RealView unveils three 3D desktop scanners
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Jan 8th 2009 3:34AM
posted Jan 8th 2009 3:34AM
We don't see too many 3D scanners 'round these parts, so we'll be excited to hit RealView 3D's booth at CES and see what all the fuss is about. The RealView 360? 3D Desktop Scanner is being billed as the world's first desktop scanner capable of capturing objects in their full 360? topographic glory, suitable for scanning mugs, model space ships, D&D figurines, and whatever else fits on its base. There are three models available: RealView 360 3D (the plain ol' VGA scanner), RealView 360 3D HD (for that hi-def resolution you crave) and RealView 360 HD Commercial (for large format scans and kiosks). Beyond that, we'll just have to wait for CES 2009 to open its doors. Soon.
Reminds me of Half-Life 2 teleportation thing in the labs...
Now I can digitize my wife's knickknak collection and sell off the clutter.
Can I digitize your wife's knickknak?
hmmmm i've already thought up of things to scan in 3d >:D~~
No, you won't be able to scan your dick. Sorry.
well that just killed it.
@Arkenklo
cut it off and put on the scanner.
*warning* you won't be able to glue it back when you cut it off, just in case you didn't know.
"*warning* you won't be able to glue it back when you cut it off, just in case you didn't know."
Sure you can, there just will be a damn lot of.. uhm.. malfunction :x
Wont you please think about the children?
Hmm...no I think even children are too big to fit on the base. Nice idea though!
Nadool: LOL :)
Maybe it will. We'll have to wait for the first drunk intern to scan her ass on one during the Christmas party.
It will be cool when these things are actually a complete sphere that scans around the whole thing in gigapixels and automatically creates 3D models.
Huh? It doesn't do that now? Whats the point then???
This thing doesn't do "gigapixels and automatically creates 3D models".. at least as far as I know..
What? That's exaclty what it does. It scans the object in high res 3D, then creates a virtual digital 3D image. You can then transfer that image (I guess) to a 3D printer, and get a fullsize exact plastic copy.
How hard is it to interpolate the bottom of a flat object? The computer doesn't have to scan spherically to know that the bottom of that snowman is flat.
I am curious what sort of format these scans would be in. would it be like a jpg only split for each side? Or would it be in some sort of special format with a program to view it in 3d? Or would it be superbly awesome to put it in some sort of cad file with dimensions?
I can't see any reason why it wouldn't output CAD files. Then you could edit it, and print it out on a 3D printer!
Replicators, here we come!!
I'm guessing PDF-3D (check Wikipedia page on PDF).
sweet science this is awesome. I dont have any practical application for it at this point but who cares.
We'll see 3D Ads soon, I guess.
We're now one step closer to completing the sensor array of Johnny 5. awesome.
I miss Johnny 5..... Do they make likenesses or is that a too niche market?
http://www.real-view3d.com/homepage_files/image004.jpg
What I find amusing is the company has chosen a simple JPG image to demonstrate a device that does 3D.
I had more fun with Quicktime VR
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/technologies/qtvr/
Have'nt you heard? It's the new standard.
My College project from 2006 was exactly this project. (Romania, UTI, Computer Science) I was using a Laser and a web cam and a step-by-step motor that were spin a surface. The resulted object was build in MAYA. Over That Using the Web Cam I was able to stick over the 3D object the skin (texture) of the object.
The resulted 3D object in Maya was an exact REAL replica.
Using Maya You can animate...
http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3dscannerqs6.jpg
Don't say that is the "first". In our school there are a lot of projects.
+
http://img296.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3dscannerzb8.jpg
It's the first commercially available desktop 3D scanner. There are plenty of prior custom-made 3D scanners.
This thing is cool, but no doubt it'll be expensive..
If you want a cheap DIY 3D scanner, there is an awesome free software project from some German professors (don't worry its in english). All you need is a webcam or camcorder and a cheap laser level. In fact, any laser that projects a straight line will do, and any laser pointer will do with an appropriate plastic lens on the front that turns the dot into a line. On the website they have some examples for the cheapest way to do this.
check it out: http://www.david-laserscanner.com/ // This is not a spam link -- I am not involved in this project in any way
Oh, I did'nt realize Jobs has his own Taxi-company, I see why you posted that here.
come back when you've got something that can scan into a CAD or modelling program, that be cool
Aside from being transported to CAD and the such in film I can see this type of scanning being exported to Maya or AE and then just build in the movement and such from there..... I mean I think itd be somewhat easier to destroy a 3d scanned model of something than the compiled model.
Also this would be nice for online purchasing so you can see everything up close and personal..... A few years and maybe but its nice to dream......
I meant "somewhat better looking"
It kind of has to scan spherical right? You are now scanning the object from a fixed point wich will result in holes in your model. For example what about the area under the nose of the snowman? It can't scan there because the nose is in the way, so it has to make up what is there.
Maybe I'm missing something, maybe the arm can move up and down?
There are already commercial desktop 3D scanners that have been available for several years:
This is one that I have seen, appears they have a new HD version as well.
www.nextengine.com
The first turn off is there website is just one "JPEG" Image
And the website HTML is saved form MS Word!!! just read the source code and LOL.
Feeling Software has announced software that can create a 3D textured model based on digital camera pictures at various angles. This probably uses a similar process, but the math is made a bit easier by the set angle between the two cameras, and the controlled rotation of the turntable. I hope this isn't too pricey, or I will be forced to spend way too much personal time trying to complete a Make Magazine version of some sort.
Options for output:
1) Multiple jpegs for a simulated 3D experience, they arent doing this, they have stereo vision for real 3D
2) Polygon model with color (STL, obj, vrml, etc) you can make an animation (maya), or print a replica (Z Corp) or machine a replica (Roland). Editable only in scale, and by deforming surfaces, not a CAD file
3) a CAD model with parametric editable features, see Rapidform XOR at Rapidform.com (not automatic, but alot quicker than anything else for complexity and accuracy)
Re the shadowed parts, the software is available to register scans from different set-ups, (e.g., a scan set around the equator, and a set around the poles). e.g. rapidform XOS.
+1 on Next Engine being the first consumer grade desktop scanner
Yes, I work for Rapidform
The NextEngine desktop scanner has been out for years. https://www.nextengine.com/