Comments on: Fuel 3D Scanify – 3D Scanner Review

By: Renate

Renate — Sat, 09 Jul 2022 21:14:43 +0000

Hi nick , i know this is a very old review but i got one from a friend to “play” with, unfortunately the box is missing the target discs. Do you know a way how to get these somehow? We live in Belgium so i hope you can help us.
Thanks in advance.

By: Andres

Andres — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 05:29:26 +0000

In reply to Nick Lievendag. It will be nice to use this software with others 3d scanners.. is it possible ? I hope they free the software.. now it is free!

By: Nick Lievendag

Nick Lievendag — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 11:47:13 +0000

In reply to A.A. As far as I know the Scanify has been discontinued. See note at the top of the review.

By: A.A

A.A — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 14:17:46 +0000

Hi Nick
Thanks very much for the fantastic review. I found it very useful. I am planning for a 3D research project to analyse patients faces before and after surgical procedure. I found this scanner by accedent and it’s price sounds resonable for a pilot study. My worries are about the mesh density which should be at lease 0.1 mm and also the accuracy in reproducing patients faces. Another concern is about texture, if i am stitching multiple scans, does the final image keeps the texture after stitching.
One last question, do they still charge the monthly fees for the software?

I also appreciate if you can recommend other scanners in case this one does not satisfy my project requirements.

Many thanks
AA

By: Nick Lievendag

Nick Lievendag — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 13:33:43 +0000

In reply to Francis Leddington.

Great question!

I can understand why you are looking at the Scanify. That might be a great one for this kind of subject, because it’s the only “scanner” I know that captures a small 3D image within a second. All other scanners need the subject to be totally still which is probably impossible with babies.

I did capture my hand with it back when I did the Scanify review, by the way: https://skfb.ly/PNOn If you click the gear icon in the bottom right corner and set the Rendering to MatCap, you can see the geometric detail it captured.

Keep in mind that you need to have the tracker in place. Maybe you can make that into a bracelet for the newborn?

I can think of some other options that are worth experimenting with. If you’re interested please send me an email at nick[at]3dscanexpert.com and I can make a quote for a tailored advice.

By: Francis Leddington

Francis Leddington — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 12:53:03 +0000

Hi Nick
I want to start a small business capturing newborn baby feet/hands. at the moment this can only be done by casting a mould but I want to move onto 3d scanner and 3d print. Could you advise on the best handheld scanner and printer that is capable of the fine details of a babys foot/hand. Any informations would be greatly appreciated

By: Momentsin3d

Momentsin3d — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 02:34:57 +0000

I’ve been using the Fuel 3d scanner for a few months now. I purchased it for the promises from the marketing, but was very disappointed with the actual product results (more a high resolution embossing). After a lot of time and experimentation I did manage to incorporate it into my production and I was using the Advanced version of the Fuel3D studio at 49 pounds per month as I needed to extrude my models and doing it in the same software was much easier. I also attempted a few 360 degree scans (something that they advertise you can do), but to get anything even beginning to look right you need more than 6 scans, (at least 3 on each side plus 3 around the top) which means you have to pay for the advanced version.

Last week Fuel 3D introduced the latest version of their Studio software, and they also changed the pricing quite significantly. Now, the advanced version (allows to stitch more than 6 scan, necessary for 360 degree scans, smoothing and extruding) costs 132 pounds a month (US$190) for what I would consider basic and necessary to the use of the scanner. To use the software for a year costs 1,400 pounds (around US$1900). This is for the second tier Studio software package. The third, the professional version is even more.

To buy the software out right costs US$5600. I live in Australia and our dollar recently lost parity with the US$ and for me to buy the software outright costs almost AU$7500. The Professional version is just under AU$10,000). So I’ve bought a US$1500 scanner and now they have increased the price of the software so that it is unfeasibly expensive to use (I also use Skanect which has more functionality and costs a little more than 1% of the Studio Software but can’t use the fuel scanner).

As far as mobility is concerned, they have now removed the 32 bit version of the software which means that you no longer can use it on a tablet. It can however now be used on Apple products.

I contacted them for an explanation of the 300% price hike on the 1st tier but they haven’t gotten back to me. The functionality in the Advanced version (which is the first tier, Professional being the even more expensive 2nd tier subscription) should be part of the basic package, but now we have to pay the costs of the scanner PER YEAR in order to use it. It is ridiculous, I feel ripped off that I have bought this hardware and now they are effectively ripping the buyers off by charging them a ridiculous amount for the software that one could easily argue is basic functionality and should be part of the hardware package.

By: Nick Lievendag

Nick Lievendag — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 10:16:54 +0000

In reply to Ioan.

It all depends on what you want to capture!

If you want to 3D capture stuff while traveling or simply on a budget, you can start with Photogrammetry first. Check out http://nl3d.co/123Dcatch and http://nl3d.co/ReCap360 which are both free for most purposes.

By: Ioan

Ioan — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 20:17:14 +0000

Hi Nick,
I hope I am not bothering you too much.
I am trying to build myself (and my soon too) into the “3D”. So, I am as green as it can get.
Appreciate your opinion on whether Fuel 3D Scanify is the right scanner to start with and whether there are other “things” I should consider: i.e. software, various books,….
At this stage, flexibility would be the attribute I would appreciate the most (I thought that a handheld / portable scanner would fall into this category).
Would you recommend some other scanning device? Of course, not exceeding the price of the Scanify.
Or, maybe you would recommend forgetting the 3D scanner at this stage and going directly for the 3D printing?
As I am living in Egypt, getting such equipment delivered into the country is not a very straight forward process. I want to take advantage of a coming travel to finalize this.
Thank you
Ioan