Scanning the bottom or back of an object is a common requirement in 3D scanning. This tutorial explains how to scan these areas in two different scenarios: Geometry/Texture Tracking Mode(Infrared Scanning) and Marker Tracking Mode (including Infrared Scanning and Blue Laser Scanning).
¶ 1. Geometry/Texture Tracking Mode
Recommended for:
Infrared scanning of objects with rich geometric or texture features. The object should also be of a manageable weight so that its position can be adjusted or flipped during scanning.
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Not recommended for:
- Objects with few geometric features or large, flat surfaces;
- Single-color objects without distinct textures;
- Regular or highly symmetrical objects, such as spheres and cylinders.
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Note: For flexible objects, objects with movable joints, or other objects that are prone to deformation, do not move or flip the object during scanning. If the object's position or shape changes, the data captured before and after flipping may not align accurately, which can result in tracking failure or misalignment.
¶ Steps
- Place the object with its front side facing up on and start scanning. After scanning the front, click "Pause"
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- Flip the object so that its bottom becomes visible. Reposition the scanner toward an area that has already been scanned, such as the side or edge of the object, and click "Resume" to resume the scan.
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- If the object cannot be placed upside down, you can scan it in three stages: front → left side → right side.
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- Wait for the software to resume tracking. Once the tracking is stable, slowly move the scanner toward the unscanned bottom area.
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When scanning 90° or other sharp corners, try scanning from different angles and directions to improve data capture success.
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- After scanning the bottom, click "Finish." Then proceed with fusion and meshing as usual.
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¶ 2. Marker Tracking Mode
(Infrared Scanning and Blue Laser Scanning)
In Marker Tracking Mode, whether the object can be flipped directly depends on where the markers are placed:
- ✅ Markers placed on the object surface: The object can be flipped directly.
- ❌ Markers placed on the surrounding environment (such as the table or turntable): The object should not be flipped during the same scan.
¶ Method 1: Markers Placed on the Object Surface
Recommended for:
Medium-sized objects with sufficient wall thickness. Markers can be attached to the sides of the object, and the object should be light enough to be easily repositioned and flipped.
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Randomly place markers on the front, back, and sides of the object. Make sure enough markers remain visible after flipping so that the scanner can continue tracking.
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Place the object with its front side facing up. Start scanning the front and part of the side surfaces. After scanning the front, click "Pause."
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- Use the Clipping Plane tool to remove unnecessary scan data.
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- Flip the object so that its bottom becomes visible.
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- First, aim the scanner at an area that has already been scanned, such as the side or edge of the object. The markers in this area help the software resume tracking. Click "Resume" and gradually move the scanner toward the bottom of the object.
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- After scanning the bottom, click "Finish". Then proceed with fusion and meshing as usual.
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If you have also placed markers on the surrounding environment, before flipping the object, you can first complete the current scan, use the editing tools to delete any markers that are not on the object, and then click "Continue" to continue scanning.
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¶ Method 2: Markers Placed on the Surrounding Environment
Recommended for:
Small or thin-walled objects, or objects whose surface texture needs to be preserved and therefore are not suitable for placing markers directly on the object.
- Randomly place markers around the object.
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- First scan:
Place the object with its front side facing up and complete the scan. After scanning, delete unnecessary point cloud data.
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- Second scan:
Flip the object so that the bottom becomes visible. Click "New" to start a second scan. After scanning, delete the unnecessary point cloud data in the same way.
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- In the project list on the left, hold down the Ctrl key and select the data from both scans. Click "Fusion" to perform batch point cloud fusion.
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- Click "Alignment" to enter the alignment interface. Select Manual Alignment or Auto Alignment according to your needs. In this example, Auto Alignment is used.
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- After alignment is complete, click "Meshing". Adjust the model smoothing settings as needed, then click "Apply" to generate the complete mesh model.
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If the object has enough space for markers and marker-based alignment is required, you can place at least 3 markers on the object. For more information, refer to the Scanning Techniques for Thin-Walled Parts tutorial.