To make 3D scanning useful, you really need to understand the types of data files that can be exported or saved from the process. This is particularly important if you’re considering the purchase of a 3D scanner, or are paying for 3D scanning services.

If you’re paying for a service, you might need a parametric solid model, but perhaps your service provider has quoted the cost of creating only a point cloud. In such a case, you may be paying a lot of money and not receiving what you need or expect.

In this article, I’ll explain the different types of data formats that you can obtain from scanning, as well as the applications for which they are useful.

Point cloud

Description: Raw data that results from a single scan, or multiple aligned scans. Geometry is represented by a large number of individual data points. Unfortunately, this type of data is mostly useless unless you possess specialized scan-data processing software, which can be used to create polygonal, surface, and solid models.
• File Format: ASCII, TXT, PTS, PTX

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