Overview
Revopoint’s MetroX scanner represents a shift within the firm’s portfolio into the realm {of professional}, metrology-capable 3D scanning.
In contrast to earlier scanners within the POP sequence, MetroX makes use of a number of blue laser traces to seize high-fidelity level cloud information, even on problematic surfaces like shiny black plastic or uncoated metallic (though some spray is likely to be wanted sometimes).
The addition of full-field scanning mode additionally brings a stage of flexibility sometimes seen in dearer methods, letting customers seize geometry throughout bigger objects in a single go.
The scanner boasts a single-frame accuracy of 0.03 mm, and a volumetric accuracy of 0.03 mm + 0.1 mm × L (m), placing it within the ballpark of what’s thought of metrology-grade by many industrial customers. It does this at a fraction of the worth sometimes related to high-accuracy scanning methods.
It’s powered completely by way of USB (no battery), and whereas that makes it much less versatile in area use in comparison with the POP 3 Plus, the tradeoff is a way more secure energy and information hyperlink. These are important for capturing correct and repeatable scan information.
The desk under reveals which modes are finest fitted to scanning several types of surfaces. We examined all of them, with various levels of success.
MetroX Choices
The MetroX is obtainable in two kits, the primary being the “Customary Version” containing the scanner, tripod, dual-axis turntable, energy provide, and all of the cables, all inside a candy aluminium case.
The second choice (which we reviewed) is the “Superior Version” which is principally every little thing within the Customary Version, plus a Marker Block equipment. The Marker Block equipment comprises a wide range of plastic shapes with markers on and magnets on the base. As well as it comprises for threaded pillars (known as “bar markers”, which could be screwed into the turntable prime to offer some fixing factors for the blocks (or extra stickers) within the z-axis.
You’ll be able to see these pillars fastened to the turntable within the picture under.
Revopoint Software program
When you’ve got any of the opposite Revopoint scanners, you’ll probably have a replica of their scanning software program (RevoScan) put in in your laptop.
To make use of the MetroX, you will have to obtain the particular model which was developed for the MetroX. It’s known as RevoScan MetroX, it’s free, and you will discover it on the Revopoint software program web page.
Functionally, it’s virtually equivalent to the unique RevoScan software program, solely the MetroX model permits the completely different scanning modes within the new scanner. So when you’ve got gotten used to the pointcloud technology, mesh creation and enhancing within the earlier software program, then you definately received’t have any issues switching to this new model.
One minor gripe that I do have concerning the new model, is that it doesn’t have any options for taking measurements from the purpose cloud information. Provided that this new scanner is touted as “metrology-grade”, you’d assume that “measuring stuff” could be an necessary characteristic to incorporate. However nope. It ain’t there. If you wish to measure something out of your level cloud or mesh, you’ll have to export it into one thing else.
One other piece of software program of curiosity is the Revo Assistant. Revo Assistant is a smartphone app for IOS and Android, that allows management of the automated turntable. That is fairly helpful to have, as a result of relying on how your turntable is positioned, it may very well be slightly tough to entry the bodily buttons to tilt or change path of the turntable.
Now, with the app put in, it makes life slightly simpler, offering you don’t thoughts having to disconnect the turntable out of your laptop’s BluTooth each time you need to use it.
Anyhoo, with all of the software program put in and the scanner setup, on with the testing!
Now we have divided the testing opinions into two predominant sections, one for structured mild modes, and one for laser line scanning.
Structured Gentle Scanning Modes
Each Full Subject and Auto Turntable scanning modes within the Revopoint MetroX make the most of blue structured mild projection know-how. Structured mild must be your mode of selection with the MetroX, when pace and texture matter greater than hardcore accuracy on troublesome surfaces.
Colour scanning can be achieved due to the devoted RGB digital camera, though this could solely be utilized in auto turntable mode. It must be famous that the characteristic scan mode can also be solely accessible in auto turntable and full area modes solely. Marker mode can be used with these modes.
