3d Scanning Spray Options for Scanning Parts

What is the best way to get a good 3D scan on shiny black parts, reflective surfaces or clear materials?

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Here is a table with some information on 5 different products that can be applied to parts to improve the data capture and accuracy of challenging items such as shiny black parts, highly reflective surfaces, and clear or translucent materials.

Some customers have tried talc powder or baby powder, but it tends to be harder to get a smooth and consistent coating, and takes longer to remove after scanning is complete. Powders can be quite messy, and generally are not advised around sensitive optical devices. Car wax can be an option for scanning vehicles, applied as a thin layer, and simply buffed out after scanning is complete.

The Gold Bond is readily available and the most cost effective, but goes on rather thick. The dulling spray costs slightly more, but is a finer spray and more consistent in coverage. Magneflux is widely used, but is acetone based, so test plastics before use.

The Helling and AESub brands were developed specifically as a scan spray, they coat in a very smooth and thin layer, and are safe on virtually any material.  An added advantage of the AESub product: it sprays on as a diffuse whitish coating, but after several hours becomes totally transparent, and doesn’t have to be removed from the scan part. Especially well-suited to items that are fragile, or highly detailed parts that would be very hard to clean completely.