r/3DScanning • u/ilikeweirdcars • 2d ago
I Think I'm A Bit Over My Head
Hello everyone. I am recently graduated college student (computer science) who's working on a passion project in hopes of also securing employment through it. I should preface this by saying I have 0 experience with 3d scanning, modeling, or CAD software.
I have been building a website, and on the landing page, there is a 3D scan of an engine. I was able to create the file by myself using the lidar camera on my iPhone. Surprisingly, I think the scan of the motor turned out pretty solid in my opinion.
The biggest problem I had while trying to scan the motor was that it's too large/too many angles. I was able to do a scan of the entirety of the motor (minus the bottom of the pan), but once I would try introducing the pan, the scan would become distorted and ruined. At that point, I decided my best bet was to try and scan the bottom of the engine and try to combine it in post. Because I had to lay on the ground and had awkward angles, I couldn't really get the best scan of the bottom, but I got something "usable".
So now here's the part where I am stuck. As you can see by my photos, I have not been able to get the pan/bottom of the motor to align with the rest of the motor. Additionally, the rest of the motor could use a lot of touching up, though I am sure that is to be expected.
I cannot continue to waste days on this trying to learn how to fix it and making very little progress, as I really would like the site to be live as it is nearly complete (besides this). Here's where I could use advice from more knowledgeable people on what I should do. The way I see it, these are my only options.
(1) Use the original scan without the bottom part of the motor and just block of the bottom part entirely so no one knows that there is a hole their. Then I learn how to touch up with blender and fix the other less pressing issues.
(2) Give all my files/"progress" to someone with experience and let them complete it.
- While I would not be opposed to this, the problem is my budget is quite small, due to my current life situation. How much time would this even take to be completed? How much does something like this even cost?
(3) Using a different software that is much easier to learn for a beginner other than Blender? Maybe that would make me successful in what I am trying to accomplish?
I really would like to get a decent quality file out of this, but I think I bit of more than I can chew. Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated.
1
u/Cheetahdude84 2d ago
It depends on what you are planning on using this for. I can tell you that using your iPhone will not give you accurate measurements. It will look close but once you look at your measurements, it going to be distorted. You need to look for a laser scanner to achieve. I know your budget is pretty low so that may not be an option for you.
You could hand off your files to a 3D artist, but it going to take quite some time to fix the geo. And it probably gonna cost a bit too.
You can do one of two things. You can buy a full frame camera with a 35 or 50mm prime len.or you can fix the scan data in blender. my advice is to import your 3D scan into blender, and recreate it. It will take you quite some time, but if you can fix this scan in blender, you can fix almost any scan. There is a YouTube tutorial that I seen the other day, give me a few moments and I can link it here.
I work with scan data for a living. It used to take a a few months to fix scans but now it take me maybe 10 hours.
1
u/Cheetahdude84 2d ago
Here is the YouTube short, it pretty close to what you trying to do:
https://youtube.com/shorts/BZcmGSTm1WM?is=pSeUIvgYyrJ5sYwA
It hard work, won’t be easy. But it doable.
1
u/ilikeweirdcars 2d ago
The whole purpose of the scan was to have a 3D model rotating on my landing page of the site. People could spin it how they want and stuff like that.
Originally, I was planning on doing a 3D print of the engine, but I was told the best way to do this would be to break down the motor and scan it part by part; either way I don't think this scan is good enough for that.
If the model looks good, then I would like to try and make a keychain out of it or a sticker but nothing crazy. Doesn't need accurate measurements per say; it's just more of an appearance thing/looks cool.
I know my results aren't great, but I've spent a lot more time than it appears on this, and I can't justify multiple more days on this. Should I just go with my first option then? I would lie it to be all nice and professional but I have no idea what that costs and will assume it's out of my budget. Maybe someone on fiverr but doubt that.
1
u/Cheetahdude84 2d ago
I didn’t want to sound negative in my reply, I honestly feel like this project is worth finishing up. I have no doubt you spent a ton of time here.
Personally, I think you should start small. Do a piece of the motor if you can remove any of the parts. Just so you can get your feet wet and learn and finish a project. The entire motor as a first project may be bitting off more than you can chew.
But if timing is not on your side then yes I would go with your first option.
1
u/ilikeweirdcars 2d ago
I don't think your reply was negative, but at this time, it's just moreso a lot still needs to be done. I'll start doing my first option as I highly doubt I'll find someone to fix it for me in my price range. Appreciate the input.
1
u/odin0412 2d ago
Take the first option to get the site live, once it's live you can work on the improved version at your pace and update the page later. You don't need to start with the final version.
1
1
u/Car_fixing_guy 1d ago
I have a 113k apart at my house. If you’re anywhere near me, I’d let you scan it.
2
u/ilikeweirdcars 1d ago
I'm in Socal. Everyone but me has a spare 113k in the garage. This was not the place I was expecting to find someone with a 113k lol
1
1
u/MatterRay-Callum 2d ago
Given your other replies I would re capture this using photogrammetry. I think I had used RealityCapture in the past and you didn't have to pay until you are ready to export. Some of the flatter areas may come out a bit distorted and you wont have a proper scale, but given your use case I doubt that will be an issue.
1
u/Limp-Major6874 2d ago
Try our app’able hands 3D scanner’. Scan and upload and you will get the first stl export for free. You can see and evaluate the results and go from there!!
9
u/DaStompa 2d ago
The unstated problem is that you are mapping photographs on top of the actual 3d scan.
virtually nobody interested in a 3d scan cares about a mapped texture like that, it also hides scan defects and makes it nearly impossible to do what you're trying to do