The peel 3 and the peel 3.CAD increase the convenience of the scanner without sacrificing price or user-friendliness.
While 3D scanning technology is certainly not a new innovation to hit the market, as various iterations of the tools have been around for decades, its popularity has certainly increased in recent years thanks in large part to improved accessibility. In terms of ease of use, physical size, and price, users of all skill levels and job types find it much easier to utilize the features provided by these scanners. A change in recent years that made these scanners physically easier to handle was last year when Peel 3d released their latest line of handheld scanners, the Peel 2-S and Peel 2 CAD-S. Now, less than two years later, they announced a complete redesign of their scanner earlier this month with the release of their Peel 3 and Peel 3.CAD scanners, available now.
Redesigned for optimal ergonomic comfort, these new scanners give them a unique shape and ease of use among handheld scanners. The new Peel 3 has been upgraded with what the company calls the “ultra-ergonomic grip,” a triangular grip that allows the scanner to be used comfortably in multiple positions. The scanner is also equipped with a new LCD touchscreen to give users the ability to instantly interact with the scanner and check distances, for example, without having to shift focus back and forth between a computer and the scanner. Additionally, a new vibration communication system has been added to the Peel 3 with “multiple detectable vibration patterns” to guide a user when scanning tight and hard-to-reach spots that don’t open up to perfect lines of sight. The scanner also weighs less than a kilogram, allowing for easy use by all project stakeholders.
In addition to the physical Peel 3 scanner, users can also upgrade to the Peel 3.CAD scanner, which includes scanner-specific reverse engineering software that allows scans to be converted into CAD files, which can then be exported to any popular CAD -System can be imported software. This is in addition to the peel.OS software that comes standard with each of the peel 3 scanners, so the data captured in the scan can easily be turned into usable models and insights. The Peel 3 and Peel 3.CAD are priced at $8,490 and $11,990 respectively, which puts them in a competitive position in the market.
These scanners can be used by a number of different industries that can benefit from an easy-to-use handheld scanner. While these types of lightweight scanners may not be ideal for all projects, especially larger scale projects, they can be used for smaller scans as well as those that require scanning in hard-to-reach places. Peel 3d specifically names three applications — heritage preservation, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and digital content creation, and healthcare — that can benefit from this technology, though they’re careful not to limit the use cases to just these three areas.
In particular, the space around AR and VR is growing rapidly, especially with the continued focus on developing a metaverse as the next level of connected computing. While much of this technology revolves around fully digital and virtual worlds, there is much in this space that also partially or fully encompasses our real, physical world. To make these applications as realistic as possible, real objects are scanned to create a digital likeness or “digital twin” that can then be used for all kinds of applications. For example, many companies are looking to AR and VR for training purposes in large manufacturing plants and other industrial sites that offer a safer alternative than conducting this training on the floor of a busy construction site. To make training as realistic as possible, the virtual replications need to be extremely accurate, and scanning specific machine parts can be done easily and quickly with a handheld scanner like the Peel 3.
Of course, over time, the accuracy of technologies such as 3D scanners will improve, but the ease of use and accessibility of the tools are just as important. Peel 3d’s advances are a perfect example of this, with their latest scanners raising the bar for comfort and ease of use.
Speaking of the new scanner, François Leclerc, the company’s Program Manager, said: “Peel 3 and Peel 3.CAD are the culmination of the feedback from our customers and the market demands that we have observed over the last few months. The whole peel 3d team believes that 3D scanning users, whether they are beginners or seasoned professionals, should never compromise performance for price. Today’s launch is a testament to the value we bring to the table.”