Marker Scan (Auto Turntable mode – colour)
The primary take a look at we did was on a drone propeller. It has some good curved geometry and a few sharp options on the main and trailing edge, so what higher method to begin testing a metrology-grade scanner?
Not eager to cowl the propeller in markers, we opted for marker scan (in colour) utilizing the present markers on the turntable. It scanned advantageous, though merging the 2 sides collectively was tough, because the merging characteristic requires 30% overlap between scans to work – and provided that the propeller is so skinny, it was not best. However this isn’t the fault of the scanner or software program, merely of the geometry.
As we’ll see later, the merging characteristic works advantageous, so long as you may have a scanning merchandise that isn’t so skinny it may’t stand on its sides.
Marker Scan (Auto Turntable mode – colour) Bearing Housing
For the following scanning take a look at, we wished to strive one thing metallic, so opted for a bearing housing that I’m utilizing to make a treadmill for my cat.
I’ve been ready for this half to reach for some time, therefore why our evaluate was slightly delayed. I really needed to scan it for correct engineering causes, so I figured I’d kill two birds with one stone, and scan it for the evaluate so I may use the scan information in my CAD work later.
The floor end is matte aluminium, so didn’t require use of a twig.
Marker Scan (Auto Turntable mode – colour) – A Dried Fig
Subsequent for the colour scans, I scanned a dried fig. It’s not a really technical topic, however I had a field of figs mendacity round and I used to be curious what it will seem like. Once more, I used the markers on the turntable, and the piece of dried fruit scanned advantageous.
Marker Scan (Auto Turntable mode – colour) – Plane Mannequin
For the ultimate colour mode take a look at, I scanned a mannequin of an plane. This was an fascinating mannequin to scan and I discovered a number of methods from the method which may not be obvious from merely studying the guide. This required a number of scans from completely different heights earlier than merging the scans within the software program. As you’ll be able to see within the picture under, the merging course of consisted of 6 completely different scans, and it turned out advantageous. Bear in mind, you want a 30% overlap for merging to work.
The picture under reveals the merged, meshed and textured closing end result. There may be some variation in colour and shading of the varied scans, largely as a consequence of me altering peak between scans, affecting the shadows on the mannequin. For a extremely good colour scan, it’s more practical to seize the article in a single scan from the turntable (with out shifting the scanner). Having constant lighting is vital right here.
Characteristic Scan (Auto Turntable mode – colour) – Battery Charger
For the following take a look at, I wished to strive the Characteristic Scan mode, which permits scanning of feature-rich topics with out the usage of markers. For this, I used a drone battery charger. The charger had a wide range of metallic, plastic and glass surfaces, in addition to a spread of darkish/mild colours and different options.
Characteristic Scan (auto turntable mode – colour) – 3D Printed “Ea-Nasir” Statue
For my closing characteristic scan take a look at, I used my 3D printed statue of infamous Sumnerian copper service provider “Ea-Nasir”. The scanning of this determine was so much simpler than the battery charger, because it has a whole lot of distinct, not planar, non-repetitive geometry.
Laser Line Scanning Modes
With the 2 laser scanning modes, blue lasers emit extremely centered beams with minimal dispersion, permitting for extra correct floor profiling on sharp edges, advantageous options, and small components. In contrast to structured mild, which initiatives a whole sample without delay, laser scanning captures a number of traces, making it much less delicate to ambient lighting and higher fitted to use on darkish, shiny, or extremely textured surfaces.
It additionally tends to penetrate deeper into floor recesses and sophisticated geometries. Whereas blue structured mild scanning is quicker for full-field seize and extra compact in {hardware} design, blue laser methods sometimes ship superior decision, decrease noise, and better repeatability, making them the popular selection for industrial inspection and metrology-grade purposes.
So with the structured mild modes properly and actually put by means of their paces, it was time to check the laser line scanning modes (parallel traces and cross traces).
Marker Scan (laser traces) – Air Duct
The primary merchandise to scan with the laser modes was slightly bit bizarre, as it’s a automobile consumption duct with two floor finishes. It’s designed to resemble carbon fiber, but it surely’s really molded that approach, with alternating shiny and matte black parts zig-zagging alongside one another.
