Question: I own a 3D printer. Will a scanner actually save me time, or end up in a drawer?
A
Answer: A 3D scanner is worth it if you'll copy curved, organic or textured shapes several times a year: figures, busts, car trim, ergonomic grips, art pieces. For a one-off broken bracket, clip or knob, it usually isn't. Calipers and an hour in free CAD software give a more accurate, more printable part, and a single job at a scanning service costs about $250, roughly the price of an entry-level scanner.