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Build a Rotisserie Scanner With Legos

Posted by michael on from the yes,-the-plural-is-legos dept.

WalkingBear writes "All you 3d geeks out there should take a look at this. This guy has built a 3d scanner (scans 3d objects resulting in a 2d cylindrical image map) out of a flat bed scanner and Lego. Also has a turntable style for use with digital cameras."

5 of 173 comments (clear)

  1. Okay Okay by msgmonkey · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Well I know there will be people out there who will moan about things like this, but you got to say this i pretty f'ing cool.

    This touches two vital "geek nerves" - Hack value and use of Lego.

  2. Not a 3D scanner by woodhouse · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I was genuinely interested in this story, as I'm an indie game programmer, and any easy way to generate 3D art is welcome. However, what this guy has created is not a 3D scanner. It's a 2D cylindrical scanner. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here, but I can't see any way to convert the resulting image into a 3D mesh, at least not without some very clever software which the inventor has neglected to write.

    1. Re:Not a 3D scanner by Moofie · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Uh, what part of "scans 3d objects resulting in a 2d cylindrical image map" did you not understand!?

      Inventor has neglected to write...well, I'll be sure to go put my boot on their neck and tell 'em to get their lazy ass back to work.

      Wanker.

      --
      Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!
  3. Got Mesh? by JVert · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is great for skinning i'd like to see people finish it up with some software that will mesh the images together in a batch proccess. Then you can get as detail as you'd like (1 pixel width per shot anyone?)

    But what I really would like is some info on how to make meshes. I've heard about people using lamp projectors with grids on them, shine that one the persons face and then the software can follow the gridpoints making a mesh.

    Then use a similar technique to follow body movements (flashlights at all the joints/tips on a body in a dark room)

    Exciting times..

    With a mesh and skinning proccess simplified and cheap enough for anone interested.

  4. Imagine The Possibilities. by HobbitGod42 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    As I was reading the article it took me a minute to really notice the picture of the skull. Well to notice that it was showing the back of the skull at the same time.

    With that being said... Imagine what this could do for game skinners. Now using an old scanner and some legos you can easily skin in your own face to UT2k3 and other games.