IT expert Philipp Biermann scans with SCENECT and he provides some tips and tricks for achieving the optimum scanning results. He describes possible fields of application and answers the most important questions about the hardware and software.

Editorial team: What do you like about scanning with SCENECT?
Philipp Biermann: I always wanted a 3D scanner, so this solution is a good alternative. Unlike similar products, FARO SCENECT is a professional piece of software based on the SCENE platform, which is used for the 3D laser scanners from FARO. For a minimal investment of less than € 200, SCENECT gives you access to the world of 3D scanners and 3D modelling – an interesting topic and quite a nice “toy”. When the consumer hardware becomes available, it will be possible, with the push of a button, to give grandma a replica of her granddaughter as a Christmas present, which has been produced with a 3D printer. Or then it will be possible to smarten up an online job application with 3D image of yourself, instead of simply attaching a passport photo. It can also be used as an interesting addition to your own Facebook profile.

Editorial team: What tips can you as an IT expert give about installing the software and about the hardware?
Philipp Biermann: The installation of the software is conveniently simple – Download, Install, finished. The necessary hardware drivers for Windows are also installed in the process. The software does however require the 64-bit version of Windows 7. No 32-bit version is available. So you should check in advance whether the systems requirements are met, before you buy the hardware. Windows 8 is not yet supported at the moment, but presumably that will not be a problem soon. To use the software for more than 30 days, you should register it straight away. That’s also free of charge.

Editorial team: Kinect or Xtion PRO LIVE, you have tested both motion sensors with SCENECT. Which is your favorite?
Philipp Biermann: Kinect and Xtion differ in only one respect: The Kinect hardware requires an external power supply, whereas the Xtion can be powered via the USB port. When used as a 3D scanner, this turned out to be a not insignificant factor: Small items can be easily recorded with a Kinect but when it comes to people the additional power supply for the Kinect can cause problems. To record an object or a room with Kinect or Xtion, you have to walk around the object with the sensor or move about the room. For that reason a 360-degree recording with the Kinect is quite difficult, if not entirely impossible – unless you have a very long power cable and the help of a second person. For the same reason outdoor recordings with a notebook are almost impossible with the Kinect. In my opinion the Xtion is definitely the better buy.

Editorial team: What do you particularly watch out for when scanning? Are there any tricks that you can use to achieve an especially good result?
Philipp Biermann: In order to achieve the optimum recording it is advisable to walk slowly and smoothly around the object to be scanned. A little practice is required for this. Moving objects cannot be recorded in this way, but a person sitting quietly is no problem for the motion sensor or the software. The scanning process takes about 5 minutes. The bigger the object to be scanned the better the result. A person or any bigger object is perfectly suitable. The important thing is to maintain a distance of approx. 60 cm between the object to be scanned and the sensor – any less than that and the sensor is “blind”.
One very useful advice is to attach the Xtion PRO LIVE with adhesive tape to the screen of a notebook, for example. Then you have optimum freedom of movement.