front of the device. Unless you plan on castrating yourself or slicing your ass off, your autoerotic fantasies will have to wait.
Actually, use of the automatic positioner is not required. Even if your target is much bigger than the scanner's field of view, you can always do multiple "pans", then stitch them together in software. The software that comes with the scanner provides an easy way to do this. I know because I work for the company that builds it.
P.S. Butt-scans work great and can be done in a single pan in about 90 seconds.
Nice to make quick and dirty models, but damn, that is way too many polygons. It wouldn't be bad to have one to make references from, but then again...that's $2500 I could use to buy a 3D input device, like the SpacePilot (with $2000 in change left over).
The hardware looks extremely cool. But I'm betting it's the software that will probably blow everybodys mind. (..Of course I'm no 3D expert..) I simply want to know if scanning my cat is a possibility? Mind you, he's an extremely patient creature, and I suspect it will come in handy for my planned future race of RepliCats.