Also 90-95% of print failures are due to a bad first layer (citation needed).

your reference. Solidworks does have a point cloud tool but no idea how good it is. Working with surfaces in Solidworks usually is not hugely fun.

All I really need is to get the surface data into something other than a “mesh” format. My actual job is working with Catia V5, but my work does not have any of the applicable Catia licenses to directly work with mesh files (such as STLs). If I can get to that point I’m golden. I have plenty of experience working with and creating surfaces.

FreeCad can apparently make a step file from meshes with a few steps, but when I did that with a simple 1 2 3 block scan, the result was about 2.5GB’s, and tends to lock up anything that tries to open it. I may look into an open source program to create usable surfaces from point clouds instead of trying to use meshes.

Well, this is with a RevoPoint Pop2. This is 2 or 3 scans merged into 1, no editing outside of the scanning software. I’ve been extremely impressed at how well this can scan and produce a 3D printable STL. The only thing I haven’t figured out is how to get a file with the surfaces usable in CAD software. I can pull the STL in and see it, but not constrain it or create intersections with it.

For scanning, Epic Games has a phone app that I’ve seen seriously impressive results from just photogrammetry. I did not have very good luck with it, but it is definitely capable of great results. If you have a newer iphone, some of them have a depth sensor and apps available that can 3D scan.

If you want to scan primarily 3-8" objects the Pop2 is great. It’s even at what are probably clearance prices at Amazon right now ($400-450 USD). I bought mine used/open box directly from Revopoint via ebay for $400. Definitely get the turntable. It is definitely worth the extra $50.

Yes lol. Souvenir from the dinosaur casting museum in Tucumcari, NM.

The top fin kept the details, and you can tell there were scales, but all the fine lines are basically gone.

Two more pictures of the original and copy(s).

Ironically my favorite creamer is Irish, although not meant for everyday use.

St. Brendan’s Irish Cream (liquor)

Achievement unlocked! Downvote the tyrant!