Educators

Technical Schools - STEM/STEAM - Science Labs

The SOL 3D scanner allow students to get experience with the world of 3D. Bring your ideas from the physical world into the digital world and learn what you can do with your scans.

Workflow: Scan – improve – modify – share – print

SOL Benefits: Ease-of-use -precision – portable - affordable – straight-forward workflow

Learn about 3D

Technical universities, science labs, art schools, libraries, can all benefit of the SOL 3D scanner. Learn to use 3D modeling and printing tools and let SOL be your starting point for learning and experimenting with 3D.

Learn about 3D workflows

Get familiar with the different 3D workflows such as scanning, printing, modeling etc.

Learn about applications

Ideas are abundant, yet turning those ideas into real world objects and applications is challenging. SOL makes it simple for students to generate high-resolution scans for artistic creation, invention, prototyping and more.

Classroom/Lab usage

Typically, usage within a classroom, lab, or maker space falls into one of three broad use-cases or workflows:

Scan-to-print (Learn More) - With this use-case, the focus is on allowing the student to easily create a duplicate or replica of an object. The scan will primarily be used to import into a 3D printing program(slicer) and then output to a scanner. It may be scaled up or down in prior to printing depending on the student’s project. Using a real-world object as the input for the learning process will help students compare physical output to the original object and can help illustrate different choices they might have made in the printing process. Scanning to print may also be useful as students need to reproduce parts for use in some other project, such as robot building, prototyping, or art creation.
Scan-to-model (Learn More) - This workflow is about using a scan as a starting point for learning more complex 3D modeling. Students will create a scan and then import the OBJ or STL file into their modeling software of choice. Once imported, they can use the scan as an 'outline' of the model they wish to create, or incorporate the scan into other work projects.
Scan-to-share (Learn More) - This use-case is all about sharing the scan with others. Students may want to use their scans to showcase their physical creations online, use the scans to help sell a product, or incorporate the scan into some other digital creation like a virtual reality scene or a 3D game.

Sample Lesson Plan : Introduction to 3D Scanning

Objective:

Students will be able to successfully scan an object using the SOL 3D scanner, and export their scan for printing.

Overview:

Additive manufacturing is expanding at a rapid pace in multiple industries. Just as computer know-how was added to classrooms over the past decades, 3D knowledge is beginning to become a foundational capability for many professions.

This course plan will help students overcome some of the mental blocks and cognitive hurdles that may slow them from exploring 3D technologies.

Outline:

0:00 - 0:10 - Discuss where 3D technology is being used in the world today. Ideas from the students can be from engineering, the arts, architecture, to food.

0:10 - 0:15 - But how do we get started learning about 3D? We could start with learning how to print using a 3D printer, but that would lead to a lot of questions:

Which printer to use?
What material to print in?
What slicer software works with that printer?
What is slicer software?
Where do we get a model to print?
How do we know the model is printed correctly?
And more...

0:15 - 0:20 - Or we can just get started....

Introduce the SOL 3D scanner. Cover any applicable usage rules for your classroom.

0:20 - 0:25 - SOL - set-up.

Parts of scanner:

Turntable
Scanner (head)
Scanner arm
USB connections to computer
Tent/Enclosure

Near-mode

Scanner arm down with head closest to turntable
Object size - cylinder 100 mm in diameter, 100 mm tall (3.9 inches)

Far-mode

Scanner arm up with head further away from turntable
Object size - cylinder 170 mm in diameter, 170 mm tall (6.9 inches)

0:25 - 0:30 SOL software

Launch - the program checks that scanner is connected and computer meets requirements.
Follow on-screen directions

0:30 - 0:40 Assignment

Group students (pairs, or small groups)
Have each group identify object to scan.
Outside of class/lesson have each group perform a single pass scan of the object (approximately 30 minutes will be required, so multiple scanners/computers are needed or time allocated for each group to complete a scan.
Set due date for when scan must be completed (next class?)

0:40 - 0:50 Resources - cover resources students may find useful in completing their first scan.