There might be an emerging market called “consumer 3D Scanning”. At least of you look at 3DMakerPros marketing of their new SEAL 3D scanner. It promises 0.01mm accuracy, which apparently is worlds first for a Consumer 3D Scanner. Let’s have a look

The 3DMakerPro SEAL 3D Scanner is being launched on Indiegogo on august 29, 2023. This means it’s a “kickstarter” and should be carefully considered before thinking about buying one. I’m trying to get my hands on one to do a full review, and will keep you updated on that.

What is the SEAL 3D scanner?

It’s marketed as a consumer 3D scanner. It’s a small hand-held scanner with (or without) textured 3D scanning.

It comes in two models, SEAL and SEAL Lite. The latter without texture(color) and slightly worse scanning resolution. More on the specs later.

It’s small form factor, high-speed scanning and proven software algorithms makes it very interesting. Not to mention that it’s priced low enough to actually attract consumers at around $199 (pre-order!) for LITE and $384 (pre-order!) for SEAL.

About the scanner

Based on my experience in 3D scanning and what this scanner looks to provide, it’s a quite interesting little unit. Specs aside (those can be quite marketing-manipulated) this 3D scanner looks easy to use based on a few things.

Scanning speed - Having more frames per second makes it easier for a “normal” user to hand-scan. The scanner uses the mesh it scans to track next fram, and new users tend to be “snappy” and quite rough in how they aim and move the scanner. With higher framerates, you end up with more overalpping on the same movements, which equals better tracking. This is extra important when you’re trying to focus on smaller objects in a “narrow field of view”.

Blue Light - The blue light scanning technology is very popular due to it’s ability to generate good, detectable contrast patterns on objects. It’s mostly seen in higher end scanners.

Scanning volume - The objects this scanner “focuses” on are within the range of what typical consumer might want to 3D print. So 3D scanning references, or even complete objects to copy could be very simple.

Challenges with 3D scanning

The software is key for any 3D scanning. Almost any 3D scanner can register a depth image and providing data. But how fast, efficient, reliable and easy-to-use you process that data is key. Today, I would argue that Artec3D are the masters of 3D scanning software. Their Artec studio is worth every penny with their scanners.

Andrew Sink have reviewed 3DMakerPro's earlier 3D scanner (Lynx) and complements the software. We’d assume this software have only been imrpoved since, making it very a very interesting combination of hardware and software.

Without an easy way to see what you capture, what you’re missing, and ways to “fill in the blanks” so to say, your scanner is doomed to fail. From what I can tell, the JMStudio seems to do all this well.

Prove me wrong 3DMakerPro

The reason I’m excited about the SEAL is that the competition, like EinStar from Shining 3D and Revopop Mini are just above that price point where you have to motivate the purchase a bit more. Even after pre-order prices, the Seal Lite is very affordable at $359.

Since I haven’t reviewed this scanner yet, I’m a bit skeptical of a few things.

First, the optical stabilization sounds like a nightmare for accuracy. I interpret this as an physical moving lens/stabilization, which would skew the optics and should (unless they did something smart) skew the frame generated a bit. Usually stereoscopic cameras NEED the two lenses/sensors to be in a super-exact position. Any deviation can be calibrated for in a controlled environment (like a calibration plate)

Accuracy smaccuacy

The whole accuracy in general is tricky, as it’s usually one single frames accuracy mentioned. So one depth image. That’s not really the deciding factor, as merging images together is the issue. How well can you track two frames, from two different angles (how did the scanner move).

This value is usually mentioned as a “%ErrorOverDistance” value. As an example, Artec EVA has “"0.3 mm/m” listed. Which means that for every meter scanned, you should expect an error of 0.3mm. Notice this is not per meter object, but distance scanned. So to cover a square meter, your ~400x400mm area needs to travel 2-4m to cover that whole square meter. Think of a painters brush with a large width, if it’s not 1m wide, it takes two or more strokes to cover 1x1m.

Update: In the live Indiegogo campaign, they show this image which looks quite credible to me. And to do it on a nintendo switch controller is impressive.

Triangulation and mesh

In the end, it’s obviously important how close to the real object you came. But mesh-resolution is critical for anyone wanting to 3D print a copy or do professional reverse engineering. The 0,05mm and 0,07 for LITE mesh resolutions are great and should get you plenty of details. The Thunk3D jewerly 3D scanner i tried a while back offered 0,06mm and was enough to portray warhammer figurines and rings.

NOTE that mesh is triangulated/generated from the “raw” datapoints registered during scanning. If a scanner cant align the raw data, and filter out errors, the mesh generated might not contain all the details, even though the triangles are very tight. So again, numbers don’t make justice until you actually use it. (which I hope to show you).

3D Examples from 3DMakerPro

Texture 3D Scanning

When it comes to 3D scanning with textures, it’s fun and great for humans and for specific workloads. The problem is that your scan needs to be perfect (more or less) as filling holes or patching areas that are not scanned reveals huge problems.

I don’t know exactly how JMStudio solves this, but usually it’s only the best of the best that can do it well. Textured scans are not “simple” to edit as the UV-mapping of triangulated mesh is often just made by vertex paint or a very choppy image-map.

For those who are not familiar, that means terrible editing/photoshopping. You probably need a 3D-painter like Zbrush to remap, and start coloring/editing the colors if you want to do “retouch”.

Textured scans are however very nice when it comes to brining in a low-poly (high texture) object into places like SketchFab or VR-applications. Being able to scan objects and have the appearance is really cool, they look so much better!

Useful Accessories

3DMakerPro have also developed two accessories. The Smart Handle and Multi-axis turntable.

If we start with the smart handle, it looks like a good way forward if you don’t have a laptop/computer that you can bring to the part. It will pair the scanner with your phone somehow, the question is if all processing can be one there, or just a way to process tracking, before doing meshing and all other post-processing on a computer.

It will help you with distance-tracking for easier scanning and a battery to run the scanner outside of a computer. It sounds alright, but if you have an laptop, you shouldn’t need this handle (I think).

The Multi-Axis turntable looks like a fantastic accessory that makes bulk-scanning so much easier. With automation and controlled rotation, the scanner should be allowed better algorithms to generate scan data and mesh. Resulting in a better scanning quality.

Advanced customization for scripting behavior, this could quickly be adapted to dental or other quality scanning application, where throughput and automation is important.

Availability

The 3DMakerPro SEAL is just launching on Indiegogo and we should expect it to be a while before anything actually ships. All kickstarter and other crowdfunded campaigns can go terrible south, and you can loose all your money backing a project.

Update: I backed the project as number 22 (yay fast) and it reached 100k goal in 52 seconds.
I find it an interesting product, that I think looks like a great value scanner for it’s super-early bird. I’m assuming they will have future campaigns, because the MSRP appears a bit high for a “consumer”, but I’ll review that when I get it (estimated October 2023).

3DMakerPro SEAL 3D Scanner