3D Scanner - The NextEngine 2020i - My latest purchase.

[Fraser]

As some members of the forum already know, I bought an UP! Mini 3D printer from forum member Toploser. I recently bought a second UP! Mini for only GBP115 as a back-up unit, or for tandem printing.

It's all very well being able to CAD an object and 3D print it, but the ability to scan a physical object in 3D and then print a copy would be a very interesting capability. A sort of 3D photocopier 

I am aware that budget 3D scanning is still in its infancy and that many such scanners deliver less than wonderful results. Like early 3D printing, the market is a bit of a minefield for the newbie to such technology. The process of 3D object scanning is far from simple at the budget end of the market and it involves a steep learning curve for the new user. Some scanners produce excellent initial results that just need to be tidied up and any defects or holes repairing. The technology is heavily dependant on the software and its capabilities. A lot of reference points are captured and need to be manipulated. The whole 3D scanning process is quite protracted, but with a decent scanner and associated software, the results can be excellent.

There are several budget offerings from the likes of Makerbot and an open source design called 'DAVID'. The results produced by budget models are very variable.

I understand a big player in the mid priced 3D scanner market is a company called NextEngine. Many universities, museums and even NASA use the NextEngine 2020i scanner. These units are not cheap though. They cost almost $3000 each. Even at this price it is not a simple 'click and save' process. The scanner is not perfect and the user has to clean up the scans to fix any holes or alignment issues.

The NextEngine 3D scanner uses a combination of lasers and cameras to collect profile data and create the 3D object data. Once the data has been collected and the editing stage completed, the object can be exported as a 3D printer file, such as an STL.

I was fortunate enough to stumble upon a used NextEngine 2020i system this weekend and bought it for a reasonable GBP230. From what I have read this system produces excellent high resolution objects and is actually a useful tool as opposed to a time consuming, frustration filled, toy. Time will tell how easy the 2020i is to use.

The system includes an automated rotating platform to enable 360 degree captures of an object that are then stitched together with precision by the software. Apparently you can scan large objects, like a car, in 11" X 11" areas !

I attach some images of the system and a picture of one owners scan and print of his own face. He used the 2020i to make the scan.

This could be a fun little learning experience and a very useful tool for use with my 3D printers.

J Leno uses the NextEngine 2020i to scan and prototype replacement classic car parts.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a4354/4320759/

NextEngine Gallery is here:

http://www.nextengine.com/gallery

Fraser

[Fraser]

I will add some pictures of objects captures by the 2020i here.

[Fraser]

The NASA NextEngine tutorial is to be found here:

http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/3DScannerTutorial.pdf

It would appear to have been used in the NASA ARC SPACESHOP.

Note that this tutorial was written in 2013 and I understand thathe software has developed further since.

Fraser

[Fraser]

Face scanning with the NextEngine........



Great fun 

[Fraser]

Scanning a SPAWN figure and animating it !

[Fraser]

There are even 3D printable accessories for the NextEngine to assist with the scanning process.

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:9324

[Fraser]

3D scan of a sea shell

[Fraser]

Nice video demo of the scanner being used on a steam car part owned by J Leno

[Fraser]

I have received a response from NextEngine regarding the supply of the software for my 2020i scanner unit. Very fast response time as I only emailed them today.

They have asked if I am the original purchaser and stated that this will influence what they can do to help me.

Fingers crossed that they will at least supply me with the standard software, if not any support for it. Regrettably, if they decline to assist, this review will end here, which will be a great pity.

Fraser

[Fraser]

While I sort out the challenges that the software is presenting to me, I thought I would provide some pictures of the Nextengine 2020i interior. I am also attaching the Nextengine Patent as that details what you are seeing in the pictures.

First impressions are that this unit was breaking new ground in affordable 3D imaging. It is not as 'polished' as expected in terms of design but it is a very functional and effective unit that has proven itself to be as good as units costing more than $25K. The designer has put a lot of effort into the laser scanner part of the unit. This is what I would describe as the engine of the unit as its accuracy and performance dictate the end result of the scan.

