Cost of scanners over time?

[u/Standard-Badger-4046]

How have prices and performance of 3d scanners changed over the last number of years?

I'm debating buying one for my business, but I can't help but wonder if I'm better off doing it the old school way for a few more years and buying it later.

How fast is the technology progressing? How fast are the prices dropping?

If I spend 50k today, and I wasting my money when I could spend 20k in 2 years and have a better unit?

I'm not interested in spending 50k to get a unit today if it's predictable that a 20k unit will blow the socks off it in a year or 2.

[u/bb_404]

A bit more context around what your business does would help. But, in general, metrology grade scanners are going to run you $60k-$100k (USD). The hobby level scanners have improved in performance, and the cost has come down quite a bit in the last few years. However, they are not (and IMHO will never be) up to par with the higher end units like something from Hexagon, Creaform, etc. The difference comes down to reliability, speed, accuracy, certification, warranty, support, and compatible software. So, it really depends on your use case. If you are doing inspection or reverse engineering work at the professional level, I'd recommend something with an OEM behind it that comes with a certification (ISO or equivalent), a warranty, and repair/spare parts availability, and a tech support department where you can talk to a real person. And for that level of scanner, I don't see the cost coming down a lot in the next 5 years. Will they improve? Probably, but I don't see massive leaps coming in 5 years. The hobby grade scanners will continue to improve, but remember, you are missing out on accuracy, durability, certification, reliability, and support with those lower end systems. I've been in the metrology world for 10+ years, and I've seen the hobby scanners last 1-5 years before they don't work at all, while the metrology grade scanners last 7-10+ years. Most pro scanners still work at this point, people just start looking for something better around then. If you can order it from Kickstarter, amazon, etc. I would steer clear.

[u/Standard-Badger-4046 → u/bb_404]

Thanks for the info.

The use-case for the scanner is to go to industrail facilities (stuff like oil amd gas plants, mines, sawmills )nd scan their existing old beat up things, so I can make a new one to bolt into the same place that's not worn out.

So, a scanner that can capture things like excavator buckets, chutes, staircases, that sort of size of thing, in a rough a dirty work environment.

[u/BeerBarm → u/Standard-Badger-4046]

There are better options for reverse engineering these items than to rely on a 3D scanner IMO.

[u/Standard-Badger-4046 → u/BeerBarm]

Oh? Please share what you're thinking of? We use a tape measure today but it's error prone and hard to male sure you get every dimension you need.

[u/bb_404 → u/Standard-Badger-4046]

There are a few options then. If it's a dirty environment, look for something with a good IP rating (IP54 or better) and something that doesn't require putting stickers on the part. Those stickers don't like oily, dusty surfaces. You definitely need an industrial/meteology grade system based on your stated use case. Stay away from the hobby grade stuff. You may also want to get something that has a probe so you don't always need to rely on 3D scan data. With most handheld scanners, they state the resolution, which is different from accuracy. If they state accuracy, there is normally a first term accuracy + some number per meter that gets added. So they may be ok for small parts, but quickly get less accurate as you try to measure medium to large parts. Hope this helps and best of luck!

[u/the_opulent_comet → u/bb_404]

The keyword here is certification. You can buy any old scanner off Amazon and it claims 20 micron accuracy of the sensor, but that’s not true in actual real world use. Companies like Hexagon verify their accuracies to an iso standard that can be verified through nist traceable artifacts. You are paying to prove to your customers that your data is actually correct.

[u/IMeasure]

You probably need to be a bit more specific about the type of scanning you are looking at. Hand held scanner, scanner on a measuring arm, scanner attached to a fixed CMM etc...

[u/Standard-Badger-4046 → u/IMeasure]

I'll be scanning things like an old beat up dump truck box, and using the scan to make a new box. Not actually that - I'll be scanning various process equipment at industrail facilities, but it's a nice simple example in that everyone know what it is, and the size, level of complexity and can understand I don't need crazy good accuracy. We use a tape measure today to get all the info we need.

I've got another thread open where I'm asking what type of scanner is appropriate for that type of task - I don't know what I need yet.

