Growshapes had a great 2018 and have been busy to make sure we offer the best customer experience when somebody is looking to buy 3D scanners or adopt 3D scanning technology into their workflow.

Highlight of 2018

• Expanded our product portfolio beyond HP 3D scanners and added Open Technologies (now FARO) industrial grade 3D scanners as well as Shining3D EinScan handheld 3D scanners
• Became a referral agent to Artec 3D scanners
• Partnered with "medifacturing" startup, PrinterPrezz, to extend reach into the medical industry with 3D scanning technology​

But the year isn't over yet! 

If you want to add 3D scanning to your workflow, check out the 3D scanner selection on www.growshapes.com.

​Growshapes likes 3D-scanning stuff (naturally!) to see how digitization impacts industry and people.  

This month we 3D-scanned a beautiful Bizen-ware bird, created by Japanese ceramic artist Yukiko Akai, who lives in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. Yukiko uses an 800-year-old kiln firing method for ceramics, which originated on the Korean peninsula and migrated to the town of Bizen, Japan, eventually evolving into Bizen-ware. Bizen-ware is a durable ceramic with a distinct gloss created from a chemical reaction of clay, fire, and firewood ash, rather than from glazing.  Even without glazing, the ceramic is watertight.
 
Because of Bizen-ware uses all-natural materials and processes, Yukiko also participates in the excavation of medieval kilns to research historical kiln structures, document findings, and educate others. Such research aims to not only uncover the past, but also enable exploration of new artistic expressions.
 
This summer, Yukiko and her Master (teacher) undertook a project in Arkansas to recreate the Bizen-ware process there, using the clay and local materials of Arkansas.  You can read more about the project here.

When Growshapes encountered her work, the first thing we thought was, “Let’s digitize!”

So here it is.  A piece from Yukiko's signature "Bird" series in its digital glory. 

This piece was a bit tricky to 3D scan due to its dark color, gloss and the concave shape on the top.  The key was to place the object in the right position, 3D scan from several angles so that the light would cast on all angles of the object. ​

 The "Bird" has been scanned using the HP 3D Structured Light Pro S3 with dual camera, with the scanner set up on the desk scan lever, and the object placed on the automated turntable. 

Click to buy the HP 3D Structured Lights Scanner Pro S3 with Dual Camera Bundle.

The whole scanning process took less than 2 hours from set up to file clean up.  Organic shapes, especially symmetrical ones, tend to be difficult to align in 3D scanning.  But the HP 3D scanner alignment features really excelled once again!

Growshapes is an HP Silver Partner of HP 3D scanning solutions and the official U.S. distributor of Open Technologies 3D Scanners - an endorsement that makes us proud.

​See the innovators on Growshapes’ social media channels to get the latest expert news on innovation in 3D digitization, then share your thoughts and join the conversation about 3D digital innovation with #digitize3D

Many of our customers are scanning very small objects or large objects.  The great thing is the HP Pro S3 3D scanner is quite flexible and offers calibration panels that you can print out.

The calibration point pattern files come with the HP 3D Scan 5 software.  After you have installed the software on your PC, the calibration point patterns is stored under Program Files.

You will find it per below.  "Program Files on your PC > HP 3D Scan 5 > printout" 

The key is to create a 90° corner with the right side and left side panels and ensure the panels are flat to enable successful calibration with your custom calibration panel.
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• Tips on building a large calibration panel - see here. 
• Tips on building a small calirbration panel - see here.

Yes, you can even 3D scan a walnut. 

All you need to do is to calibrate the HP 3D scanner Pro S3 using the smallest calibration scale, 30mm, on the calibration panel. 

A walnut has various protrusions and as result, creates lots of shadows when casting the projector light onto it.  So we propped up the walnut on a black foam to ensure the projector light could penetrate the walnut as much as possible. 

We used black foam that comes inside pelican briefcases. One of our customers taught us this trick and it really works well as the 3D scanner only captures some bits of the foam due to its dark color.  The bits captured can be easily deleted in the editing phase.

