Intro to the Workflow
The EinScan Libre from Shining 3D is a powerful handheld 3D scanner capable of capturing high-quality data across various object types. In this walkthrough, we take on a large-scale industrial object — a forklift — using all three of the Libre’s scanning modes: Infrared Rapid Mode, Infrared Adaptive Mode with Lasers, and 101-Line Laser HD Mode. Each mode offers a unique advantage depending on surface complexity, reflectivity, and level of detail needed.
Infrared Rapid Mode
This mode is ideal for quickly capturing general surfaces. The team starts by scanning the forklift’s main body and operator’s area using a 1.5mm resolution and enabling texture capture for full-color data. Infrared Rapid Mode excels at tracking large, simple geometries and curves, making it perfect for plastic and less reflective areas. By carefully using the preview feature, the scanning path is planned to maintain camera accuracy and coverage.
Pro Tip: Always begin scanning from an area rich in geometry. This creates a reliable fallback in case tracking is lost, allowing you to resume seamlessly.
Infrared Adaptive Mode with Lasers
Next, scanning shifts to the reflective and darker regions of the forklift. The Infrared Adaptive Mode adds blue laser lines to handle these challenging surfaces. Marker alignment is used to enhance tracking accuracy. With enough geometry in the scene, tracking remains reliable even if markers are sparse in certain areas.
This mode offers a great balance of versatility and precision, especially in environments where lighting and surface quality vary significantly.
101-Line Laser HD Mode
For intricate components that require precise reverse engineering — like cord control slots or power ports — the 101-line Laser HD mode is employed. This mode provides high-resolution, marker-free scanning and supports color capture. Even at a standard 1.2mm resolution, the detail was impressive, and scanning can be refined further to resolutions as low as 0.05mm for small, detailed regions.
Interesting note: color detail is enhanced in this mode when scanning at close range, thanks to the Libre’s integrated color camera.
Post-Processing: Point Clouds and Alignment
After capturing scans from all three modes, the data is transferred to a computer using a Category 7 Ethernet cable. Each scan exists as a separate project. The next step is generating uniform point clouds based on the selected resolution (e.g., 1.2mm), creating a consistent dataset across all modes.
Scan alignment follows using the automatic alignment tool. When needed, marker-based or manual alignment is available, but the system typically does a solid job based solely on geometry.
From Point Cloud to Mesh
Once aligned, the data is converted into a mesh — essentially connecting point cloud data into a network of triangles. This creates exportable 3D model formats like STL, OBJ, or 3MF, ready for reverse engineering or 3D printing workflows. Alternatively, raw point cloud formats such as .ASC or .P3 can be exported and brought into software like Geomagic DesignX or XModel.
Reviewing the Data
Each scan produced high-quality results:
- Infrared Rapid Mode: Fast capture, great for non-reflective surfaces and general geometry.
- Adaptive Laser Mode: Excellent detail on reflective surfaces like hydraulic cylinders and polished metal.
- 101-Line Laser HD Mode: Detailed scans of complex plastic parts, no markers required.
Combined, the scans produced 20 million triangles from 10 million vertices, demonstrating the scanner’s capability in handling large, detailed projects. Areas missed during the first pass can be revisited later — as long as markers or object orientation remain consistent.
Final Thoughts
The EinScan Libre offers an all-in-one 3D scanning solution that adapts to various scanning challenges — from matte plastics to shiny metals, from large components to intricate details. Whether you’re preparing a model for CAD, reverse engineering, or 3D printing, this scanner delivers solid performance with minimal setup and flexible scan modes.
Need help choosing the right 3D scanner for your workflow? Visit Vision Miner for expert guidance, product support, and professional scanning tools including the EinScan Libre, HX2, and FreeScan Combo Plus.