Evaluation of three structured light 3d scanners for the purpose of augmenting artisanal design and production of silversmithing artefacts in Ioannina

The silversmithing artisans of Ioannina have been using traditional silversmithing techniques, with few changes, for hundreds of years. The proliferation and the level of maturity of digital technologies present a significant opportunity for augmenting silversmithing processes with digital manufacturing tools. We investigate the process of 3D scanning, considering the workflow used by the silversmithing artisans of Ioannina and evaluate three structured light 3D scanners in terms of quality of output, ease of use and affordability. Our findings indicate that there is no significant difference in the quality of the output between the expensive and the budget options. The budget options are, however, slower and more difficult to use making them unsuitable for some artisans.