Einstar Handheld 3D Scanner

Quick Info

Scaner Type: Infrared VCSEL Structured Light
Working distance/Depth of Field: 160mm - 1400mm
Optimal Working Distance: 400mm
Point Distance: 0.1mm - 3mm
Tracking Modes: Features, Markers, Hybrid
Texture Scanning: yes
Outdoor scanning: yes
Output data: Mesh Files in OBJ, STL, PLY, P3, or 3MF
Power Source: Combined data + Power cable

Authorization Procedure

Under development. As of this writing the scanners are grouped with the 3D printing Resource area and questions should be directed there until this guidance changes.

Scanner Location

The scanner is stored in the black storage cabinet in a grey semi-rigid case.

Official Resource Links

User Manual

Shining3d Docs Page

EXStar Scanning software - Latest version 1.2.2.0 as of June 30 2025

Workflow Summary

This is the abreviated version, see the longer workflow subpage for more detail.

The general workflow is as follows:

Prep the object you want to scan. This means situating it somewhere you can fully move around it, applying markers or scanning spray if needed, and making a plan for dividing the object into multiple scans if it is a large object.
Connect the scanner and launch EXStar
Setup a new project group and scan settings
Preview the scan and adjust brightness on the scanner
Capture raw scan data
Edit the raw scan data if needed and then generate the point cloud
Capture additional scans as new projects inside the same group if computer resources allow
If multiple scans were taken in the same group, align them.
Generate the mesh from the point cloud(s)
Process and optimize the mesh
Align the mesh if desired
Export the mesh file for use in other software

Scanner Setup

Connect the round connector into the scanner, take care to align it correctly
Connect the power cable into the data cable
Plug the power adapter into an outlet
Connect the USB A end of the data cable to the computer

Computer Requirements

The Einstar scanner uses the EXStar scanning software which runs on both windows and MacOS. The software has fairly high hardware requirements. In all cases the more ram you can provide the better your experience will be. 32gb is the bare minimum and running with 32gb will limit the size of the scan you can process in one go.

Windows 10/11:

NVIDIA graphics card with min 6gb VRAM (GTX1050 is the oldest supported card).
Memory: 32gb+ more is better.
CPU: I7-11800 (or equivelant AMD) or newer

MacOS:

M1 Pro or newer
Memory: 32gb+ more is better
OS MacOS ventura 13 or newer

The dedicated 3D design PC is ideal for running the software. To use the scanner in other parts of the building see the section on remote operation

EXStar Software Overview

The workflow in EXStar is roughly as follows:

Connect the scanner and ensure it is detected
Recalibrate if the calibration is out of date. This can be delayed, but marker detection performance degrades rapidly when calibration expires.
Setup your scan and collect the raw scan
Post process the scan data into a mesh file
Do any final mesh processing and alignment
Export

Terminology

Project Group - Top level project which can contain more than 1 scan. Projects can be used to capture and align several scans
Project - Part of a project group, think of each "project" as a single scan
Point Cloud - The raw scan captures. The scanner creates points with an assigned x,y,z location. This point cloud is then used to generate the mesh object through processign
Marker - Tracking markers are reflective dots specifically sized and designed to be easy for the scanner to see and track.
Mesh - The final output of your scan, similar to the types of files that 3d printer slicers work with
Texture - Effectively a photo of the object mapped to the 3d file. The scanner uses a normal camera to capture images and map them to the point cloud. Allows for capturing colors, markings, etc. Mostly useful for people scanning.

Scan Settings/Setting Up a Project

When you create a new project group you are presented with the following list of options

Scan Mode: Person or Object. Person mode optimizes a few things for scanning people, use object mode for everything else.
Object Size: In general always use medium and large setting. Small object mode is harder to work with, and the Einstar isn't the best small object scanner
Mode of Alignment: Hybrid is usually the best
- Hybrid: Use a combination of features, markers, and texture. You can select any combination of these to use
  - Features: the scanner tracks based on the scanned geometry. Performance is ok, but tracking is easy to lose and drift is more common
  - Markers: The scanner looks for marker dots placed on or around the object
  - Texture: the scanner uses the captured texture for tracking, helpful for person tracking particularly
- Global Markers: Useful if you have a scanning workspace that has permanently applied tracking markers that never move. You take one scan first to capture all the markers and can then import that marker data to use for future scans.
Resolution: How much data the scanner gathers in the point cloud. Smaller values collect more detail but use more memory. Larger values allow for larger scans with less captured detail.
Texture Scanning: toggle if you want to capture the texture of the object.

Calibration

Periodically the scanner will need recalibration. Ignoring the request for recalibration often leads to the scanner not detecting markers reliably. If you notice the scanner simply will not detect markers, rerun the calibration.

Official Calibration Guide

Calibration involves pointing the scanner at the included calibration plate from several distances and angles. The calibration workspace will walk you through each stage. You will need some space to work, a workbench or desk is often enough.

Troubleshooting

The scanner keeps connecting and disconnecting from the device manager

Tips and Tricks

Where possible use markers for tracking. Scan quality and tracking performance increases dramatically with markers. The Einstar wants 6mm markers
- To save your sanity applying and removing markers, consider making reusable ones such as these: https://www.printables.com/model/1029476-magnetic-markers-for-3d-scanning
- While markers increase tracking performance they also leave holes in your mesh. The software will attempt to fill them, but consider where you are placing them and do not put markers on critical features.
Set realistic expectations for how large of a scan you can capture. Processing the scan data is very resource intensive and you will likely run into hardware limitations. Where possible setup large objects to be scanned in chunks and aligned later. For example do not attempt to capture an entire car in one scan, capture it in pieces and align the scans after the fact.
The measurement workspace allows you to pre-align scans which makes using them later easier.
- Create features like planes, lines, and points, then use them in a 3-2-1 alignment
- Consider how you'll make these when scanning, look for features that will allow for easy plane creation and make sure they are captured in the scan

Remote Scanning

It is possible to use a lightweight laptop with the scanner and run the scanning software on a remote computer that is more powerful. The process to do so is as follows:

On the computer that will run the EXStar software:

Make sure some kind of remote desktop is enabled, you will need to be able to remotely control the computer
Make sure VirtualHere client is running - https://www.virtualhere.com/usb_client_software

On the lightweight computer that the scanner will connect to:

Make sure VirtualHere USB Server is installed and running - https://www.virtualhere.com/windows_server_software

Workflow Setup:

Establish a remote desktop connection to the workstation running EXStar
Connect the Einstar scanner to the lightweight machine and ensure it powers up
On the remote machine make sure the Einstar scanner shows up in the VirtualHere Client
1. You may have to manually set the server address if it is not detected automatically
Right click the scanner and select "Use"
Launch EXStar if it is not already running, make sure the scanner is detected
Setup your project and run the scan as normal. The scanner buttons will all function like normal
Try to not do any scan processing through remote desktop as the remote machine may become unresponsive. Capture your scans and do post processing in person at the workstation.

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