YOU CAN 3D PRINT A SCANNER THAT TURNS ANY REAL OBJECT INTO A 3D MODEL
Print a turntable scanner that photographs a real object from every angle with a Raspberry Pi and camera, ready to turn into a 3D model.
by Thomas Megel
WorkshopOpen-hardware
Built withRaspberry Pi3D printing
- difficulty
- ●●●○○
- time
- a weekend-plus
- license
- GPL-3.0 (firmware); check the licence on each printable design page
- repo
- repo ACTIVE808 stars
●●●○○ · a weekend-plus · GPL-3.0 (firmware); check the licence on each printable design page · 808 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Jump to section
COMPAREE VERDICT
OpenScan is a photogrammetry rig you print and assemble at home: stepper motors move the object while a Raspberry Pi triggers a camera and captures photos from every angle. The current firmware, OpenScan3, installs as a ready-made Raspberry Pi image with a web interface and is developed for a Raspberry Pi 4 with an Arducam IMX519 or Hawkeye camera. OpenScan does not do the reconstruction: you process the photos into a mesh with separate photogrammetry software or a service, which is the biggest hidden cost in time. The old OpenScan repository is marked outdated, so start from OpenScan3 and openscan.eu, and make sure the image you flash matches your camera, because the README warns the wrong one can damage the hardware. Firmware is GPL-3.0; check the licence on each printable design page before commercial use. For hobbyists reverse-engineering parts or digitising objects, it is one of the most accessible photogrammetry setups to build.
IN THE REPO
GOOD TO KNOW
- —Firmware and a PDF manual are on GitHub; the printable parts are published on Thingiverse/Printables, and kits and parts lists are on openscan.eu.
- —Firmware runs on Raspberry Pi, requires camera module and stepper motor driver.
- —The design comes in several variants (Classic, Mini, Midi and custom builds) for different object sizes.
- —Photogrammetry processing requires separate software (Meshroom, RealityCapture, or cloud services) — OpenScan only captures the photos.
- —The OpenScan3 firmware is GPL-3.0, which allows commercial use with source disclosure. The printable parts are published separately on Thingiverse and Printables, so check the licence on each design page before any commercial use of the designs.
- —Active project with regular updates, large community, and optional pre-made kits available from the creator's site.
Parts to buy
7 itemsFrom our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
More builds like this
All projectsGallery
Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Choose your model size (OpenScan comes as Classic, Mini, Midi or a custom build; compare the sizes on openscan.eu against what you want to scan.)
- 2.Print the parts(Printable parts are on Thingiverse/Printables; check each design page for its licence and print notes.)
- 3.Order electronics (Kits, shields and parts are sold on openscan.eu; check the OpenScan3 hardware compatibility page for supported Pi and camera combinations.)
- 4.Flash the firmware(Raspberry Pi image provided; flash to SD card and configure via web interface)
- 5.Install photogrammetry software (Meshroom is free but needs an NVIDIA GPU; RealityCapture has a trial; cloud services are pay-per-scan)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
KNOWN ISSUES
- Check the licence on each printable design page before you build scanners to sell: the OpenScan3 firmware is GPL-3.0, but the mechanical designs are published separately and may carry their own terms.
- OpenScan only captures the photos; you still need separate photogrammetry software and a PC with GPU (or cloud credits) to process the 3D model.
- Lighting is critical — uneven lighting or reflections ruin the reconstruction; budget time to tune the ring light position and add diffusers.
- Camera calibration is not automatic — expect an evening learning the calibration routine and test scans before results are usable.
- Flash the image that matches your camera: the OpenScan3 README warns that the wrong image may permanently damage the hardware.
- Large scans (200+ photos) take hours to process even on a good GPU; plan workflow around overnight processing runs.
Can I scan shiny or transparent objects?
No — photogrammetry fails on reflective, transparent, or uniform surfaces. Coat shiny parts with matte spray first, and forget scanning glass or clear plastic.
What is the actual accuracy?
The project does not publish an accuracy figure. Results depend on the camera, lighting, surface preparation and the photogrammetry software you use.
Do I need the pre-made PCB?
No — you can wire the Pi GPIO directly to the stepper driver and camera, but the PCB (available from the creator's site) tidies everything into one board and adds safer power distribution.
Can I use a DSLR instead of the Pi Camera?
Yes, with caveats: OpenScan3 can fire any camera with shutter control through a GPIO trigger out of the box, and DSLRs over USB via GPhoto2 need camera-specific tuning. Start with a supported Pi camera.
How long does one scan take?
It depends on the number of photos, the camera and your processing software or service; the project does not publish typical times.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
Photogrammetry can produce very detailed meshes with good lighting and calibration — but the scanner only takes the photos, and you still need software or a service to process them into a mesh. What would you scan first?
Thomas Megel
Thomas Megel runs OpenScan.eu, which maintains the open-source OpenScan scanners and firmware, sells kits to fund development, and runs a Discord community.
Keep building — related projects
Same category or platform, picked by how close they are to this build.
FULL CADOpenCAL: an open-source volumetric 3D printer that cures a whole object at once, no layers
WorkshopFor advanced builders
FULL CADYou can build a 3D printer that prints upside down and folds into a filament box
WorkshopFor advanced builders
FULL CADDIY Direct Drive Steering Wheel — Johannes Lodahl (GitHub)
WorkshopFor advanced builders
FULL CADYou can 3D print a milling machine that cuts aluminium
WorkshopFor expert builders
FULL CADTurn an old Ender 3 into a wire EDM that cuts metal with sparks
WorkshopFor expert builders
FULL CADYou can build the printer that melts PEEK for 2,665 dollars
WorkshopFor expert builders
DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM2mo agoedited
Practical notes from our verification: the OpenScanEu/OpenScan repository is now marked outdated in its own README — current firmware lives in OpenScan-org/OpenScan3, which is actively developed, released under GPL-3.0 and installs as a ready-made Raspberry Pi image. The old repo still holds manuals, settings and the classic Node-RED setup, and it points to Thingiverse for the mechanical parts. There is no wiki in the repo, so start from the OpenScan3 README and the openscan.eu site, and use the project's Discord for questions. The single biggest choice is not the scanner size, it is how you will process the photos: OpenScan captures them, and turning them into a mesh needs separate photogrammetry software or a processing service. Make sure the firmware image you flash matches your camera model — the OpenScan3 README warns that the wrong image can damage the hardware. Correction (4 October 2026): we re-checked this page line by line against the project's own repository, documentation and videos, and fixed errors in earlier versions.