First I attempted the auto-turntable mode for a colour scan, and as predicted, solely the matte zig zags have been captured within the scan. Non-color full area scanning yielded the identical outcomes.
So I arrange a cross line laser scan, utilizing the turntable, and the outcomes have been significantly better. The cross traces had some problem reaching contained in the duct, so I paused the scan, and switched to a parallel line laser scan. I unpaused the scan and resumed, and the parallel traces reached a number of of the areas that might not be reached earlier than.
Whereas I used to be not in a position to seize your entire internal surfaces of the duct (as a result of geometry of it), I do just like the characteristic of pausing, and switching scan sorts mid-scan. This does (in some instances) enable for reaching troublesome to scan components.
After I took a number of scans, I merged them right into a single level cloud, as you’ll be able to see under.
Marker Scan- Hand Scan (laser traces) – Fireplace Extinguisher
Every part usually works OK when utilizing the turntable (when you get used to it), so for our closing take a look at, we wished to see how the MetroX carried out on a bigger object, specifically a fireplace extinguisher.
I dutifully lined the fireplace extinguisher with sticky markers, and some of the 3D plastic marker blocks, and began a cross line scan.
It labored advantageous for essentially the most half, and was in a position to seize the entire number of surfaces and supplies, starting from the pink paint to the black plastic mesh on the nozzle.
The software program demanded that I wanted “extra markers” rather a lot, which was a bit annoying, as a result of as you’ll be able to see within the picture above, there have been numerous markers on it already. To be truthful, the fireplace extinguisher has a curved floor, and the sticky markers work higher on flatter surfaces. So even supposing it was lined in markers, the scanner had some points with detecting the sticky markers from extra shallow angles because the floor curved round.
The ball-shaped stable markers are higher for this kind of software, nevertheless, there are solely 10 of the ball-shaped magnetic markers in our equipment, so this is able to not be sufficient to scan the extinguisher with out getting the “extra markers” error often. So I distributed a number of of the opposite stable markers on the ground across the hearth extinguisher as properly.
In case you’re going to be scanning one thing massive and curved, you’re going to wish extra magnetic markers and doubtless a whole lot of sticky markers too. However general, as quickly because the “extra markers” error had vanished, the scan was fairly easy for this topic.
Within the software program, the graphical illustration of the article turns inexperienced in areas the place the scan has been profitable, and orange the place it wants extra scanning, as you’ll be able to see within the picture under.
General, the laser scanning modes work fairly properly, though an extended USB cable would make life slightly simpler for hand-scanning, particularly in the event you’re tethered to a desktop PC and never a laptop computer.
Abstract
As now we have seen within the take a look at sections, the Revopoint MetroX provides two core scanning applied sciences: blue structured mild and blue laser line scanning, every with its personal strengths.
Structured mild is utilized in Full Subject and Auto Turntable modes, and when paired with the built-in RGB digital camera, permits correct colour scans (although solely in Auto Turntable mode).
Laser line scanning (with parallel or cross-line patterns) excels on troublesome surfaces like shiny plastics or curved metallic components, and even allows you to swap laser modes mid-scan to achieve tough areas.
All in all, each methods work properly as soon as dialed in, however they take a little bit of follow to grasp, particularly in the case of scan merging, marker placement, and navigating geometry-specific challenges.
Suggestions for Utilizing the MetroX
The MetroX could be fairly difficult to work with, however like with most scanners, the outcomes get higher the extra you get used to utilizing it.
Now we have observed a number of issues not talked about within the guide that may assist make scanning slightly bit simpler.
- 1) Completely cowl the pillars with markers.
The 4 threaded pillars that should be screwed onto the highest face of the turntable are supposed as a floor for attaching the magnetic 3D formed markers. You may discover that even with the pillars lined with the magnetic shapes, you continue to get the “Wants extra markers” error whereas scanning. The answer? Completely cowl the pillars with sticky markers, on each face. As soon as we did this, the incidence of the “Wants extra markers” error was decreased considerably.
