3D Scanner?

[FalTorPan]

For a hobby project, I'd like to 3D scan several vintage 3-3/4" action figures -- figures like Kenner's Star Wars action figures of the '70s and '80s. I'd also like to scan them on the cheap.

The goal would be to scan the figures and modify their designs using 3D modeling software such as Blender.

Does anyone know of anyone who has access to a 3D scanner (laser or whatever) who might be willing to do this for relatively little cost?

At the moment I don't have the time or space to assemble a DIY scanner; otherwise I'd give it serious consideration.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Gepard]

I know a guy who has one. It's some sort of hand-held deal and I'm not sure he's renting out it's use, but I can ask if you like. He lives around Los Angeles; I assume you'd be okay with shipping them?

 

[B.J.]

Isn't there some software out there that can just use pretty much a webcam to generate a 3D model?

 

[JarodRussell]

Isn't there some software out there that can just use pretty much a webcam to generate a 3D model?

I've seen something about the XBox Kinect camera being able to do it.

 

[The Axeman]

There is software out there that will make a full 3D model with enough photos of an object, but it is still in the experimental stage I think. I used to get updates on their progress but its all gone quiet now.

 

[FalTorPan]

AutoCAD's cloud-based 123D Catch is designed to convert photographs into 3D models. I doubt this would have the precision that I'd like. Perhaps I'll give it a try. The downside is that our house will soon be listed for sale, and because of the possibility (however remote, given this market) of people touring the house on short notice, I can't set up any kind of shooting space and leave it up for any length of time.

Gep Malakai, I would be willing to ship out the figures. (I'm still in the process of acquiring them.) Thanks!

 

[Tom Hendricks]

AutoCAD's cloud-based 123D Catch is designed to convert photographs into 3D models. I doubt this would have the precision that I'd like. Perhaps I'll give it a try. The downside is that our house will soon be listed for sale, and because of the possibility (however remote, given this market) of people touring the house on short notice, I can't set up any kind of shooting space and leave it up for any length of time.

Gep Malakai, I would be willing to ship out the figures. (I'm still in the process of acquiring them.) Thanks!

Took us over a year to sell. Having the house ready to show all the time was tough but was worth it. Good luck selling! Is there a reason your selling now?

 

[FalTorPan]

^ Thanks for the well wishes. We want to relocate in order to reduce the commute time to my new job -- currently about 70-75 minutes one-way. I hope our house will sell quickly, but in this real estate market... I don't expect it to sell quickly.

 

[Gepard]

Gep Malakai, I would be willing to ship out the figures. (I'm still in the process of acquiring them.) Thanks!

Check your PMs.

 

[FalTorPan]

Just did. Thanks!

(I don't log in here nearly as often as I used to.)

 

[Sumghai]

Hook yourself up with a high-res webcam, a line* laser and a free legit copy of the DAVID 3D scanner software.

*i.e. one that projects a line instead of a single point

 

[Ryan8bit]

Isn't there some software out there that can just use pretty much a webcam to generate a 3D model?

I've seen something about the XBox Kinect camera being able to do it.

The Kinect only handles things of a certain size. Action figures are far too small to pick up any detail from the IR lights and would just come in looking like a blob. It was built for things of a larger size, like the human body (which it still doesn't pick up great details on).

123D catch has similar issues with smaller objects since it doesn't handle depth of field very well, and it's difficult to photograph smaller objects without it. Most of the detail then comes in the texturing rather than the shape.

The best bet really is some laser scanning hardware, even though those are really slow and the meshes built are awful. Plus, it's expensive.

 

[publiusr]

This might help...

Make 2D into 3D?
http://programming.itags.org/matlab/10142/?title=matlabconversion+of+2d+image+into+3d+image
Slit scan objects cheaply
http://makeprojects.com/Project/Flatten-3D-objects-using-Slit-Scan-photography/761/1
http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=155626&page=2
http://arxiv.org/abs/1204.1415 Super-camera
http://programming.itags.org/matlab/10142/?title=matlabconversion+of+2d+image+into+3d+image

Artificial retina
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120814213326.htm
Femto-photo http://up-ship.com/blog/?p=16121

Square holes http://up-ship.com/blog/?p=13732

 

[FalTorPan]

Thanks for the additional advice, links, etc. I'm still considering options.