Learning Center
In recent times, the entry barriers that once made photogrammetry inaccessible to most – mainly price and available technology – have eased considerably. This has paved the way for more widespread adoption, incentivizing the development of better, more capable, and user-friendly software. Here, we take a look at what’s available. We talk compatibility, pricing, pros and cons, and some important details to help you get the lay of the land if you’re looking to find a solution for your photogrammetry needs.
Review
LiDAR is a mapping technology that uses laser light to measure the distance to a target surface. In a nutshell, it's generating a 3D map of anything from a room to large areas of terrain with stunning accuracy. In this article, we’ll look at what LiDAR solutions are capable of, what different types of LiDAR there are, and how this technology is used.
Explainer
With the variety of 3D printers available today, your manufacturing options are virtually unlimited: from plastic toys and chocolate of the most specific and unusual shapes to ceramic dental implants and body casts or prostheses, to metal industrial parts of all possible sizes, and more. Need a coffee cup? You can print that. Want a house? You can print that, too. While the kind of 3D printing technology you employ depends entirely on what your project demands, and the properties of the material used, the idea behind any 3D printer’s work basically comes down to this: using a 3D model to build a solid physical object from the bottom up (or the other way around), by combining tiny bits of plastics, composites, or bio-materials together.
Explainer
To truly understand how some of the world's best 3D scanners capture objects of all sizes and complexities, we first need to take a closer look at how structured light works. In this easy-to-read article, you'll also learn about the advantages of structured light over other technologies, including CMM machines and CGI photogrammetry. Then we'll cover a few potentially challenging surfaces for structured-light 3D scanners.
Explainer
Computer Aided Design (CAD) software is used by designers and engineers in different spheres in a whole range of processes. It is a mainstay in the workflows of those working in design, simulation, manufacturing, and many other areas. CAD software is useful not just for providing visual representations of design concepts or drafts, but also for documentation, without which you wouldn’t be able to do things like make patent applications and legally protect designs, or check them for compliance.
Guide
You can learn a great deal about an object by taking it apart and putting it back together. This process is, in essence, how reverse engineering works. And while dismantling and reassembling can tell you what you need to know about how something was made or how it works – and subsequently, how to replace, improve, or analyze parts – it’s essential to get accurate measurements of the parts. This is when 3D scanning comes into play. And the best way to create reliable CAD models from 3D scan data? Using the best reverse engineering software. With that in mind, here’s our selection of the finest tools ready to come to the rescue.
Guide
Even though it plays such an important role, software rarely grabs the headlines whenever there is a discussion on 3D technology. You are more likely to hear about swanky new 3D scanners, 3D printers, or even ground-breaking 3D printing materials. The 3D software that brings this all together is often just a footnote in the discourse – almost an afterthought. When it is mentioned, you’ll be hard-pressed to find dedicated software for Mac; the overwhelming majority of 3D scanning software is built for the Windows platform – or Windows + Linux, if you’re lucky. Hard as it is to find, it is out there if you know where to look. So in this article, we round up some of the best 3D scanning and 3D modeling software for Mac computers, both free and paid.
Guide
Different types of 3D printing software can be used on their own or in combination to take you through the entire 3D printing process: from a 3D model to a brand new 3D-printed object. In this article, we review the best 3D printing software you can use to design your 3D model, edit, repair, and slice your file, and then print an outstanding final piece.
Guide
If you’re wondering whether you might need a CAD system for your company’s or clients’ design or engineering needs, read on. What may seem like a sizeable investment amidst a dizzying array of choices can prove to be one of the greatest decisions you make, saving you untold volumes or time, energy, and expenses. This article serves as an overview of today’s CAD systems, what types of challenges they help solve, as well as how 3D scanning powerfully enhances CAD workflows, for inspection to reverse engineering and beyond.
Explainer
3D printing is no longer just a concept; today, businesses are using it to gain a competitive advantage. As industry players flood the market with proprietary devices, software, and materials, navigating that space can be quite a challenge. So we’ve put together a few things to consider before investing in an industrial printer. We cover some of the most prevalent technologies in industrial 3D printing, with at least one 3D printer in each category to give you a benchmark as you begin your search.
Guide
With dozens of different CAD software packages on the market, making the right choice can be challenging. That’s why we’ve condensed the most useful details down into one easy-to-read article, so in just a few minutes, you’ll understand what CAD software is all about, and why choosing the right solution for your design and engineering needs can make a huge difference in the quality of your workflow.
Guide
Looking for a career in 3D modeling? Or perhaps you’re on a hunt for new software to add to your 3D design workflow? Well, you’re in for a treat. We’ve selected the best modeling and animation software to suit every taste and pocket. Whether you’re already a master in 3D modeling or are just starting out, we’ve got some amazing software for you to check out.
Review
After reviewing the top 3D scanner lists available on the Internet, we noticed that most don’t include information about the key parameters of the objects you need to scan. Important categories such as object size and the application(s) you’ll be using the scanner for are not covered. This review aims to fill this gap and help you find the best 3D solution for your project.
Review
Photogrammetry is the process of taking reliable measurements from photographs. It has been with us in some form for centuries, and has helped shape our understanding of things like the earth’s surface. Today, it plays a vital role in many industries. So here is a primer to give you a general understanding of what it is, and how it works.
Explainer
In this guide, we take a deeper look into one of the most popular 3D scanning technologies – laser 3D scanning. After reading it, you’ll be familiar with what types of scanners are referred to as “laser,” how they work, where they’re most useful, and what they are used for.
Explainer
Reverse engineering is a process where a physical part is deconstructed and measured in order to understand its design, how it works, and how it was made. This could be anything from a massive aircraft carrier or architectural structure, all the way down to a Swiss watch’s tiny set of interlocking gears.
Explainer
3D models are everywhere. They are behind every physical object we encounter, and are widely used by various industries. In this guide we’ll cover the most popular 3D modeling methods, from designing a model from scratch to digitizing a physical object with a 3D scanner.
How-to
There are lots of factors that influence how much it might cost to 3D scan something. In this guide, we cover the main factors that contribute to the cost of 3D scanning, and look at whether it makes sense to get your own scanner, or if you should consider turning to a professional scanning service.
Explainer
For decades now, companies in need of highly accurate measurements have often turned to CMMs (coordinate measuring machines). But more recently, another solution has entered the playing field, one that offers many compelling advantages over CMMs, including go-anywhere portability, ease of use, surface-safe/no-contact needed, 10X-50X faster measurements, and more.
Explainer
From custom prosthetics to perfectly fitted clothes, 3D printed figurines to realistic game avatars, 3D body scanners are becoming a key instrument for gaining valuable insight into the human body. In this article, we’ll cover the different types of body 3D scanners, the main challenges of capturing the human body, and look at how they are being used in medical, sports, clothing, and entertainment industries.
Guide