- 2) Be Cautious When Utilizing the 3D Formed Markers Straight on the Turntable.
The 3D markers have magnets within the backside of them. The turntable has a motor, which generates slight fields which may create a drive within the markers when they’re positioned on the rotating turntable. Consequently, the 3D markers can transfer relative to the rotating turntable. You actually don’t need this. So when utilizing the 3D markers on the turntable, both affix them to the 4 pillars, or attempt to discover a candy spot on the turntable the place they won’t be affected by the fields generated within the turntable.
- 3) Use The Pause Button for Textured Scans
As talked about, there’s a “merge” characteristic that can be utilized to affix separate scans of an object from completely different angles right into a coherent single mannequin. This works rather well for the blue laser modes and full area, however when merging separate colour scans, the outcomes is usually a little unpredictable. As a result of the mannequin could have been moved or rotated, the shadows can change between scans. This may end up in a patchy / bizarre texture when merged.
To keep away from this, when making colour scans, as an alternative of creating separate scans, make use of the “pause” button. Enhance the variety of rotations on the auto turntable settings, and after every rotation, merely pause the scan, and regulate the angle / peak of the scanner. On the finish of the scan you’ll have a extra constant texture.
Options We Would Prefer to See in Future
Having tried the MetroX for these previous couple of months, now we have bought used to its quirks. However we expect that including these different options (presumably by way of software program replace) would enhance the person expertise fairly a bit.
- 1) Extra accessible turntable controls.
When utilizing the turntable, you both must navigate into turntable settings, or bodily push the buttons on the turntable to tilt. And you can not simply change path of the turntable mid-scan.
This might simply be resolved by including primary turntable controls for tilt angle, pace, and path on the primary display screen in Revoscan.
- 2) Depth Digital camera Setting Reminiscence
When doing a turntable or full area scan, the depth digital camera settings are reset to the default setting after every scan. That is extremely annoying, and contributes to the patchy textures talked about within the earlier part. The RGB digital camera settings keep fastened on the user-defined values between scans, so why does the depth digital camera setting return to default when beginning a brand new scan?
- 3) Inspection Options
It is a huge one. The MetroX is marketed as knowledgeable metrology-grade scanner. It could be actually nice if we may do precise metrology-stuff (like measuring the gap between factors or on the mesh) inside Revoscan.
The present answer, if you wish to measure something, is to make use of third social gathering software program, like Zeiss Examine (previously Gom Examine), or Geomagic Management. This shouldn’t be too troublesome to implement, and would actually make life so much simpler.
- 4) Colour Scanning Exterior of Auto-Turntable Mode
Presently, you’ll be able to solely do colour scans in auto-turntable mode. It could be good to have the ability to do colour scans with out the turntable. We will do it with the Revopoint Miraco, so it’s slightly odd that we can not do it with the MetroX.
Minimal PC Necessities for MetroX
We must always take a second to handle one thing that has been a priority of potential clients on-line – the PC {hardware} necessities for utilizing the MetroX. You’ll be able to see the minimal and advisable system necessities within the desk under.
As you’ll be able to see, the minimal necessities name for an Intel Core i7 tenth technology or higher, with 32GB of RAM and an elective GPU, minimal RTX3050.
The advisable necessities are an Intel Core i9 (tenth gen onwards) with 64GB RAM and an RTX 4060 or higher.
Some commenters on-line have been involved that they may must rush out and improve their CPU, RAM, GPU, and even their energy provide unit simply to run the MetroX.
This may not be obligatory when it comes to the minimal necessities.
For our take a look at, we had 64GB of RAM, no devoted GPU, and we used an Intel Core i5 thirteenth technology (13400), which has 10 cores (6P + 4E) and 16 threads, versus 8 cores and 16 threads for the tenth gen i7.
