Looking for recommendations for a new scanner (and maybe software)

To chat about anything else.
User avatar
Felix_the_Cat
V.I.P Member
V.I.P Member
Posts: 199
Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2016 5:44 pm
7
Full Name: Felix
Company Details: Lockheed Martin
Company Position Title: Senior Member Engineering Staff
Country: USA
Been thanked: 26 times

Re: Looking for reccomendations for a new scanner (and maybe software)

Post by Felix_the_Cat »

I am always amazed at the attitude that different is always better. Most of the time it is just different.

Why would you throw away all that knowledge and experience and start fresh?

Get another Faro. From this century.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Image
User avatar
Mortum
I have made 40-50 posts
I have made 40-50 posts
Posts: 49
Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2018 7:48 am
5
Full Name: Robin van der Molen
Company Details: ----
Company Position Title: 3D Scanmonkey
Country: Netherlands
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: Looking for reccomendations for a new scanner (and maybe software)

Post by Mortum »

smacl wrote: Fri Sep 07, 2018 3:01 pm We have a number of customers using P40s and P20s [....]
I don't think i'd be able to get enough stretch in our budget for a P40, but ill look into the P20!

Thanks!
Formula1982 wrote: Fri Sep 07, 2018 4:06 pm I would suggest the best bit of kit for your all round needs might be a Z+F 5016 or a Leica P40, however both are a bit pricey.
[...]
i'd definitely have a look at the TX8.o
Thank you for the suggestions! :)
Scott wrote: Fri Sep 07, 2018 8:53 pm There is no mention of Surphaser scanners so far, but they also have a good reputation. The Artec Ray is compatible with other Artec software, so it might be worth look.
The Artec Ray (rebranded Surphaser scanner)
https://www.laserscanningforum.com/foru ... ser#p68763
Ohh never heard of them before, thank you for the suggestion!
pbashiri wrote: Fri Sep 07, 2018 9:40 pm [...]
I woul say Z+F 5016.
Much appreciated.
Felix_the_Cat wrote: Sat Sep 08, 2018 11:18 am I am always amazed at the attitude that different is always better. Most of the time it is just different.

Why would you throw away all that knowledge and experience and start fresh?
I kinda agree, but i since i only have experienced Faro I want to keep an open mind. (and TBH I think you guys are way more experienced than i am, so I am going to research the other brands as well, at this point i think everything is an upgrade :P )
Get another Faro. From this century.
That made me laugh way harder than was necesarry :lol:

Thank you all for your kind input!

ddustin wrote: Fri Sep 07, 2018 6:13 pm I didn't take your post as harsh at all.
I'm glad to read that, I'm still struggeling a bit typing english (Yeej to dislectia :| ) I know it that sometimes what i write can be poor worded.

Thanks :)
Sincerely, Robin van der Molen

Gear and Software:
Ye olde: Faro Photon 120
Faro Scene: 2023
Geomagic Design X
Autodesk Recap
User avatar
Mortum
I have made 40-50 posts
I have made 40-50 posts
Posts: 49
Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2018 7:48 am
5
Full Name: Robin van der Molen
Company Details: ----
Company Position Title: 3D Scanmonkey
Country: Netherlands
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: Looking for reccomendations for a new scanner (and maybe software)

Post by Mortum »

Findings so far: (at first glance, and what i have read so far on this forum)

Leica P20: Pretty expensive (€46K for an second hand unit, without software ~€60(ish)K new), also not sure if we can use our (60+) target spheres with this scanner. Meets my requirements on spec.
Z+F 1516: Price unsure (can't find online reference), Meets my spec requirements, but I can't find if it is possible we can swap out the battery in the field. Some of our scan projects take about 6+hrs, and it would be an bummer if we need to carry a cablespool along. Also Z+F seems to use it's own target system.
Surphaser: Never heard of the brand before, thanks for mentioning it yet again!, IP Rating not mentioned, working temperature bottom level at 5 degrees Celcius. Unfortunately for some reason we always get the most interesting requests in winter :lol: . Price is also not mentioned anywere (atleast, where i searched).
Faro S150: Meets requirements and is familliar for us, but I hear alot of people complaining about it's speed. Pricing is a little above budget.
Faro S70: Meets almost all requirements and is familliar for us, but I hear alot of people complaining about it's speed. Is within budget, but lacks a little range, I also read S70 sometimes falls a little behind on feature updates (altough fixed later by Faro).

Altough Faro seems like a good choice on paper, our experiece of Faro straight up declining maintenance on our scanner without warning this scanner went end of life (in 2016 if my memory serves me right), left a sour taste, and therefor i need to persuade some people higher up if i want to get another Faro.
Altough I understand the Photon a really old scanner, we kinda feel upset that within 6 years after buying it, it already became useless for jobs that requires certificates. And an error would mean we where done scanning indefinetely.

