When comparing Makerbot Digitizer vs Fuel3D SCANIFY, the Slant community recommends Fuel3D SCANIFY for most people. In the question“What are the best non-contact 3D scanners? ” Fuel3D SCANIFY is ranked 5th while Makerbot Digitizer is ranked 11th. The most important reason people chose Fuel3D SCANIFY is:
As a handheld 3D scanner, the 0.35mm scanning resolution gives out great results. It even beats more expensive scanners like the Artec Eva.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Convenient automated scanning process
Using the scanner’s automated turning table results in accurate 360-degree scans of the target object, which is quicker and more convenient than moving the object (or the scanner) to get all of its sides.
Pro Straightforward calibration process
Since the camera and the laser generators are in a fixed position, calibrating them is quite simple. This needs to be done periodically, in order to get optimal results. The scanner can calibrate itself, the user only has to follow some simple instructions (like placing the calibration tool on the device's turning table).
Pro Companion software is very user friendly
MakerWare for Digitizer, the companion software for this scanner, is quite intuitive to use. After placing the object in the scanner's turntable, you can simply open MakerWare and start scanning. When you have enough scans of the object, you can then fuse all of them into a 360 degree STL model.
Pro Great scanning resolution
As a handheld 3D scanner, the 0.35mm scanning resolution gives out great results. It even beats more expensive scanners like the Artec Eva.
Pro Scanning process is quick
It only takes a fraction of a second to capture a single scan. This is great for scanning in a dynamic environment. It also makes face scans hassle-free, since other SLS 3D scanners struggle to capture them, due to micro movements.
Cons
Con Can only scan small objects
This device can only scan objects that fit in the 20.3 cm cubic space "seen" by the scanner. There is no way to increase this size.
Con Has many poor user reviews
Almost half of the Amazon customer reviews gave this product a one star rating. Common complaints say the scanner underperforms compared to advertised specs, has issues with sharp edge scanning or just outright fails to work. Their technical support service has also been criticized heavily.
Con You need to be close to the target object
The recommended distance between the scanner and the object is between 0.35 and 0.45 m, which is quite limited and as the secondary effect of limiting the maximum object dimensions. Scans made outside the specified range yields unusable data.
Con The software is quite complicated to use
This scanner operates by combining stereoscopy (used to assess depth of an image) and photometry (used to measure brightness of light), which has the disadvantage of needing multiple scans of the same object to be arranged by the user. While not impossible to learn, you will need to take some time to read through technical documentation and watch the tutorial videos provided by Fuel3D.
Con You may end up having to pay for software
Even though there’s a free version of Fuel3D Studio, it’s very limited in features when compared to the Advanced version, which costs $190.00/month. For example, the free version only allows you to stitch up to six scans, while the Advanced version allows you to combine an unlimited amount of scans, resulting in higher resolutions and better overall scan quality.