Aicon Breuckmann d-STATION

The Aicon Breuckmann d-STATION 3D scanner is an accurate and dependable tabletop 3D scanner. It has a very small footprint, which helps accommodate any type of working space in just about any type of room, whether it is in your home, a workshop, a factory or just about anywhere else that has the proper working environment and temperature.

Aicon’s white light technology, the centerpieces of which are two black and white high resolution CCD cameras, is designed to produce the most accurate results of just about any type of 3D scanner on the market today. This is made possible by a design that encloses the object in a chamber that blocks ambient light, allowing for proper judgment of the contrasts between the object and the open air.

This scanner is accompanied by a powerful and versatile software package which nearly perfects a miniaturized projection technique. That projection, when interpreted by the 64-bit software, is reproduced in a stunningly accurate form within a savable file. That file can then be transferred to a 3D printer which will then reproduce the scanned object. The software, named OPTOCAT, is an all-in-one, automated solution that covers everything in the process from calibration to data acquisition to the end result, an accurate 3D model. This bridge of the gap between functionality and user friendliness is what makes this scanner a true piece of technology to behold.

From a functional standpoint, once you place the object on the turntable, close the door and execute the scan job, an 18 watt LED will light the inside of the unit, allowing the dual scanning cameras to acquire a 3D model that is the measurement of the contrasts between light and absence of light. From there, the software interpolates third dimensional values and produces a scan that is of top notch quality. The company rates the acquisition time at less than 1 second. It is a truly simple but brilliant approach all around.

A high speed USB 2.0 interface is present for connection to any Windows 7-based system, and the following file formats are supported: BRE, STL, PLY, VRML and ASC. There are also a few accessories that are both included and available upon request that are designed to improve your scanning experience even more. Whether you are looking for a small but effective home scanner or a small business solution, the Aicon Breuckmann d-STATION 3D scanner has what you need, and is definitely worthy of inclusion on our list of iReviews 2015 best 3D scanners under $10,000.