Affordable 3D scanning

While the most entry-level 3D scanners used to cost at least several thousand dollars a few years back, it is now possible to buy a low-cost 3D scanner for under $1,000.

These affordable 3D scanning solutions often use the same operating principle as the latest iPhone face recognition systems or the now-retired Microsoft Kinect. Via structured light, low-cost 3D scanners and their software are able to generate 3D models of everyday objects, figurines, and more.

Affordable 3D scanners cannot match the accuracy of professional 3D scanners (≈ $2,500 and up) nor their speed and ease of use, but they can prove to be very cost-effective for simple use cases.