Top 10 Best 3D Scanners for Reverse Engineering (Reviews & Buyers’ Guide 2022

First on the list of the best 3D scanners for reverse engineering might not be what you’d expect. While the Shining 3D AutoScan 3D Scanner AutoScan-DS-EX is made for professionals in the dental industry, its scanning accuracy and capabilities make it a great option for all other professionals.

Equipped with structured light technology and a 1.3-megapixel camera, this 3D scanner can capture every detail of target objects with high accuracy (<15 microns), giving you high-quality print results every time.

Featuring a continuous scanning mode, the Shining 3D Autoscan allows you to capture and process models on any computer through LAN connectivity, boosting the efficiency of your workflow. It’s also designed with a small footprint and lightweight construction, so it nicely fits on desktops and is easy to bring anywhere.

This 3D scanner is composed of a detachable modular design, which offers room for future upgrades. Apart from easy upgrades, its detachable parts, along with the scanner’s quick-release jig, allow for quick and convenient setups.

Bring real-life scale models and hardware into your cyberspace with a scanner from a well-known brand of some of the best 3D printers. Creality unsurprisingly appears on the list with its latest 3D scanner upgrade: the Creality 3D Scanner Kit CR-Scan 01. Featuring high-end specs and a user-friendly design, it’s the best 3d scanner for reverse engineering professionals and beginners too.

Seeing the demand for scanners that can help produce top-quality 3D models, Creality developed the CR-Scan 01 not only to deliver exceptional performance but also to be a kind of plug-and-play device. Using an intelligent alignment algorithm, it’s designed with an automatic matching feature. That means there’s no need to calibrate and use marker points for target objects or mesh alignments manually. With just one click, you can have your target object automatically aligned and completely scanned.

Designed with 24-bit high-fidelity color restoration, this reverse engineering 3D scanner can provide you with excellent print results and high image quality. Combining that with its 0.1-millimeter accuracy, 0.5-millimeter resolution, and scan area that’s 1.5 times larger than traditional scanners, it captures the tiniest details of large models in a remarkably faster way.

Editing complex models won’t be a problem with this reverse engineering 3D scanner. It comes with a processing program that can automatically carry out fill and color repairs, model editing, mesh simplification, smooth denoising, and substrate recognition.

Included with this reverse engineering 3D scanner are a tripod and a turntable, which give you both handheld and turntable options to suit the scale of the object being scanned. Compared to the standard model, this upgraded Creality scanner’s included accessories can help you simplify the workflow and make the most of its features.

Reviewers are impressed with how easy this 3D scanner is to set up and use and how it delivers highly precise results. They like that its hardware seems excellently built and that it helped them effortlessly create accurate replicas of their objects.

An upgrade to the Einscan Pro 2X, the EinScan 3D Scanner Pro 2X Plus comes with significant improvements for quicker and more accurate scanning. With the ability to capture complex objects, along with other state-of-the-art features, it’s the best 3D scanner for reverse engineering that’s versatile, performs impressively, and offers great value for your money.

Compared to the Pro 2X, this one is designed with a higher scan range, better point and working distance, and faster scanning speed: 1,100,000 points per second for handheld HD mode and < 0.5 seconds for a single fixed scan. Boasting high scan accuracy at 0.04 millimeters, it replicates the finest details of small to mid-sized objects.

To get the right scanning performance for the job, the Einscan Pro 2X Plus offers four modes: handheld rapid scan, handheld HD scan, fixed scan, and auto scan. It also features various alignment modes, such as markers, feature, turntable coded targets, and manual alignments.

Weighing about 2.5 pounds, this EinScan 3D scanner is made to be lightweight and compact, so it’s easy to carry wherever the scanning job takes you. While it’s designed to be a handheld model, you can choose to get the Industrial Pack add-on, which comes with a turntable and a tripod. Apart from the Industrial Pack, it’s compatible with other add-ons, such as the Color Pack for capturing full-color textures and HD Prime Pack for 30% faster scan speed and richer details.

