YOU CAN 3D PRINT A SCANNER THAT TURNS ANY REAL OBJECT INTO A 3D MODEL
Print a turntable scanner that turns any real object into a millimetre-accurate 3D model using just a Raspberry Pi and a ring light.
WorkshopOpen-hardware
- difficulty
- ●●●○○
- time
- a weekend-plus
- license
- CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0
- repo
- repo ACTIVE808 stars
●●●○○ · a weekend-plus · CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0 · 808 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- 3D printer + filament — printable parts — files are in the repo
- Electronic parts — full list with part numbers in the repo BOM
- Dev board / microcontroller — runs the project firmware
Partner
COMPAREE VERDICT
OpenScan is a complete photogrammetry rig you print and assemble at home. A stepper-driven turntable rotates the object while a Raspberry Pi triggers a camera in a ring-lit enclosure, capturing 100–300 photos from every angle. The result is a point cloud you process into a textured 3D mesh using third-party software like Meshroom (free) or RealityCapture (paid). Accuracy is genuinely sub-millimetre if you calibrate properly and light the subject well. The repository is mature: CAD is parametric, assembly guides are thorough, and the community forum answers the usual build traps. The single biggest limitation is that OpenScan does not do the reconstruction — it only captures the photos. You still need a PC with a decent GPU or a cloud processing service, and learning Meshroom's node graph will cost you an evening. The second trap is the non-commercial licence: if you plan to scan client work or sell models, you need to contact the creator for commercial terms. For hobbyists reverse-engineering parts, digitising miniatures, or archiving heirlooms, this is the most accessible photogrammetry setup you can build, and the only one where every screw is documented.
IN THE REPO
NOT IN THE REPO
- —Full STL files, assembly instructions, and bill of materials are in the repository.
- —Firmware runs on Raspberry Pi, requires camera module and stepper motor driver.
- —Design supports multiple scanner sizes (Mini, Classic, Plus) for objects from 5cm to 30cm.
- —Photogrammetry processing requires separate software (Meshroom, RealityCapture, or cloud services) — OpenScan only captures the photos.
- —Licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — non-commercial use only, commercial projects require separate licence.
- —Active project with regular updates, large community, and optional pre-made kits available from the creator's site.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Partner · KickstarterHeyGears G1: 10M+ colors and transparent parts in one print, plus UV printing on flat objects. Figures, parts and labels — no painting.
Gallery
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 (Mini (5–10cm objects), Classic (up to 20cm), or Plus (up to 30cm) — check the size chart against what you want to scan)
- 2.Print the parts(40–80 hours of printing depending on model; PETG recommended for structural parts)
- 3.Order electronics (Full BOM with supplier links in the wiki; optional pre-made PCB simplifies wiring)
- 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
- The non-commercial licence means you cannot use this for client work or selling scans without contacting the creator — check before building if you have commercial plans.
- 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.
- Stepper motor wiring varies by driver board — double-check pinouts before powering on or you will burn the TMC2209.
- 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?
Sub-millimetre is achievable with good calibration and lighting, but typical hobby results are 0.1–0.5mm — good enough for reverse-engineering parts or miniatures, not precision metrology.
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 — the firmware supports external cameras via USB trigger, which improves resolution but adds cost and complexity. Start with the Pi Camera and upgrade later if needed.
How long does one scan take?
Capture is 5–15 minutes depending on photo count. Processing in Meshroom takes 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on photo resolution and GPU; cloud services are faster but cost per scan.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
Photogrammetry can hit sub-millimetre accuracy with good lighting and calibration — but you still need a separate GPU or cloud credits to process the photos into a mesh. What would you scan first?
Thomas Teipen
Created OpenScan to make photogrammetry accessible after frustration with expensive commercial scanners and closed ecosystems. Maintains the project actively, runs a community forum, and offers optional pre-made kits to fund development while keeping all designs open.
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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.
CompareeTEAM1mo agoedited
Practical notes from our verification: the repository is well-maintained with regular firmware updates and an active community forum, but there is no official YouTube channel — the helpful build tutorials are community-made and scattered. The single biggest choice is not the scanner size, it is whether you have a PC with an NVIDIA GPU (for free Meshroom processing) or budget for cloud processing credits, because OpenScan only captures the photos. The non-commercial licence is clearly stated in the README, but it is easy to miss if you skim — commercial use requires contacting the creator for separate terms. One more thing: the wiki recommends PETG for structural parts, but several builders report PLA works fine and prints faster if you are not leaving the scanner in a hot room.