EinScan HX (handheld object scanning)

Basic page fields
image
EinScan HX scanning
h3 subheading

What is the EinScan HX?

Paragraph

The EinScan HX is a hybrid blue laser and LED light source handheld scanner. 

The hybrid laser and LED light sources make the EinScan HX compatible with a wide range of object sizes. Laser scanning, is less sensitive to ambient light and gives better performance to reflective and dark coloured surface. At uCreate, the EinScan HX is mainly used in blue laser mode.

This scanner does not support coloured (textured) scans.

image
EinScan HX scanning a car door
h3 subheading

What could I use the EinScan HX for?

Paragraph

The EinScan HX is best for scanning larger objects with complex geometry. Any objects above 10cm^3 can be captured using the EinScan HX. Try using the EinScan-SP for smaller objects. 

As it has a blue laser mode, it is able to scan reflective or dark objects. 

It cannot scan transparent objects. Try adding chalk powder or painting the surface of the object. It is difficult to scan objects with a hollow pattern, like a tube.  

Object must be stable when scanning, secure with blue tac if needed.

h3 subheading

Where can I access the EinScan HX?

Paragraph

The EinScan HX is available in our Digital Transformation Suite (uCreate Main Library, First floor, room 1.15) only. It is not available on our loans service to take outside of the makerspace. 

image
SISO
image
Digital Transformation Suite
h3 subheading

Top Tips for scanning with the EinScan HX.

Process steps
Process step description

The EinScan HX (in blue laser mode) uses targets to track your object for scanning. 

The scanner must be able to see multiple targets at a time for successful tracking.

Use our targets set-up. 

Process step description

The EinScan HX has an optimum scanning distance. 

Use the light to stay in the green. 

h2 subheading

How to use the EinScan HX.

Paragraph

The software for the EinScan HX is very user friendly as walks you through the process of calibration and scanning.

For a written step-by-step of how to scan, see below. 

h3 subheading

Setting up for your scan and Calibration.

Process steps
Icon
EXScan HX software
Process step description

1. Start EXScan HX Application, with the scanner plugged in and turned on.

Process step description

2. Create project with the date in the folder ‘Training’ on the user desktop.  Users to save data in the folder ‘User Scans’, with their name and student number. Select texture. Texture is colour data. 

Icon
Quick calibration
Process step description

3. Click on calibration at top of screen.  Remove calibration board from velvet case. Place board on stand and place on turntable.  

Icon
Laser calibration
Process step description

4. Follow onscreen instructions for calibration. Ensure orientation of board matches graphic. Calibrate white balance, using opposite side of board.  

h3 subheading

Setting up and taking a first scan.

Process steps
Icon
Laser scan mode.
Process step description

5. When using the EinScan HX, you will most likely be using laser scan mode. Select laser scan mode. 

Icon
Resolution
Process step description

6. Select the resolution. 

Icon
Scan settings
Process step description

7. Set the object type and select auto exposure.

Icon
Auto exposure
Process step description

8. Click start scan. Point the scanner at the object and hold it still, which it does the auto exposure. Slowly move over the object to scan and use the coloured light to maintain the correct distance. 

h3 subheading

Cleaning up, taking multiple scans and aligning.

Paragraph

When using the EinScan HX, the scanner will capture both the object and space around it (for example the table the object is placed on), you will want to clean up this data before continuing. 

It is likely you will need to take multiple scans in order to get a successful final model. 

Process steps
Icon
Cutting plane
Process step description

9. To delete points, select 'cutting plane', 'creating straight line'  and click the left mouse button by holding shift, and draw a straight line. Create plane, position and click apply. 

Icon
New project
Process step description

10. Rotate the physical object ready to scan again. Before starting another scan, go to the 'project group' tab and start a new project. Take your new scan within this project. There is no limit to the number of scans you can do, if your point cloud has gaps, take another scan. 

Icon
Scanning
Process step description

11. Take your second scan. Then click the puzzle piece to align your scans together.

Icon
Aligning scans
Process step description

12. Drag 2 scans into the 2 windows and with both scans orientated the same way, hold shift, click the same 3 spots in both scans. Spread out over the whole scan. You will see the alignment results in the bottom window. Click next and then complete to save the alignment.

h3 subheading

Meshing your model.

Process steps
Icon
Generate point clouds
Process step description

13. Click generate point clouds. 

Icon
Mesh model
Process step description

14. Click mesh model. 

Icon
Meshing
Process step description

15. Select watertight or unwatertight (watertight for 3D printing), your quality level and set the maximum number of triangles to 300,000. 

Icon
Final mesh
Process step description

16. Click apply to preview the result. The software will now generate your model, this may take a few minutes. If you are not happy with the result, you can go backwards and adjust your parameters. Click confirm when you are happy with your mesh. 

h3 subheading

Post-processing of your mesh and saving your scans.

Process steps
Process step description

17. Simplification – show the difference in quality when simplifying. Maximum size to import to TinkerCAD is 25MB (roughly 300,000 triangles). Explain what TinkerCAD is. After simplification, do texture remapping.  

Process step description

18. Hole filling – will be greyed out but can be used to fill holes in unwatertight mesh. 

Icon
Scale
Process step description

19. Click the save icon and scale your scan. 

Icon
Save your scan
Process step description

20. Click save and the file format stl.