Since then I scanned the office and some objects i knew the exact measurements of yearly just to check if the results stayed the same over time (fortunately, it did within ~2mm) but now that the scanner really is starting to show wear, we are fearing an brakedown in the field.

It might just be bad luck on our part and someone forgot to send us a notice, I also heard when our company bought it it already was a little older.
I didn't even know 3D scanning was a thing back then :P

How do you guys experience support over the lifetime of your scanners? (Also with different brands)
And what lifetime can we expect to get with a "new" scanner?

For example: if I buy an car I can expect it to work, getting maintenance by the dealer, etc. for at least 10 years. (altough thats branch of work)
Sincerely, Robin van der Molen

Gear and Software:
Ye olde: Faro Photon 120
Faro Scene: 2023
Geomagic Design X
Autodesk Recap
User avatar
steves01x
V.I.P Member
V.I.P Member
Posts: 544
Joined: Tue Jul 21, 2015 3:58 pm
8
Full Name: Steve Smith
Company Details: Scanning
Company Position Title: Surveyor
Country: Scotland
Linkedin Profile: Yes
Has thanked: 31 times
Been thanked: 57 times

Re: Looking for reccomendations for a new scanner (and maybe software)

Post by steves01x »

One thing you should also consider is the support etc you will get - Leica here in the UK are brilliant, just go on the live chat, they help out with every single problem no matter how big or small it is!

Scanner comes back after its calibration each year looking brand new!
User avatar
Mortum
I have made 40-50 posts
I have made 40-50 posts
Posts: 49
Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2018 7:48 am
5
Full Name: Robin van der Molen
Company Details: ----
Company Position Title: 3D Scanmonkey
Country: Netherlands
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: Looking for reccomendations for a new scanner (and maybe software)

Post by Mortum »

steves01x wrote: Mon Sep 10, 2018 9:38 am One thing you should also consider is the support etc you will get - Leica here in the UK are brilliant, just go on the live chat, they help out with every single problem no matter how big or small it is!

Scanner comes back after its calibration each year looking brand new!
Yeah I understand, and I also think that is important (see also my post above yours), I truly hear great things about Leica, but they are nearly twice the price of my given budget. :cry:

Also, my experience is with Faro, how hard is it for me to switch?
I tried cyclone once, it kinda overwelmed me, unfortunately i didn't get enough time to do something productive with it. (But then again, Photoshop
overwelmed me as well when i started...)

So I gues my options are:
a. Try to get a bigger budget.
b. Give up on some of our "demands" like IP rating and batteries and continue to work with an umbrella and cable spool prepared.
c. Try to convince the higher-ups we simply bought a really old scanner, and can't expect it will be maintained forever.
Last edited by Mortum on Mon Sep 10, 2018 12:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sincerely, Robin van der Molen

Gear and Software:
Ye olde: Faro Photon 120
Faro Scene: 2023
Geomagic Design X
Autodesk Recap
User avatar
steves01x
V.I.P Member
V.I.P Member
Posts: 544
Joined: Tue Jul 21, 2015 3:58 pm
8
Full Name: Steve Smith
Company Details: Scanning
Company Position Title: Surveyor
Country: Scotland
Linkedin Profile: Yes
Has thanked: 31 times
Been thanked: 57 times

Re: Looking for reccomendations for a new scanner (and maybe software)

Post by steves01x »

I used Faro x330 with Scene for a few years along with P40 / Cyclone and now only Leica with the option to get in a BLK or similar if there are tight spaces etc. I did like the Faro for its size/quality etc but was not a fan of Scene - very slow and just couldn't match Cyclone but i believe it has improved a lot over the last 18 months.

What about the Leica RTC360 - the speed and data quality from it is incredible?
User avatar
Scott.Warren
V.I.P Member
V.I.P Member
Posts: 364
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2018 3:14 pm
6
Full Name: Scott Warren
Company Details: WSP Canada
Company Position Title: Project Manager - Geomatics Engineer
Country: Canada
Linkedin Profile: Yes
Location: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
Has thanked: 43 times
Been thanked: 111 times
Contact:

Re: Looking for reccomendations for a new scanner (and maybe software)

Post by Scott.Warren »

Z+F 1516: Price unsure (can't find online reference), Meets my spec requirements, but I can't find if it is possible we can swap out the battery in the field. Some of our scan projects take about 6+hrs, and it would be an bummer if we need to carry a cablespool along. Also Z+F seems to use it's own target system.

