Introduction to Shining3D (Part 1): Einscan Desktop 3D Scanners

Hello! It’s Top 3D Shop and in this article we will talk about Shining 3D. This manufacturer is among the few companies that offer a comprehensive ecosystem of 3D digitization solutions, covering not only 3D printing, but 3D scanning and software solutions for engineering and medical teams.

Most importantly, the company is constantly innovating to bring these technologies not only to the production floors of industrial conglomerates, but small businesses, R&D and engineering labs. For example, the Einscan HX is the most affordable handheld laser 3D scanner currently available on the market, bringing the price down to only $9,999.

The professionals and hobbyists alike will find value in reading about this brand and its products, and the article will cover precisely that. In part 1 we’ll focus on the overview of the company’s history and the Einscan desktop line of 3D scanners: Einscan SE and Einscan SP. In part 2 we’ll focus on their handheld line: Einscan H, Einscan Pro 2X 2020, Einscan Pro HD and Einscan HX.

About Shining 3D

Shining 3D, based in China, was founded in 2004 and is an experienced manufacturer. 

They were among the pioneers of 3D digitizing, today offering a full-blown ecosystem that covers all stages of the rapid prototyping and product development cycle.

The company develops and manufactures a wide range of devices and provides various services: they make 3D scanners, 3D printers, professional 3D software and CAD solutions. This ecosystem fulfills the needs of even the most demanding clients. 

The company cites its mission: “to improve the efficiency of high-quality 3D modeling, to enable flexible production of high performance, complex structure parts, and to make 3D digitizing and additive manufacturing technologies accessible to all; from large multinational corporations worldwide to at home hobbyists”.

And delivers on its premise. For example, Shining3D is one of the few companies that supplements its scanning solutions with a free CAD and reverse-engineering software suite SolidEdge Shining 3D Edition. 

Shining 3D is headquartered in Hangzhou, China but the manufacturer has divisions and subsidiaries in Stuttgart, Germany and San Francisco. This makes their equipment more available around the globe.

Our company Top 3D Shop is also among the official partners of Shining 3D. 

The manufacturing plants are located in Chinese cities: Hangzhou, Beijing and Tianjin. All of the production lines are equipped with cutting edge manufacturing and QA systems. This is how the company manages to both innovate and produce high-quality products.. The majority of products have the following certifications: CE, FDA, UL, FCC or RoHs.

The technologies offered by Shining 3D are utilized in various industries: from automotive and aerospace to electronics manufacturing. The devices are also used in architecture and building, dentistry, orthopedics, energy industry and educational fields. The experience of Shining 3D allows the clients to improve quality and efficiency while simultaneously reducing costs.

Products Overview: Einscan-SE and Einscan SP 3D Scanners

Shining 3D EinScan-SE

The EinScan-SE is a desktop 3D scanner by Shining. Designed to be very accessible, this structured light 3D scanner offers incredible ease of use and boasts high scanning speed and accuracy. It’s targeted at those who want to try their hand in 3D scanning without spending huge sums on the equipment.

Below is a sculpture scan capture made with the EinScan-SE:

Below is the toy plane:

This device is aimed at scanning objects between 303030 mm (1.21.21.2 in) and 250250250 mm (383838 in). The maximum weight the turntable can handle is 5 kg.

The device relies on two alignment modes: feature alignment and manual alignment. 

Feature alignment is when the software creates a 3D model, relying on the geometry of the object. The more distinctive features there are on the object, the easier it is for the software to align each individual scan into a complete 3D mesh file.

If the object doesn’t have enough features, the user is welcome to use the manual alignment mode. Under the manual alignment mode, the user needs to create 3 pairs of common points between 2 scans. In the example below, the top 2 scans are the scans we’re trying to align. The green dots represent the common points we’ve hand selected. 

The bottom scan is the result of our alignment attempt (which went quite well).

Using structured light technology, the EinScan-SE utilizes one white light source and two monochrome cameras. It can scan the objects both with or without color. For example, here is the banana scanned by the Maker’s Muse YouTube channel: 

Look at the level of detail the scanner was able to acquire:

Quite impressive!

The device is quite fast. A single scan can be performed in 10 seconds and a complete, 360-degree scan will take from 1.25 to 2 min, depending on the geometry of the object and the settings used. Several scans can be merged into one using proprietary software.

The device is quite versatile and can be used for various purposes, although it’s limited to small and middle-sized objects. Both hobbyists and professionals alike can find a use for the EinScan-SE. It can scan smaller automotive parts, art objects and various figurines. It would also be very useful for educational purposes. 

Limitations:

The following surfaces will be hard to scan:

• Transparent objects like glass

• Shining or reflective objects like varnished metal parts

• Dark color object like black keyboard

• Fuzzy objects like hair

Solution: To scan such objects, the user would need to spray white powder on objects.

It will also be difficult to scan objects with plain or symmetrical geometry (such objects require the use of markers, only the Einscan SP supports this mode), or objects larger than 250250250 mm (to scan larger objects, one is recommended to use a tripod, only the Einscan SP includes a tripod as part of its package).

Shining 3D EinScan-SP

The EinScan-SP is a desktop 3D scanner manufactured by Shining 3D. Technically, it can be considered a higher-end version of the EinScan-SE and even the naming reflects on thar (‘P’ stands for ‘Platinum’, while ‘E’ stands for ‘Elite’). Similarly to the SE, it’s a structured light scanner that utilizes the system with one white light source and monochrome cameras that can capture objects with and without color. 

The main differences are:

• Higher accuracy (0.05 mm for SP vs. 0.10 mm for SE)

• Faster speed (4 seconds for SP vs. 8 seconds for SE)

• Supports markers alignment (which allows scanning objects with plain or symmetrical geometry)

• Includes a tripod as part of its package (this in turn allows scanning larger objects, up to 1200 x 1200 x 1200 mm)

The device is very accurate and impressively fast: it can complete a 360 degree auto scan in 1 minute. That’s significantly faster than the EinScan-SE. The EinScan-SP is also more accurate and can work with larger scan volume compared to its more affordable counterpart. 

The device is versatile and can be used for different applications. It’s a perfect solution for fast yet accurate scans of small, middle-sized and even a bit large (up to 1200 x 1200 x 1200 mm) objects and can be used for digitizing art objects, small sculptures, toys and figurines. It can be a good choice for various industries: automotive, healthcare, as well as the educational field. 

Limitations:

The same limitations listed for the Einscan SE apply.

However, in contrast to the Einscan SE, it is much easier to scan objects with plain or symmetrical geometry since the scanner supports the markers alignment mode. 

In addition, the tripod allows scanning larger objects, but the recommended object size is limited to 1200 x 1200 x 1200 mm.

Conclusion

Both EinScan-SE and EinScan-SP by Shining are reliable and accurate devices that provide impressive results without breaking the bank. They are proven to be excellent desktop scanners that are versatile and can be easily adapted to the requirements of the task. 

Stay tuned for Part 2: we will cover the handheld line by Shining.  

One can purchase Einscan 3D scanners at Top 3D Shop. These impressive devices come with a 1-year manufacturer warranty. In addition, our team will make sure to provide the best service possible, just like we always do.