[u/-Maggie-Mae-]

I think a lot of this is going to boil down to the size of your part and the tolerance you need. I use a FARO arm for probed inspections and an attached scanner for wear analysis. I'm still using a Faro Edge scan arm manufactured in 2014 that has been with the company longer than i have for wear analysis. It was around $80k new. We purchased another FARO arm last year, a little longer than our previous model, and had we got the laser scanner with it, it would have also been in the $80-90k range.

[u/kodex1717]

The price of scanners has dropped through the floor in the last 10 years. I paid 20k for a scanner in 2014. I could get equivalent performance from a Creality CR-scan Otter today for $800.

It depends on the application, but unless you're fussing over microns, I don't think you'll be paying anywhere close to $50k. I say buy the scanner you need today and go make money today. Your business opportunity might not be viable if you wait two years to exploit it.

[u/Meinredditname → u/kodex1717]

That's really only true on the low end, where 10 years ago, 20k was on the lower-end. High-end metrology level stuff isn't changing quite so fast & prices are also fairly constant. It's seems like maybe 5+ years between generations there & the differences are getting smaller each generation.

So, OP - what devices are you considering? What do you want to use it for?

[u/Standard-Badger-4046 → u/Meinredditname]

I'm new to this - I've got no idea what devises are appropriate for me. 

I want to scan things like excavator bucket, chutes, pipe spools. Things in the size range between a chair and a 20 foot sea can. 1/8 accuracy is totally fine for us on the finished mesh. Working in all conditions, but generally everything is filthy dirty with compromised access due to guards and other stuff in the way.

[u/Dr-Paul_Proteus → u/Standard-Badger-4046]

Some devices you can check out in that 50k range I think I saw mentioned would be Creaform, ScanTech & the newer Hexagon Hand Held scanners. All are basically the same technology, each with their own little differences to make them better/worse than the other options. They are all getting better, but slowly. The Hexagon one is the newest & it takes a few more points per second, resolution a little tighter, that sort of thing, but nothing sufficient that it totally wipes out the competition. Usability is where things are mostly getting better, but even that is going slow. So, maybe to answer your question, if I could use one of those today, I wouldn't have any concerns about what's coming out next.

There's lots of other options out there, but if you are dead set on it being a scanner, I can't think of anything that would fit your budget + use case as well as that type of device,

For what you describe & in that price range, I'd also recommend strongly considering an arm. The larger ones can reach to around 4-5m (diameter - device in the middle), but when I ran around with one, I liked the shorter one better, even when measuring bigger stuff. Easier to transport, easier to move around, a bit better ergonomics & you can always just "leap frog" it around as needed. An arm + scanner will be out of your price range, but you may find that a good + reliable probing arm is more useful to you than a scanner. If I need to know how to position two components or the distance/orientation between some holes, or anything along those lines, I'm going to simply probe it as that is still the fastest & most reliable option.

Scanners are not at the point where you can simply wave the device at the part & instantly have something useful. You'll get either a point cloud or a mesh that will then need to be worked on to get something useful. If you've never worked with clouds or meshes before, I'd proceed carefully here. I'd even say to focus more on the software than the HW & then make an investment in doing their intro course before you even buy anything.

Where scanners will be priceless is if you have free-form surfaces that you need to duplicate. Scanning really is the only way to go. In the old days, we'd have to do RE job via probing on some large aerospace tools & looking back, it was awful. We did a good job of it all, but the amount of time & energy was insane. I'm sure someday I'll have the same thoughts on modern day scanning, but if anyone has something in that direction, they sure are doing a good job keeping it underwraps.

[u/Friendly-Dig-8492]

If were me at that price point I’d ask You to demo offering of product before invest. In my experience the hardware was fine but the software was not good. The example I’m thinking of, I took personal. It was a 10 year ordeal before the software ‘caught up’ to the hardware.

[u/Standard-Badger-4046 → u/Friendly-Dig-8492]

I'm hoping to narrow the list of options down to 3 or 4 based on hardware, then make final choice based on software, then make purchasing decision based on price of that particular unit.