The Core i5 additionally has a more moderen structure (Raptor Lake) in comparison with the older i7, so it’s higher in effectivity, higher energy/efficiency ratio, and higher at multitasking. The common (non-Okay model) of the tenth gen i7 has a barely greater base clock pace than the i5, however in all different regards, the i5 thirteenth gen is the superior CPU when in comparison with the tenth gen i7.
What does this imply?
It implies that when you’ve got an i5 thirteenth gen or newer, you already meet (or exceed) the minimal necessities when it comes to CPU. So that you don’t have to rush out and purchase an older i7 when you’ve got a newer i5.
Our setup labored advantageous for turntable scans in all modes. Our greatest concern was that it’d have an effect on the scanning of bigger objects when doing hand scans, but it surely was principally advantageous. There was slightly stuttering when doing the fireplace extinguisher by hand, particularly when the entire variety of frames elevated considerably.
So our suggestion is to purpose for slightly greater than the minimal necessities. A thirteenth gen i5 with 64 GB of RAM and an RTX 3060 (or greater) must be OK.
Clearly when you’ve got the advisable necessities of an i9 and every little thing else that Revopoint lists within the desk, then you’ll have a noticeably smoother expertise.
The purpose is, you may not want to purchase a brand new CPU in your desktop machine.
Now, in the event you’re working a laptop computer setup, then this can be a completely different story. It’s not straightforward to improve a laptop computer CPU / GPU.
In case you personal a laptop computer and it doesn’t meet their minimal necessities (or our personal advisable minimal necessities), then you definately’re out of luck and also you’re gonna want a brand new laptop computer. So bear that in thoughts when making a purchase order.
Conclusion: Why MetroX Is a Strong Entry-Stage Metrology Choice
There’s a transparent area of interest that the MetroX fills, and that may be a sub-$1,000 scanner that flirts with the sting {of professional} metrology efficiency. In case you’re in product improvement, small-scale manufacturing, or want dimensional inspection on a funds, this scanner deserves critical consideration.
For context: metrology-grade scanners from manufacturers like Creaform, GOM, or Hexagon typically begin at $20,000 and go properly past $100,000, relying on accuracy, software program suite, and certification. These methods provide traceable calibration, built-in inspection software program, and are nice for ISO-certified workflows, however the value and studying curve are steep.
MetroX isn’t making an attempt to exchange these methods. What it does provide is one thing shut sufficient for a large swathe of customers who want exact, repeatable 3D information (however who don’t want NIST traceability or enterprise-level overhead).
The flexibility to scan sure shiny components with out spray, handle multi-angle full scans by way of markers, and get a secure mesh output all for beneath $1K is big. The principle limitations are in software program. RevoScan MetroX lacks built-in inspection instruments (for now), which means dimensional checks have to be achieved in third-party software program, as talked about beforehand.
However hardware-wise? MetroX punches properly above its weight. If Revopoint provides even a primary measurement toolkit to the native software program, MetroX may grow to be a go-to scanner for small labs, universities, fabrication outlets, and even restore & reverse engineering groups that don’t have tens of hundreds to spend.
For extra info on the Revopoint MetroX, you’ll be able to click on our affiliate hyperlink under, or head on over to their product web page right here. Don’t overlook to make use of the low cost code “RE3DPT” when buying for an additional saving.
Heads up: our content material could include affiliate hyperlinks. In case you purchase one thing by means of a type of hyperlinks, you received’t pay a penny extra, however we’ll get a small fee. Learn extra right here.RevoPoint MetroX
The RevoPoint MetroX combines blue-laser traces and full-field scanning, enabling scanning of a mess of various surfaces by way of its completely different scanning modes.
- – Accuracy: As much as 0.03 mm
- – Body fee: As much as 60fps
- – Work distance: 200 ~ 400 mm
- – Single seize vary: 160 x 70 mm at 200 mm and
320 x 215 mm at 400 mm - – Dimensions: 209 x 88 x 44 mm
- – Seize objects with 7 high-powered parallel blue laser traces
- – No spray wanted to scan shiny or black surfaces
- – Marker blocks assist scan quicker
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