3Dnatives Lab: 3D Sense by 3D Systems Test

Although 3D scanners are somewhat less popular than their 3D printer counterparts, 3D scanners have begun to evolve at their own pace and are enabling even more innovative products and ways that we can incorporate their use into our work, such as seen in the film Ghost in the Shell. While there is much innovation occurring, there are still some questions in regard to buying 3D scanners today. These questions include the current scanners being sold, the quality you can expect, the precision of the scan, the scanners scope, and how easy it is to use. To remedy this, 3Dnatives has begun its tests on 3D scanners, starting with the Sense 3D scanner from 3D Systems, one of the most affordable models on the market.

The Sense 3D scanner

Unpacking and Getting Started

One of the advantages of the Sense scanner is its small size, which makes it easy to hold (thanks to its integrated handle). Once you have it out of its packaging, you simply plug it into your computer (via the supplied USB cable) and download the software from the 3D Systems website. The software is currently compatible with 64 bit Windows 8 or later. Installation overall is a breeze and it takes no more than a few minutes.

We should note that when launching the software, you will have to encode a personal key in order to active it. Otherwise, you won’t be able to scan. It’s important also to keep this personal key in case you have to reinstall the program on your computer or if you want to lend it to someone to use.