Although 3D scanning technology is certainly not a new innovation to hit the market, with different iterations of the tools being available for decades now, the popularity is certainly seeing a spike in recent years in large part thanks to increased accessibility. In terms of usability, physical size, and price, it is much simpler for users of all experience levels and job types to take advantage of the capabilities provided by these scanners. One shift in recent years that saw these scanners being more easily physically handled was last year peel 3d released their latest line of handheld scanners, the peel 2-S and peel 2 CAD-S. Now, less than two years later, they announced earlier this month a complete redesign of their scanner with the release of their peel 3 and peel 3.CAD scanners, which are available now.
These new scanners have been redesigned for optimal ergonomic comfort, giving them a unique shape and usability among handheld scanners. The new peel 3 have been upgraded with what the company describes as an “ultra-ergonomic handle,” a triangulated handle which allows for the scanner to be used in multiple positions comfortably. The scanner is also equipped with a new LCD touchscreen to give users the ability to interact with the scanner instantly and also do things like check distances without having to shift focus back and forth between a computer and the scanner. In addition, the peel 3 has added a new vibration communication system with “several recognizable vibration patterns” to guide a user as they scan narrow and hard-to-reach locations that do not open themselves up to perfect lines of sight. The scanner also weighs less than a kilogram, allowing for easy use by anyone involved in a project.
On top of the physical peel 3 scanner, users can also upgrade to the peel 3.CAD scanner, which includes reverse engineering software tailored specifically for the scanner, allowing for scans to be transformed into CAD files which can then be imported to any major CAD software. That is in addition to the peel.OS software that comes standard with any of the peel 3 scanners, allowing for the data collected into the scan to be easily transformed into usable models and insights. The peel 3 and peel 3.CAD are priced at $8,490 and $11,990, respectively, putting them in a competitive position in the market.
These scanners can be utilized by a number of different industries which can benefit from an easy-to-use handheld scanner. While this kind of lightweight scanner may not be ideal for all projects, particularly those on a larger scale, they can be utilized for smaller scans as well as those that require scans in hard-to-reach locations. Peel 3d specifically calls out three applications – heritage preservation, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and digital content creation, and healthcare – that can benefit from this technology, though they are careful to not limit the use cases to those three areas.
Specifically, the space around AR and VR is a rapidly growing one, especially with the continued focus on the development of a metaverse as the next stage of connected computing. While much of this technology revolves around wholly digital and virtual worlds, there is a lot in the space that also includes, either partially or entirely, our real, physical world. To make these applications as realistic as possible, scans of real-life items are completed in order to create a digital replica, or “digital twin”, which can then be used for all varieties of applications. For example, many enterprise companies are looking to AR and VR for training purposes in large manufacturing facilities and other industrial locations, providing a safer alternative than doing these trainings on the floor of a busy worksite. In order to make trainings as realistic as possible, the virtual replications need to be hyper-accurate, and scanning specific pieces of machinery can be done easily and quickly with a handheld scanner like the peel 3.
As time continues to move along, of course the accuracy of technology like 3D scanners is going to improve, but just as importantly the comfort of use and accessibility for the tools will as well. The advancements being made by peel 3d are a perfect example of this, with their newest scanners raising the bar for comfort and ease-of-use.
On the new scanner, the company’s Program Manager, François Leclerc, said, “peel 3 and peel 3.CAD are the culmination of feedback from our customers and well as the market needs we have observed over the past months. The entire team at peel 3d believes that 3D scanning users, whether beginners or seasoned pros, should never have to compromise performance for price. Today's launch is proof of the value we bring to the table.”