For streamlined scanning and better professional workflow, this EinScan 3D scanner is a great investment. Not only is it efficient at re-engineering parts and models, but it also comes with a modular design that gives you enough flexibility to suit the job at hand.

If you’re doing reverse engineering on a daily basis, the EinScan 3D Scanner SP Desktop is a time-saving and game-changing solution. Specially made for architects, designers, and construction professionals, it’s one of the best 3D scanners for reverse engineering that uses structured light technology. Unlike laser scanners, structured light 3D scanners project a pattern of light rather than a dot or a laser line, making this EinScan machine capable of faster scans and larger scan areas.

Sure, this reverse engineering 3D scanner is made to be used on a desktop. But compared to other desktop scanners, it offers a wider scan range, ideal for small to large objects. It also features a turntable with printed coded targets for better accuracy, two scan modes (auto and fixed), and two color options (texture and non-texture).

Speed is the name of the game with the EinScan SP scanner. It scans target objects in just four seconds for a single scan and 1 minute for a 360-degree minute scan—all with just one click. It even automatically calibrates, so there’s no need for tedious setups.

Users particularly like that it’s easy to use and offers high dimensional accuracy too—great for scanning complex objects. For a single scan, this reverse engineering 3D scanner offers high scan accuracy within 0.05 millimeters. It has multiple alignment modes as well, including manual, feature, markers, and turntable markers.

When it comes to post-processing, EinScan has developed its SE/SP software for smoothening and sharpening, filling holes, readjusting data coordinates, and even processing high-quality watertight models.

If you want a scanner that’s similar to the EinScan SP at a more affordable price, you might want to consider getting the EinScan 3D Scanner SE Desktop. It boasts excellent scan performance and user-friendly features for such a reasonably priced machine, making it one of the best 3D scanners for reverse engineering out there.

Compared to their predecessors, the EinScan SP and SE are easier to set up and use and come with more significant upgrades, like Windows connectivity and better color capture and textures. They’re also a lot more accurate and feature software with more post-processing functions.

Unlike the SP model, the EinScan SE doesn’t have marker stickers and coded targets on the turntable. It also offers a slightly slower scan speed and lower accuracy, which is relatively negligible since this minimal disparity barely affects the scan quality. And when you factor in the price, the EinScan SE offers more than enough features for hobbyists and businesses alike, giving you the best bang for your buck.

With a scan accuracy of about 0.1 millimeters, the EinScan SE can capture the finest details of objects and provide exceptional scan results. It can scan objects as large as 700 cubic millimeters using the fixed scan function, which can be easily aligned and smoothened with the SE/SP software. Plus, it conveniently comes with a calibration board and a turntable, allowing for easy 360-degree scans.

Developed for makers, hobbyists, business owners, and STEM academics, the Scan Dimension SOL Desktop 3D Scanner offers precise results and an easy-to-use, intuitive interface—all at an affordable price. Combining laser scanning technology with white light or structured light technology, it provides up to a 0.1-millimeter accuracy. Because of that plus its low price tag, it easily makes it to the list of the best 3D scanners for reverse engineering.

Featuring near and far scan modes, this reverse engineering 3D scanner provides two scanning areas: 100 by 100 millimeters and 170 by 170 millimeters. With its laser and structured light hybrid technology, it can pick up the texture and geometry of the target object with pinpoint accuracy.

No more scanning each angle of your target object manually. This reverse engineering 3D scanner includes a turntable, which helps you process 360-degree scans of an object and is made to be sturdy enough to support up to 4.4 pounds.

Scan Dimension made this 3D scanner for both professionals and beginners, which is why it offers a plug-and-play kind of operation. Assembling it takes about a few minutes and only requires tightening its four screws and connecting the USB cable. Plus, it comes with the Scan Dimension software, which features various functions that can simplify your workflow.

EinScan has appeared yet again on this list of the best 3D scanners for reverse engineering, and with it comes significant upgrades to the original EinScan Pro.

Focusing on better speed, better performance, and larger scan range, the EinScan Pro+ with R2 Function Handheld 3D Scanner has a larger scanning frame of 300 by 170 millimeters and captures details at 550,000 points per second—faster than the EinScan Pro’s 90,000 points-per-second scan speed. Scanning large objects with the highest possible speed and efficiency is what this reverse engineering 3D scanner is all about.

