Using a Microsoft Kinect to scan image for printing?

[LePaul 314]

First, has anyone done this?

I have searched around a lot and found numerous programs that will do scanning but I haven't seen any that will generate an OBJ or STL

I have a Windows Kinect and was curious if this might be handy to scan some objects for printing

Thanks for the help!

 

[scooby 0]

I too have been curious about this, I have seen videos of people mapping rooms with them but I don't recall the file format. If it does not use OBJ or STL as a native file there has to be a program out there to convert the file into a usable one. Also check out kinect studio, at least thats what i think it is called, its a program from Microsoft for enable kinect with other applications.

 

[printerfan 5]

I believe Kinect Fusion can not only do image processing, but it can also generate a mesh that you can export as a .stl file. Are you using a Kinect V1 or V2? Microsoft just released the adapter cable for the Kinect V2 to allow the xbox one Kinect V2 to be connected to a PC. I want to try this as well, but simply have not had the time. Below is the link for Kinect Fusion, let me know what you think of the software if you give it a shot, but I think its probably what you are looking for.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn188670.aspx

 

[anon4321 16]

http://www.instructables.com/id/Print-yourself-with-a-Kinect/

 

[LePaul 314]

I believe Kinect Fusion can not only do image processing, but it can also generate a mesh that you can export as a .stl file. Are you using a Kinect V1 or V2? Microsoft just released the adapter cable for the Kinect V2 to allow the xbox one Kinect V2 to be connected to a PC. I want to try this as well, but simply have not had the time. Below is the link for Kinect Fusion, let me know what you think of the software if you give it a shot, but I think its probably what you are looking for.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn188670.aspx

 

I couldn't find the actual download for Kinect Fusion?

As you can tell from my profile pic, I have quite the Batman suit. I'd like to scan the belt, which was molded in rubber and either 3D print one or CNC from lightweight aluminum Would be fun to try!

 

[printerfan 5]

I believe kinect fusion is part of the Kinect 1.8 SDK. So download the Kinect SDK 1.8, then it will ask if you want to download the developers tool kit for it, download the developers tool kit as well (I believe the toolkit contains Kinect Fusion and some other applications)

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/confirmation.aspx?id=40278

 

[visu-al 2]

if you have windows 8 and kinect for windows then you can use the "3D Builder" app from the windows app store it has mesh edit and export functions its even optimized for multitouch use

I use that as well but its in early stage and i had some hard times properly scanning objects and find good settings but i am very convinced that with the kinect for windows v2 sensor i have there will be very good solutions to scan all kinds of objects that aren't tiny.. with the old kinect i saw some pretty nice scans.. but as i said i guess its useless for smaller and tiny objects and this belt stuff i guess is bit to small you would surely need to mesh editing to make it properly in the cm range..

 

[LePaul 314]

I may need to invest in the newer model it seems?

The latest is

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/kinectforwindows/meetkinect/default.aspx

This is the model I have

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-L6M-00001-Kinect-for-Windows/dp/B006UIS53K

I dug around a bit and wanted to see what the differences were. Seems Infrared and a few things?

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/kinectforwindows/meetkinect/faq.aspx

 

[visu-al 2]

can you show me some pictures of the belt your speaking about? If the geometrie isnt too complicated you could measure some apects for me and i could model from the pictures with the measured sizes you give me a clean file probably..

 

[LePaul 314]

Sure!

Here's a start

The accessories are part of the mold and not removable

 

[printerfan 5]

Visu-Al

Do you have any examples of the quality we can expect from kinect v1 and kinect v2 scans?

Also, what modeling software do you use?

 

[LePaul 314]

It will only run on Windows 8, in case you hadn't caught that. I have 8.1 and am going to toy with it a bit, try to make due with the Kinect I have

Looks like I need to find and print a tripod adapter

 

[printerfan 5]

The 2.0 SDK runs on Windows 8, but I believe the 1.8 SDK still functions on Windows 7.

Did you find Kinect Fusion in the 1.8 SDK?

 

[LePaul 314]

There's about 8 of them! Not sure which to toy with first

Oh, per that Instructables link....Kinect Fusion Explorer WPF

 

[LePaul 314]

If you have the Windows Kinect, I found a good tripod-to-kinect adapter

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:8570

Note you need to select the "kinect_nut.stl" as he included the original file that does not accommodate the 1/4-20 nut.

Edit: Tried it. Not a good design. You need to bore out the center hole (5/16") for the 1/4-20 threaded screw (from tripod) to pass. Furthermore, on most tripods, only 1/4" or so is available, so you do not over-thread too deep into your camera. With this design, once placed on a tripod, you can't thread into the 1/4-20 nut (you provide). Talk about frustrating! Push, tug. pull, cuss...you might get a half turn in, that's it. Try to lower the Kinect into the adapter and the "snaps" that fit inside the slots of the Kinect break.

This design looks a bit more promising http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5004

 

[visu-al 2]

I dont know but i usualy move the sensor around focusing on the object. the software i use tracks the cameras position and accumulates some kind of textured pointcloud data wich is calculated to a mesh object you can work with..

 

[illuminarti 18]

Skanect is a good, fairly cheap program for building 3D scans from Kinect or Primesense/Asus scanners. However, while the quality is pretty good at the resolution of a person, or bigger, it's not really suited for scanning small detailed objects. I can't really imagine the belt scanning very well, tbh. Especially with a Kinect, which is lower resolution that other more dedicated scanners like the Carmine v1.09.

 

[LePaul 314]

Skanect is a good, fairly cheap program for building 3D scans from Kinect or Primesense/Asus scanners. However, while the quality is pretty good at the resolution of a person, or bigger, it's not really suited for scanning small detailed objects. I can't really imagine the belt scanning very well, tbh. Especially with a Kinect, which is lower resolution that other more dedicated scanners like the Carmine v1.09.

 

True, you may be right. Can't hurt to tinker and try it

 

[visu-al 2]

@printerfan

No, i don't send you my girlfriend haha Maybe ill try to scan something else in the next days and provide the file here.

I use blender.

 

[visu-al 2]

@LePaul

Thanks for the picture i would probably need a bit more but will be hard to find time to model this week^^

 

[nallath 1,117]

You will not be able to get good scans of that belt. The Kinect does not have enough accuracy. It's okay-ish if you want to scan a person (and scale it, because you notice mistakes less).

 

[DidierKlein 729]

I have the same feeling as Nallath, i have a 3d sense scanner which is similar to a kinect with skanect software, it's kind of good for scanning people but not precise enough for scanning relatively small (and detailed) objects.

You might get a very unprecise scan of the belt but will need a lot of work to re-model it. Might be easier to remodel it from scratch

 

[LePaul 314]

Thanks for that.

Well, it was a neat thought....I wonder if the version 2 is any better?

 

[nallath 1,117]

Probably still not good enough.

 

[LePaul 314]

I'm open to suggestions on other devices then!