Shining 3D EINSCAN-SP 3D scanner

After installing Solid Edge and creating an account with Siemens, I found that there was no way I could activate or licence it. I contacted Einscan who didn’t seem to know what the situation was, they described the dongle which sounded very much like the supplied memory stick, so we exchanged a few images. Eventually someone at Einscan suggested that the SP version does not normally include Solid Edge. Looking at the advert on the Amazon page, and the Q&A, and even some of the comments that was not at all clear.The Quick Start Guide includes a packing list. This makes no mention of either a dongle or a memory stick, yet there was a memory stick in the packaging with the various applications ready for install.There’s just one brief mention of Solid Edge in the manual which only relates to the integrated connection from the scanner software to Solid Edge, of course without a licenced version of SE this fails.Einscan were still checking if Solid Edge should be included or not, and I had asked what the cost would be to ‘upgrade’ to that bundle, but no reply for over a week now. I’m not at all impressed with Einscan support.UPDATE - Issues with support all sorted now, and since the scanner is truely excellent, I've upped the rating to 5 stars.

Good choice!

I was somewhat apprehensive at making such an expensive purchase. The Shining 3D EINSCAN-SP 3D Scanner at over £1700 is actually on the cheaper end of 3D scanning technology. 3D scanners can cost upwards of £6,000. I was worried this lower cost scanner would not produce the results I am looking for.I have been pleasantly surprised at the quality of scans I am getting.Unlike many of the higher end 3D scanners, which are mainly hand held, this scanner is fixed - either on it's own stand or a tripod (supplied with the SP model). Whereas the hand held scanners require the user to move around a static object, with the Shining 3D EINSCAN-SP 3D Scanner the object to be scanned rotates on a turn table. For larger objects, it is possible to set aside the turn table and manually move the object to be scanned to ensure the whole surface is covered. The SP model even includes some 'dots' to place around an object as fixed points for the software.Setting up this scanner is very easy. The kit comes with a mount for the scan head at one end, and a mount for the turntable at the other. For larger objects (in excess of 200x200x200) the supplied tripod can be used instead of the fixed mount. Once assembled and all wires are plugged in, bespoke software can be downloaded from the Einscan website (you will need to take a note of the serial number).After installing the software and connecting it to the scanner, the next step is to calibrate the scanner. This is achieved using the supplied calibration card. In some reviews, the card is mounted on an aluminium sheet (for the SP model, the SE version is just card). I was pleasantly surprised to find, in my case, the calibration card is mounted on a thick piece of glass. Calibration is mainly done by the proprietary software - all the user needs to do is rotate the calibration board twice. If you intend to scan texture and colours, there is a further calibration step that uses a piece of white paper.Once the scanner is calibrated, you can start your scanning. I decided to use an object that would fit the 200x200x200 limit of scanning with the scan head attached to the turntable mount. The scanner works by shining a light and strips of light onto the object being scanned and taking two simultaneous photographs in steps. The minimum number of steps is eight, the maximum in in excess of 100. Once you start the process, you just leave the scanner to do its job. Textured scans, where colour is also captured will take longer than non-textured scans. I personally prefer the textured scan, even though it captures data that will not be relevant if 3d scans are used for 3d printing. Once the scan job is finished, the software will produce a rough mesh of the object being scanned. It is possible to then re-position the object being scanned to capture parts that were missed on the first scan. This can be done multiple times. Each you do this, the software will generate a scan group. This is important when finalising your scan.After the second scan, the software will once again produce a rough mesh. Sometimes the result may look like the outcome of a transporter error on Star Trek, with the scanned object having misaligned parts poking out all over the place. It is possible to fix this by using the manual alignment function which allows the user to load two scan groups side by side, and, picking three similar points on each scan to assist the software align an object. This can also be done with multiple scan groups until a satisfactory result is achieved. If manual alignment does not work, it is possible to delete a group and rescan.My first few scans were pretty disappointing and looked like the above mentioned result of a transporter malfunction. I fixed this issue by editing each scan before initiating the next scan. I found it is important to remove (using shift and left mouse button) data that I did not want in the final scan. This could be blu tac I used to stabilise the object being scanned or artefacts the scanner picked up near to the object being scanned. If necessary, I also manually align scans after each scan group is generated. Initially, I was trying to fix multiple scan groups at the end of a scan job.Once satisfied with a scan job, the software will mesh the object. There are varying quality levels to choose from ranging from a basic mesh where holes are not filled to 'water tight' where holes are filled - this latter also has three quality levels. Meshing does take some time - especially if you choose the highest quality. I usually close any running programmes to maximise the RAM available to the Einscan software.I was really pleased at the final result - the scanner captures an incredible amount of detail. I did place some of the dots onto one scan, and, even though they are paper thin, the scanner picked them up. This is okay on flat areas as they can be removed with Solid Edge or another 3D modelling software, however I made the mistake of putting some on uneven areas where they spoiled the line of the object.Once a scan is complete, it can be exported as a STL or OBJ file, and subsequently imported into 3d modelling software or 3d slicing software. The file size is quite large, so if you are going to use an online package like Tinkercad, you may find it exceeds the 25MB limit. Fortunately, the Einscan software has a simplify tool which greatly reduces the size of a file. At first it does appear that data has been lost, however, you can remap the texture to ensure details are retained.There is an added bonus to this purchase - Einscan give a free copy of Solid Edge - a powerful 3D CAD package if you purchase this scanner. The software does not come on the supplied memory stick - you need to contact Einscan directly, with the serial number of your scanner.