The OPTA 3D Body Scanner from botspot

By on March 17th, 2017 in Hardware

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 Inside the botspot OPTA 3D body scanner
Inside the botspot OPTA 3D body scanner

Need to 3D scan an uncooperative subject? hotspot’s OPTA 3D scanner might do the job for you. 

The Berlin-based company produces a series of professional 3D scanners that are powered by the photogrammatic technique. In this process a series of images taken from 360 degrees are digitally interpolated into an accurate 3D model. 

This is quite different from other approaches that might involve lasers, or visible structured light patterns that can be disconcerting to those folks being 3D scanned. 

The OPTA scanner includes a 60-70 (depending on the model) high resolution imagers positioned from head to toe in a booth-like structure. When a scan is to take place, all imagers fire simultaneously to capture the body shape within 0.01 seconds. 

This is the important part: it means that even someone who is moving can be captured. In most other 3D scanning systems there is a relatively lengthy period during which the subject must remain motionless, else the 3D scan will be disturbed, and you’ll end up with a “transporter accident” instead of a fine 3D scan. 

 Detail of one of the many imagers on the botspot OPTA 3D body scanner
Detail of one of the many imagers on the botspot OPTA 3D body scanner

This quick capture means you can successfully capture uncooperative subjects, like children or even pets. Theoretically you could also capture moving objects like, for example, a flying flag. It’s also possible to take multiple captures and subsequently choose the best one of the bunch. That’s harder to do with most other 3D body scanning systems. 

The imaging system is also able to capture full color textures, extracted from the images. These are again integrated into a single texture that is applied to the finished 3D shape.   

botspot includes all required hardware and software to operate the systems, including computers. It is said to be “ready for use” once installed. 

There’s one catch, I should point out. The price of this 3D scanner is pretty high at €150K (USD$160K). However, depending on your use of the machine it could be a valuable purchase. It all depends on how much business you can push through the machine, like any other capital expenditure. 

Via botspot

By Kerry Stevenson

Kerry Stevenson, aka "General Fabb" has written over 8,000 stories on 3D printing at Fabbaloo since he launched the venture in 2007, with an intention to promote and grow the incredible technology of 3D printing across the world. So far, it seems to be working!