Heads up: our content may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a penny more, but we’ll get a small commission. Read more here.If you want to create items for 3D printing, you need a 3D model to start with, and there are two ways to achieve this: you can model with CAD, or you can 3D scan an object.
Naturally, if you are making models from 3D scans, you will need a 3D scanner. But how do you decide which is the best for your needs? They come in so many different shapes and sizes (and prices).
In this article, we will be taking a look at the best 3D scanners for scanning small items.
Quick jump to:
Revopoint
As a pioneer in the world of 3D scanning technology, RevoPoint has established itself as a trusted name synonymous with innovation, precision, and reliability.
RevoPoint MINI 2 3D Scanner
The RevoPoint Mini 2 is a dual-camera blue structured light scanner designed for accurately scanning small objects with metrology grade precision. It comes with the Revo Scan 5 software for aligning and exporting data into 3D files.
- - Accuracy: 0.02mm
- - Resolution: 0.05mm
- - Frame rate: 16fps
- - Work distance: 120 ~ 250 mm
- - Single capture range: 168 x 132 mm
- - Typical object sizes: 15-1500mm
- - Dimensions: 132 x 53 x 36 mm
- - Weight: 175g
- - color scanning
Revopoint POP 3 Plus
The Dual-camera infrared structured light POP 3 is the latest in the Pop series and is ideally suited for scanning medium sized objects.
- - Single frame accuracy: Up to 0.08mm
- - Single frame precision: Up to 0.04mm
- - Scanning speed: 18fps
- - Work distance: 150-400mm
- - Indoors and outdoors
- - Dimensions: 153 x 45 x 29 mm
- - Weight: 190g
3DMakerpro
Our first two scanners come from 3Dmakerpro, who have been responsible for developing some of the best selling consumer grade 3D scanners on the market. 3DMakerpro makes easy to use handheld scanners, at an affordable price.
3DMakerpro Seal
The Seal a pocket-sized scanner good for scanning objects between 10-300mm. It uses a blue light source, and is capable of capturing geometry data and color textures from the same unit. Scanning and aligning is easy thanks to the JMStudio software.
- - Accuracy: 0.01mm
- - Resolution: 0.05mm
- - Frame rate: 10fps
- - Tracking mode: Visual tracking
- - Work distance: 180-280mm
- - Single capture range: 100x75mm
- - Typical object sizes: 10-300mm
- - Dimensions: 110×60×35mm
- - Weight: 254g
3DMakerpro Seal Lite
The Seal Lite has many of the same features as the Seal, but has slightly lower accuracy and resolution. It is still excellent for most small jobs that a maker would use it for, but comes at a reduced price for budget-conscious makers.
- - Accuracy: 0.02mm
- - Resolution: 0.07mm
- - Frame rate: 10fps
- - Tracking mode: Visual tracking
- - Work distance: 180-280mm
- - Single capture range: 100x75mm
- - Typical object sizes: 10-300mm
- - Dimensions: 110×60×35mm
- - Weight: 226g
Creality
Next up, we have a couple of offerings from Creality, who are widely known for their popular 3D printers. They have been in the 3D scanning game for a couple of years already, and are regularly developing new 3D scanners for the consumer market.
CR-Scan Ferret Pro
The CR-Scan Ferret Pro offers wireless scanning via WiFi 6. It features anti-shake technology for smoother scans, can scan black/metal objects without spray, and captures full-color 3D models. Compatible with various devices, it's portable, consumes low power, and excels in outdoor scanning. With one-click operation, it's user-friendly, lightweight, and promises fast, high-quality scanning.
- - Accuracy: 0.1mm
- - Resolution: 0.16mm
- - Frame rate: 30fps
- - Work distance: 150-700mm
- - Single capture range: 560mm x 820mm
- - indoors and outdoors
- - dimensions: 130 x 20 x 36 mm
- - weight: 105g
CR-Scan Lizard
The CR-Scan Lizard combo offers professional-grade accuracy of up to 0.05mm, and features no-marker scanning, and one-click model optimization. Its multi-mode scanning capability suits various objects. The scanner supports true color mapping and comes with CR Studio 2.0 for easy use.
- - Accuracy: 0.05mm
- - Resolution: 0.1 - 0.2mm
- - Frame rate: 10fps
- - Work distance: 150mm x 400mm
- - Single capture range: 200mm x 100mm
- - indoors and outdoors
- - dimensions: 155 x 84 x 46 mm
- - weight: 370g
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