The unit contains a laser engine comprising 8 separate collimated lasers that produce vertical lines. These vertical lines are used to scan the object and the angles between them are an important part of the design. The laser 'head' pivots on a very large and stable ball bearing race. A quadrant gear is engaged with a gearbox that is filled with pre-tensioned twin gears for low backlash. Laser head position is detected via two sensors, one optical sensor detects the heads 'home' position for start calibration, and another reads an optical encoder wheel for step feedback. A stepper motor drives the multi stage gearbox.

The power supply for the scanner is built into its case. It provides the power for the scanner electronics, motors and illumination. The illumination is provided by a pair of fluorescent tubes. The drivers are located on the PSU pcb. Later versions of the scanner (after 2009) use LED lighting in place of the fluorescent lamps. The illumination is used only for the visible light images that each scan is coupled with. Illumination is not used for the laser scan of the process. The sequence is as follows: Visible light image providing colour detail, a single laser sweep of the object, the object is rotated one segment (user definable angle) and the sequence repeats. This way the software has a visible light image to overlay on each scanned segment.

The electronics for the scanner are on a single PCB and this is both well designed and made. Some of the connectors have been labelled to identify their purpose. The microprocessor is not visible from the rear of the PCB as it is on the pother side sandwiched against a heat sink. The heatsink is then used to mount the PCB to the chassis. I am not a fan of this flimsy securing method along only one edge. My PCB heatsink had shaken loose from the chassis and just needed the screws to be tightened. No biggy, but a symptom of a poor mechanical mounting design.

Another important part of a 3D scanner is the imaging engine. In the case of the 2020i scanner, there are two colour PCB cameras fitted. Only one is used for a scan. One is set for near focus and the other is offset and set for far focus. I expected a camera with a mechanical focus control for near and far objects but Nextengime elected to use separate complete cameras instead. An interesting, if puzzling decision. Board cameras are relatively cheap though and this does simplify use.

There is a superfluous Logo illumination assembly in the top of the units case. This comprises a bright blue LED, a silver painted dewdrop shaped light reflector and the Logo that sits in the top of the case. Why am I bothering to mention this insignificant part of the design ? well my unit had a detached reflector as it is only glued in place. The reflector had dropped into the laser engine area and jammed it. Not good from a reliability point of view and easily rectified by modifying the logo to direct illumination with an LED inside its plastic, or better securing of the large light reflector. If you own one of these units, check for this problem before damage is caused.

Lastly, cooling. A decent sized fan is fitted horizontally in the bottom of the units case to cool the PSU and other heat producing electronics with the unit. Exhaust is through vents in the rear and bottom of the case.

The whole scanner electronics and mechanics are contained within a well made and very solid aluminium case. There is a tripod mount point on the bottom to facilitate tripod mounting for non desktop use.

The platform onto which the object may be placed is also well made and of solid construction. I found the Patent for this platform and it has had a lot of thought put into the drive mechanism to ensure low backlash and so rotational accuracy. The platform is rotated using a gearbox driven from a stepper motor and the unit receives its instructions and power from the 2020i scanner.

In summary, the NextEngine is a ground breaking 3D scanner that made accurate scanning available to institutions that could not otherwise afford such. Such a unit is only as good as its mechanical accuracy and the software that processes the information received from the scanner electronics. I have no issue with the scanning mechanics and software. Both are excellent. As noted above, I do not like the way that the main PCB is mounted or the silly logo illumination assembly, but neither are show stoppers. It should also be noted that my 2020i scanner was built in 2006 so is a very early unit. Improvements have been made to the later units including higher resolution cameras and HD capability.

That's is enough typing for now.

To the pictures.........

[Fraser]

More pictures

[Fraser]

More Pictures

[Fraser]

Patents for Scanner and Automated platform

Sadly the files are too large so here are the links. The PDF can be viewed or downloaded using the button, top right.

Scanner:

http://www.google.co.uk/patents/US7995834

Platform:

http://www.google.co.uk/patents/US6765501

Fraser

[Fraser]

It looks like the microprocessor is a Zoran ZR4201

Zoran Corporation of California became defunct in 2011 when it was taken over by CSR plc.