Equipped with an enhanced handheld HD scanning technology, the EinScan Pro+ implements an intensive line-scanning strategy, projecting 100 data scanning lines and going beyond EinScan Pro’s seven projected data lines. It also boasts a 0.1-millimeter accuracy for HD scan and 0.7-millimeter accuracy for rapid scan with an R2 (rapid registration) function—a new feature that lets you easily recognize and align reference points.

When it comes to post-processing, EinScan developed its software to be incredibly user-friendly. It allows for a wide range of alignment options, excellent texture scan, and real-time data display, among many others, giving you effortlessly exceptional results with every scan.

Like the EinScan Pro 2X Plus, the EinScan Pro+ can be combined with three add-ons to streamline your scanning experience. These include the Industrial Pack with a scanner stand and a turntable, the Color Pack for capturing full texture and geometry, and the HD Prime Pack for increasing speed and accuracy and scanning objects without the use of markers.

If excellent speed and form matters to you, then you have to get the Matter & Form Mfs1V2 3D Scanner V2. Since its first 3D scanner release, Matter and Form has been placing an emphasis on affordability without compromising on quality. So it’s unsurprising why this newly improved Matter and Form 3D scanner made the list of the best 3D scanners for reverse engineering.

Apart from being budget-friendly, this Matter and Form 3D scanner comes with a notable feature: +QuickScan. This upgrade to the brand’s MFStudio software allows you to capture the complete geometry of an object in just 65 seconds. Combine that with its top-quality yet affordable hardware and 0.1-millimeter accuracy, and what you’ll have is a powerful way to recreate real-world objects into your digital space.

Speaking of the MFStudio software, Matter and Form has been designing this application for over five years to create an efficient interface for a better user experience. It lets you view data in real-time, offers color texturing and other tools, and is made to be easy to use.

Sporting a sleek and foldable body, this Matter and Form 3D scanner comes with a small footprint to help you keep a clutter-free workspace. Its integrated case protects the turntable and camera from damage, while its base can be folded up when not in use. No need to purchase extra storage cases—simply fold it up, and it’s ready to be stored or carried just about anywhere.

While this Matter and Form 3D scanner is designed for hobbyists and designers, other professionals can also use it for small and quick scanning tasks. And although it requires a more complex lighting calibration, it’s a great low-cost option and, according to reviewers, is accurate enough to get the job done.

The most affordable 3D scanner on the list, the XYZprinting Handheld 3D Scanner 1.0 Pro is a great 3D scanner option for hobby projects and small professional tasks. It offers just the right features to effectively capture details of objects—all without the hefty price tag. Users report that while the software can be difficult to work with and the setup can be a bit frustrating, it’s an impressive tool for the price.

Besides being a good bargain, this XYZ 3D scanner comes with four scanning modes to read not just objects but also an entire person. These modes include object, head, full-body, and mask, which can each be set to suit the size of your subject.

Made to be a handheld scanner, this XYZ 3D scanner sports an ergonomic handle and a compact, lightweight design, making it easy to carry anywhere. It also features a working range of 3.93 to 27.55 inches and captures full-color images at 30 frames per second, so you can completely scan your subject with the utmost ease and efficiency.

If you’re looking for an easy-to-use 3D scanner, you might want to consider getting the SIMAX3D Array Block Desktop 3D Scanner. While it comes last on the list, its features and user-friendly operation make it well-deserving of a spot as one of the best 3D scanners for reverse engineering today.

This desktop 3D scanner is equipped with a turntable and offers two scanning modes. Its auto scan mode lets you scan roughly 220-cubic-millimeter objects in two minutes, while its free scan mode can capture a single frame of an object as large as 740 cubic millimeters in just six seconds.

Post-processing and calibration will just be a breeze with this reverse engineering 3D scanner. Its software carries out automatic data alignment and fusion and lets you mesh, smooth, and sharpen models without any trouble. With this kind of software, you won’t have to worry about complex setups and tedious manual calibrations.