Below is the combination of the 3D scan files, all 47 different scans as we tried to capture the undercut as much as possible. The 3D scans still have have holes as was really difficult to penetrate the projector light into every undercut of the walnut.  Furthermore,  the difficulty was aligning the front and the back of the walnut as the side profile was pretty difficult to capture.

And here is the fusion results after the HP 3D Scan software automatically closed all the holes to create a watertight model.

And now we know that the walnut is 1,314 mm³ or 0.08 in³!

We just wanted to show you with this blog that you can 3D scan even a walnut!

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Our FREE TURNTABLE (worth $1,199) FOR EVERY HP 3D SCANNER PRO S3 PURCHASE campaign is ending soon, so if you are contemplating buying the HP Pro S3 3D scanner, now is the time!

Growshapes's customer, Eric Schultz of the Western New York Osteological Survey who studies bones, made a video for Growshapes to explain how he managed to 3D scan a very small object - a human molar that is 5mm in diameter!  

Eric made considerable modifications to the DAVID 3D Scanner SLS-2 set up to 3D scan this tiny tooth, so we wanted to share with you how he adapted the system and how you how flexible the DAVID 3D scanner solutions are.

The Western New York Osteological Survey's mission is to creates digital images for skeletal structures of animals and his team is creating a digital reference manual which aims to become a comprehensive survey of all osteological elements of fauna in Western New York. Eric used the DAVID Structured Light 3D Scanner SLS-2 in order to capture highly accurate digital models. 

​The minimum scan size achieved by DAVID SLS-2 with the standard setting is 60mm, so in order for Eric to 3D scan the target object that was only 5mm diameter,  he had to appy modifications to the camera lens, the calibration panel, as well as the scanning process, all of which can be seen in the videos below.  You will see how DAVID 3D scanners can be adapted to go beyond its standard capability and this philosophy is continued onto the later SLS-3 model as well. 

 Key customization points for 3D scanning very small objects:

• Customizing camera to be able to focus on the small object
  • Computar 50mm Manual Iris Megapixel Lens, 2/3", f1.8 (extension tubes used to turn this into macro lens)
  • OEM EVA8X-CS Close Up Macro C-Mount 9.8 - 72.8 MM CCTV TV Zoom Lens
  • C mount 5mm extension tubes 
• ​Choosing the right calibration panel to fit the small object (included in the software under DAVID folder)
• Setting up proper scanning environment by minimizing light obstruction

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Eric customized the DAVID scanner by replacing the original camera lens with a lens that allow to focus on smaller objects. He also used DAVID’s calibration panels that comes with the software to print out his own panel to fit the very small object size.​
The scanning environment consisted entirely of black materials, such as a black desk, black backdrop, black equipment and nearly pitch black lighting. Additionally he used black clay to create a foundation on the turntable for the tooth to stand upon. The scanner picks up little detail from the black clay which minimizes the editing of the scanned images.

Other points to consider for enabling a successful 3D scan is the distance between camera and projector which is adjusted on red bar.

• Distance between camera and projector being too far - scanned image will become flat
• Distance between camera and projector being too close - software will have challenges in wrapping the images

Good starting point of distance between camera and projector Eric suggests is 118mm and with camera at 25 degree angle.
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Camera needs to be level with the calibration panel as well, which in normal scan is not the case as the camera is usually placed higher than the calibration panel.  Also calibration needs to be rotated to ensure the points are on the screen so it can be visible with the target.

Here is a 5 minute video of the set up.

Watch the 14 minute video below on the calibration, scanning, fusing, clean up steps to see how the final digital 3D scan file are created.

Another key aim of this survey is to create a digital catalog for students and inspire them to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). A significant part of this digital manual will be 3D scans of bones so students can view their shape and structure.  Science departments in school and scientific organizations are constantly seeking state of the art methods and technologies to engage and stimulate students in science and is great to hear the DAVID 3D scanner is making contributions!
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​Go to the store page to see all the amazing DAVID 3D scanner options available from Growshapes.

Thank you Eric for pushing the limits of what is possible with the amazing DAVID 3D scanner and sharing your experience with Growshapes!