The objective is to prepare the scan for further use in Blender and Fusion 360 for modeling and 3D printing .

Importing and Scaling the OBJ Fil

The 3D scan from the Artec Leo is exported as an OBJ file, which contains both mesh data and texture information. The file at a very large scale, due to the Artec Leo’s high-resolution scanning (up to 0.1mm accuracy), while Blender’s default unit is meters.

1. Navigate in Blender to File > Import > OBJ. Locate the OBJ file on your system and import it into Blender.
2. Select the mesh.
3. Press S to scale and enter 0.001 to reduce the model’s size to accurate real world units.
4. Press N to view item properties and confirm that the scale in all directions is now set to 0.001.

3. Orienting the Model

• Use Blender’s cardinal directions (X, Y, Z) to adjust the orientation:
  • Press R to rotate the mesh in the appropriate axis.
  • Use the X, Y, and Z axes to fine-tune the rotation until the scan is aligned correctly.
• To position the mesh:
  • Click on Object > Set Origin > Origin to Geometry to center the origin.
  • Move the object along the Z-axis by pressing G followed by Z.

4. Applying Transformations

• It’s crucial to apply all transformations before further editing:
  • Select the mesh and press Ctrl + A, then choose All Transforms. This ensures that the object scale and orientation are fully applied.
• If you skip this step, issues may arise during remeshing, potentially causing Blender to crash.

5. Saving the Project

• Save your project under a suitable name (e.g., head_scan_cleanup) before proceeding with mesh editing. This acts as a backup.

6. Duplicating the Mesh

• Reason for Duplicating:
  • Before modifying the mesh for 3D printing, duplicate it to preserve the original texture data.
  • Textures will be lost during mesh editing, so having a backup of the original model is important.
• Steps:
  • Select the mesh, press Shift + D to duplicate it.
  • If the mesh moves accidentally, press Esc to snap it back into position.
  • Create a new collection (e.g., Original) and move the original scan there. Hide the collection to keep it safe.

7. Viewing and Adjusting Textures

• Texture Check:
  • Switch to Material Preview mode to inspect the textures.
  • If the texture appears too glossy, adjust the Index of Refraction (IOR) of the material to 1. This will make the textures appear more natural.

8. Entering Edit Mode and Assessing the Mesh

• Edit Mode:
  • Press Tab to enter Edit Mode and examine the mesh.
  • The scan will likely consist of a large number of triangles, which is common for 3D scans.
• Identifying Errors:
  • Structured light scans often come with reconstruction errors (e.g., holes, rough edges), which need to be cleaned up before remeshing.
  • Common areas with issues might include shoulders, edges, or areas with complex geometry.

9. Next Steps

• In the next part of the tutorial, the focus will be on cleaning up the mesh by removing errors and smoothing out imperfections.
• Once cleaned up, the mesh will be prepared for remeshing and export to Fusion 360 for parametric modeling and final preparation for 3D printing.

1. Import Artec LEO Scan into Blender 
2. Clean Up 3D Scan Imported Mesh in Blender