We use Z+F scanners, and have had great success using them in our Arch/Eng/Civil projects. We use Spheres, paddles, and paper targets with no issue, some are Leica products, some are handmade. You do lose some functionality within Cyclone (eg: P40 Filtering), but you get more filtering options than Cyclone using the Z+F Laser Control software . Our usual workflow only uses Z+F LC software for pulling the color photos from the scanner, colorizing the point cloud, and running filters if there was excess noise in the data. Otherwise, it works exactly the same as a P series Scanner when importing/registering/extracting in Leica Cyclone.

I can't say as to a price for the 5016, but it is a slick unit. lightweight, good range, swap-able batteries, and very clean data. They are implementing their own in-field registration using the IMU in the scanner and a companion tablet, but i don't think it quite compares to the VIS system of the Leica RTC360.

Cheers,
Scott
User avatar
Mortum
I have made 40-50 posts
I have made 40-50 posts
Posts: 49
Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2018 7:48 am
5
Full Name: Robin van der Molen
Company Details: ----
Company Position Title: 3D Scanmonkey
Country: Netherlands
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: Looking for reccomendations for a new scanner (and maybe software)

Post by Mortum »

steves01x wrote: Mon Sep 10, 2018 12:26 pm I used Faro x330 with Scene for a few years along with P40 / Cyclone and now only Leica with the option to get in a BLK or similar if there are tight spaces etc. I did like the Faro for its size/quality etc but was not a fan of Scene - very slow and just couldn't match Cyclone but i believe it has improved a lot over the last 18 months.
Thanks!

Haha i recall when we started with Faro Scene, allignment of the scans was a task taking up to 7 days for an project :lol:
Me being stubborn believing that was the only option payed off when i finally was in charge of a scan project, and (i dont recall which update it was)
I started to test the (back then) new option of find targets.

Something taking up a week then became a 4hr job :P

I notice Scene nowadays has the option to give filters and find tasks to batches of scans, than the same job will only take 30 sec. (ill make sure to have a dedicated PC for it then)

After allignment my workflow is importing everything to Geomagic Design, and trace and model everything in there.
What about the Leica RTC360 - the speed and data quality from it is incredible?
It really looks promising, except the documented range accuracy, 2,9mm @ 20m.

Ill ask around if we want to step down from our 2mm@20m demand.

(Currently we still get this accuracy with our Photon, and it is a selling point for us to our clients.. So even if the BLK360 manages the same results, most of our clients are witted enough to google up the specs themselves..

.. argueing against the documentation of the manufacturer is not really a thing we want.)
Sincerely, Robin van der Molen

Gear and Software:
Ye olde: Faro Photon 120
Faro Scene: 2023
Geomagic Design X
Autodesk Recap
User avatar
Peyman Bashiri
V.I.P Member
V.I.P Member
Posts: 427
Joined: Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:32 pm
14
Full Name: Peyman Bashiri
Company Details: Aero Geometrics Canadian Z+F reseller
Company Position Title: Laser scanning and BIM Specialist
Country: Canada
Skype Name: pbashiri2003
Linkedin Profile: Yes
Location: Vancouver,BC
Has thanked: 56 times
Been thanked: 40 times
Contact:

Re: Looking for reccomendations for a new scanner (and maybe software)

Post by Peyman Bashiri »

Z+F 1516: Price unsure (can't find online reference), Meets my spec requirements, but I can't find if it is possible we can swap out the battery in the field. Some of our scan projects take about 6+hrs, and it would be an bummer if we need to carry a cablespool along. Also Z+F seems to use it's own target system.
There are 4 hot swap able batteries include in the package and easily covered the 6 hours of workload. Almost no need to target unless the job required that somehow.
As I mentioned before all registration would be done C2C and/or using targets on the field.
Please pm me if you need further details including the pricing.

Peyman
jamesworrell
V.I.P Member
V.I.P Member
Posts: 537
Joined: Mon Jun 16, 2014 1:45 pm
9
Full Name: James Worrell
Company Details: Bennett and Francis
Company Position Title: Director
Country: Australia
Linkedin Profile: Yes
Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Has thanked: 14 times
Been thanked: 87 times
Contact:

Re: Looking for reccomendations for a new scanner (and maybe software)

Post by jamesworrell »

You might want to re-check your spec sheets on the RTC ..

Range accuracy is listed as 0.4 mm @ 10 m, 0.5 mm @ 20 m.

The 2.9 mm @ 20 m is talking 3D point accuracy.

Get a demo and grab the data for the RTC .. it will be worth your while. The VIS is pretty damn awesome.
Post Reply

Return to “General Chat”