What to Consider When Calibrating Lab Scanners

Scanner calibration is required to calculate the internal scanner geometry and camera parameters, helping ensure good scan quality and accuracy. This article provides useful tips for calibrating the scanner correctly.

Calibration Frequency

There is no set requirement for how often the scanner must be calibrated. However, the general recommendation is to calibrate the scanner once a week.

When to Recalibrate the Scanner

Recalibration is recommended in the following situations:

• The visual quality and/or accuracy of the scans is decreasing.
• The current scanner temperature deviates by ±5 °C from the temperature during the last calibration. In this case, a warning recommending recalibration will appear in ScanServer.
• The scanner has been transported or moved to another surface.
• The last calibration was performed more than 30 days ago. In this case, a warning recommending recalibration will appear in ScanServer.

Before Calibrating the Scanner

Keep the following recommendations in mind to avoid calibration issues and the need for frequent recalibration:

• Always use the original calibration object supplied with the scanner. The back of the object has a label with a serial number that corresponds to the serial number on the back of the scanner. Do not use calibration objects from other scanners, even if they look identical.
• Do not calibrate the scanner when it is cold. If the scanner was turned off overnight, calibration is not recommended first thing in the morning because the scanner temperature may rise during the day and trigger a warning that recalibration is required due to temperature deviation.
• Keep the room temperature stable throughout the day. Do not place the scanner next to a heat source or a window.
• Avoid touching the calibration object without its protective cover. Keep the protective cover on whenever the object is not in use to help keep it clean and prevent scratches. Scratches, dirt, or dust can cause calibration to fail or result in faulty calibration, which can lead to inaccurate scan results.
• If the calibration object is damaged, for example, by being dropped, do not attempt to repair it yourself. Contact support  to order a replacement calibration object.
• Make sure the scan height adapter is placed correctly. For instructions on positioning calibration objects correctly for E-scanner and F8, see this article.

Contact 3Shape Support if you have any further questions.
 
For full information on correct usage consult the official Safety and Setup Guide and the most current Manual.