David 3D Scanner ...Or Not.

Here's how you can get to make some .obj files out of real life objects.

What you need:

-An 8$ Laser Edge form any Hardware Store;
-The David scanner program, from
David 3D Scanner

Or, since David is generating a lot of complaints from the Readers of this Instructable, use one of these 5:

http://makezine.com/2015/01/15/5-diy-3d-scanners-to-watch/

-.Net Framework add-on from Microsoft, if you don't have it installed already;
.Net Framework
-A webcam;
-Some printed patterns
-And stuff you'll find around you house, like Styrofoam boards, and UHU Por to glue it, for
example.
If you don't like to change the Edge's batteries all the time, better add a Tranformer with 3V
output, a common Mono plug, and some soldering work, too.
Note:
For an easy scan, and good results, you better have an Airbrush around, to cover the
objects with a wash-away layer of white paint, common Gouache will do fine.

Baby powder is said to give good results on stuff you don't want to paint.

This other Instructable shows you how to make a neat laserline, so have a look at it, too:

https://www.instructables.com/id/-The-DIY-Laserline-/

Right, you better start with the program, download it from http://www.cs.tubs.de/rob/david.htm , click on the links on the intro, comes with a complete manual, just double-click on the program, or click Help anytime.´

And, if you're not into recieving Window's updates by
the Net, download the .Net Framework add-on from
Microsoft, first.

Then you're off to make a square angled thing where to place the prints you make from the

Calibpoints_Scale60_DIN_A3.pdf or
Calibpoints_Scale60_DIN_A4.pdf,

I went and done a hap-hazzard contraption from a couple of straight
Styrofoam boards I had, and glued a cut Kodak envelope onto it, AFTER I cut and glued the A4 page into it.

See, you can make an half-decent right-angled frame, even if you're a lazy slob!

Get some cardboard, you're in business!
Of course, for an A3 thing, you need to do things a little mode decent!
Maybe Acrilic glass, so there's no excuse for crappy scans!

Then I disassembled the Laser Edge, after getting annoyed with changing batteries, got a Mono plug from junk I keep, wired it to the Red and Black wires, and it's now only a question of pluging the thing to a Multi-Voltage Power Supply, and presto!

Allways bright laser light!

Here's the Laser edge assembled, with a few holes on it, too!
After the shot, I added a lateral slot for the thing to stand upright.

The egde's lens was bloody useless for 3D scanning, so, after a few other attempts, I settled for an old eyedrop filled with water and sealed with the last failed attempt, a BIC ballpoint pen's transparent body, it's plastic melt away to seal the eyedrop, first sealed at the tip, then fill it with water, then seal the top.

Used the re-usable adherent stuff that comes with the Edge, to fix the eyedrop into the Edge, too.

Here you can see it, cheaper than looking for a
glass rod, I suppose!

You got it all, so on to the first scan, mine were complete garbadge, either the objects had dark colours or a shiny surface, or the laser batteries loosed their juice, so I went and done the power plug, and picked a completely dull piece of Roofmate, and scanned it, perfection, for what it's worth, so here's the thing,
then here's the obj file it gave:

A dull example; let's see Buzz Lightyear instead, see next step:

Here's Buzz Lightyear, too much colours, so I've airbrushed white paint on it, see next step

...and it looks like
plaster, now.

As you can see, close
but no cigar!
Looks like I've wrapped the thing on Aluminum foil, or the impact marks of Buzz smashing into a metal wall!

Either the webcam's junk, or I'm doing soemething wrong, but as far as showing the program works, it does, so next thing I'll make
the A3 version, and see if that changes anything.

Remember, my webcam's a crappy old Mustek 300 A, so if you've got something better, and a PC to handle it, go for it!