Fraser

[Fraser]

A picture of the NextEngine Logo assembly. A bit weird in my opinion. A simple LED in a perspex light guide would have sufficed surely ? The silver light reflector is what jammed the laser scanner assembly when it came away from the case top.

Fraser

[Fraser]

Just a quick update on the situation........

I have the NextEngine 2020i up and running with its software 😀

This thing is awesome. I had a decent 3D image of a small toy in no time at all. I think the software has probably improved on the user friendliness front since the early reviews that I read.

For anyone buying one of these on the secondary market, be warned, you need an account at NextEngine HQ in order to activate the software. Without a valid account you cannot complete the on line activation process. The company policy is that second hand units may be transferred to a new owner, but the new account will only be set up as part of a 3 year support package at around $300. Understandable I suppose. You cannot use someone else's account as each is married to a specific scanners serial number and their PC's identity to generate the valid activation code

In my case, I used my head and let's just say I have a valid account without additional cost. No hacking, no wrong doing, just used my brain 😉

The scanner is in good working order but the coating on the glass windows has been rubbed off by cleaning and I noticed a slight judder in one part of the laser heads arc of movement. The coating on the glass was AR and possibly a Polarizer as well. Glare is an issue where the bright laser reflects off of the object being scanned. I have purchased three photographic UV and Polarizer lenses to experiment with. I may, or may not need them. The slight judder in the travel of the laser head assembly may be a simple case of debris in the gear train or worst case a damaged gear tooth. I shall investigate when spare time permits.

The unit certainly appears to be working well though. A good result on this bargain purchase.

Fraser

[SeanB]

You bought the PC as well..........

[Fraser]

Nope. It cost me nothing and I did not buy the PC. NextEngine are reading this thread so I will keep my cards close to my chest.

Fraser

[SeanB]

Same thing, you just used the name to install the software.........  Just as if you had the PC, which would have the details of the registered user somewhere as either a user profile or a registration menu.

[Fraser]

😉

[kaz911]

I have the NextEngine HD - and their software is slow and buggy. I PAID for 3 years "software warranty" and reported bugs (serious ones) - but they did not fix it until my subscription had run out (v2 - first release in 3 1/2 years) - and I'm not quite certain they have fixed them.

So they are NOT in my good books in any way shape or form. And their software warranty is worth absolutely nothing when the developers do not develop and fix bugs at all.

[Fraser]

@kaz911,

Sorry to hear that the company are less than active on softwRe updates. My unit is the older SD version that uses the 'CORE' software. The last release was 1.73.xx in 2008. I do not expect any more updates from the SD unit. Thankfully my version of the software seems pretty well sorted from my initial testing. I may just have not found the bugs yet though.

With regard to my software situation, I was disappointed when NextEngine said that I could have a copy of the software, but could not activate it unless I paid $300 for the support contract. There was also the caveat that no hardware repair support would be avaialable........ But I would get 3 years of software updates....... For an obsolete model and software ....... I wasn't expecting any updates. For me the fee was really an administration charge to create an account. The problem I have with the authentication process is that contact with the NextEngine servers is required. This is a $4000 device, what if NextEngine go bust ? Activation of new installations would become impossible. Not a great situation. Could NextEngine go out of business ? Any company can fold but some background research on NextEngine reveals that the company has had some 'issues' over financing from its backer in Hong Kong. Various claims were made for money from NextEngine by its backer, it went to court. NextEngine lost control of its Patents apparently due to defaulting on its loan payments and interest. Not a very happy story and the HK backer even tried to auction the Patent rights in order to recover some money. I see that the HK backer company now effectively own NextEngine but they are not out of the woods yet.

It would appear to be a very capable and respected 3D scanner, but how long NextEngine will be around is anyone's guess.

It's good to know that there is another NextEngine owner on this forum.

I have just purchased some flaw detection developer spray that can be used to coat items that would not otherwise scan well due to reflectivity or transparency. It's apparently very effective and coats the object in easily removable white powder. I have yet to experiment fully with the units capabilities, but initial impressions are very good and it meets my humble needs. It is certainly far superior to the cheaper simple fixed laser with rotating object type 3D scanners that I have seen reviewed. For the price I paid for my unit, I am very pleased with it.

Fraser