10 Creative Projects You Can Make with Scandy ScansScandy’s mobile 3D scanning tools turn ordinary objects into accurate digital models you can edit, print, animate, or share. Whether you’re a hobbyist, educator, maker, or professional, Scandy scans open a world of creative applications. Below are ten project ideas with step-by-step guidance, tips for better scans, and suggestions for tools and materials to bring your creations to life.
1. Custom Action Figures and Miniatures
Turn people, pets, or original character sculptures into highly detailed miniatures for display or tabletop gaming.
How to:
- Use Scandy to capture the subject with consistent lighting and simple backgrounds.
- Clean the mesh in a 3D editor (Blender, Meshmixer) — remove noise, fill holes, and retopologize if needed.
- Scale the model to miniature size (28–32 mm for tabletop figures) and add a base or peg.
- Slice in your preferred slicer (PrusaSlicer, Cura) with appropriate supports; print in resin for finer detail.
- Post-process: wash, cure, sand, and paint.
Tips:
- For people/pets, capture multiple angles and use markers (tape or stickers) to help the scan software align surfaces.
- Resin printers yield best fine detail; FDM with small nozzle is cheaper.
2. Personalized Phone and Tablet Stands
Create ergonomic, branded, or themed stands that fit your device perfectly.
How to:
- Scan an item to copy a preferred curve or footprint (e.g., an old stand or a hand-held object).
- Import the scan into CAD software (Fusion 360, Onshape) and use it as a reference to design a functional stand around the scanned shape.
- Export for 3D printing; consider printing with flexible filaments (TPU) or adding rubber feet.
Materials:
- PLA for prototypes; PETG/ABS for higher durability; TPU for soft contact points.
3. Replicating Antique or Fragile Objects
Digitally preserve heirlooms, museum pieces, or fragile collectibles for restoration, study, or replication.
How to:
- Take high-resolution Scandy scans under diffuse light to reduce shadows.
- Align and merge multiple scans to capture complete detail.
- Archive the cleaned mesh (OBJ/PLY/GLB) and 3D-print replicas using materials and finishes that mimic originals (resin with patina).
Ethics:
- Get permission before scanning objects that aren’t yours. For valuable or extremely fragile items, consult a conservator.
4. Custom Jewelry and Wearables
Design unique rings, pendants, and bracelets by scanning textures, reliefs, or organic shapes.
How to:
- Scan a texture (bark, fabric, fossil) or a small sculpted model with Scandy.
- Import into jewelry CAD (RhinoGold, TinkerCAD, Blender) and convert to a watertight mesh.
- Combine the scan with parametric elements (shank, bail) and hollow or shell the design for casting, or prepare it for direct metal printing.
Finishes:
- Cast in silver or gold, or 3D-print in resin and electroplate for a metal-like finish.
5. Educational Models for Classrooms
Create tactile learning aids: anatomical parts, fossils, historical artifacts, or geometric solids.
How to:
- Scan relevant specimens or props.
- Simplify geometry and label parts in a 3D modeling program or create interactive 3D PDFs/AR experiences.
- Print durable models in PLA for repeated classroom use.
Lesson ideas:
- Anatomy: scan bones or models for hands-on study.
- Paleontology: scan fossil replicas and compare species digitally.
6. Custom Prosthetics and Assistive Devices (Prototyping)
Use Scandy scans for rapid prototyping of ergonomic braces, grips, or prosthetic covers.
How to:
- Scan the limb or contact surface with the subject in a relaxed, stable position.
- Import the scan into CAD and design the device to match contours precisely.
- Prototype in flexible materials (TPU, silicone molds) and iterate based on fit tests.
Safety:
- Use scans for prototyping only; final medical devices should involve professionals and proper certification.
7. Home Decor and Functional Art
Produce lampshades, wall art, vases, or textured tiles derived from scanned organic forms.
How to:
- Scan natural objects (leaves, shells, stones) or handmade textures.
- Convert scans into repeatable patterns or negative molds for casting ceramics or resin.
- Combine with CNC or laser cutting by exporting 2D slices or displacement maps.
Example project:
- Scan a leaf, create a relief tile pattern, 3D-print molds, and cast decorative tiles in concrete or clay.
8. Augmented Reality (AR) Assets and Virtual Staging
Create optimized 3D assets for apps, AR filters, or virtual staging of interiors.
How to:
- Scan objects and optimize meshes (decimate, bake normals) to keep polycount low while preserving appearance.
- Export textures and models in GLB/GLTF for web and mobile AR.
- Use tools like Adobe Aero, Unity, or three.js to place scanned objects into AR scenes or virtual tours.
Performance tips:
- Use baked normal and occlusion maps to retain detail without high geometry counts.
- Aim for under 200k tris for mobile AR assets.
9. Stop-Motion Puppets and Animation Assets
Turn physical sculptures into rigged digital puppets or create replacement parts for stop-motion.
How to:
- Scan clay armatures, puppet heads, or props at high detail.
- Retopologize for animation-friendly geometry and create blend shapes or joint rigs.
- For stop-motion, 3D-print replacement faces or hands for consistent motion sequences.
Workflow:
- Sculpt > scan > clean > retopo > rig/print.
10. Interactive Art Installations and Projection Mapping
Use large-scale scans to create immersive installations or surfaces for projection mapping.
How to:
- Scan objects or environments (architectural details, sculptures) in sections and stitch them together.
- Convert scans into vector guides or meshes for projection mapping software (MadMapper, TouchDesigner).
- Create dynamic visuals that respond to the physical contours of the scanned surface.
Installation idea:
- Scan a series of driftwood pieces, project animated textures that flow along grain patterns undetectable on flat surfaces.
Tips for Better Scans
- Use even, diffuse lighting to reduce shadows and glare.
- Capture multiple angles and overlap scans for better stitching.
- Use simple, contrasting backgrounds to help the software isolate the object.
- Keep the camera steady and move around the object rather than moving the object itself when possible.
- Clean and simplify meshes in tools like Meshmixer or Blender before downstream use.
Recommended Tools and Materials
- Scandy app for capture
- Meshmixer, Blender for cleanup and retopology
- Fusion 360, Rhino, Onshape for CAD work
- Cura, PrusaSlicer for FDM; ChiTuBox for resin slicing
- Resin printers (for high detail), FDM printers (for larger, cheaper pieces)
- Materials: PLA, PETG, TPU, standard resin, castable resin, metal casting services
Final Notes
Scandy scans bridge the physical and digital, enabling anyone with a phone to create detailed, usable 3D assets. Start small—scan a simple object, clean it, and try one project end-to-end to learn the pipeline. With practice you’ll move from quick prototypes to polished, exhibition-ready work.
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