Revopoint MetroX Review – Good and affordable 3D scanner for the right target group

1 - Introduction, unboxing and features 2 - The principle of the structured light method 3 - The functional principle of point clouds 4 - Triangulation of the point clouds in a mesh 5 - 3D for Dummies: One-Click-Solution 6 - Limits of the system and the effective accuracy 7 - Summary and conclusion 8 - Appendix: Datasheet 9 - Appendix: Quick Start Quide

Summary

The Revopoint MetroX is a 3D scanner that works with structured light and was designed for semi-professional and industrial use. Despite all the factors that need to be taken into account, it is quite suitable for applications that require a certain level of detail but do not necessarily need the highest precision in the sub-micrometer range. You need to be aware of this when embarking on the adventure of 3D scanning with this device, because you should also bear in mind the price. Very good devices cost at least five figures and here the performance and price are right.

The ability to reliably capture voluminous, clearly structured objects with a stable surface texture should definitely be emphasized. These include mechanical components, larger prototypes or organic shapes with smooth transitions. Its strength therefore lies in the digitization of medium-sized to larger objects with complex but clearly definable structures. However, there are also some limitations that tend to rule it out for my needs in PCB scanning.

Very small or extremely detailed objects, such as SMD components, smaller metal parts or delicate microstructures on PCBs, can only be captured roughly due to the system. Reflective and mirror-like surfaces pose a further problem, as these strongly scatter or reflect the projected light. Transparent materials cannot be easily detected either, meaning that matting spray or special scanning techniques have to be used.

Another aspect is the stability of tracking, which reaches its limits with symmetrical or very flat objects with few features. This applies in particular to components with small height differences or uniform surfaces without distinctive edges. This can lead to incorrect measurements or an inaccurate reconstruction of the shape. Despite these limitations, the MetroX remains a powerful option for users looking for a good balance between price, performance and handling. It is particularly suitable for those who want to create 3D models for CAD applications, reverse engineering or prototyping without having to invest in significantly more expensive measurement technology. I have summarized my experiences once again in a structured way:

Suitable molds for the scan

1. Voluminous, evenly shaped objects
Bodies with distinct edges, clear surface structures and sufficient volume can be captured particularly well. These include technical components, machine components or sculptures with distinctive features.

2. Matt black or matt surfaces
As the scanner projects structured light, matt and non-reflective surfaces are best detected. Materials such as plastic or coated metal are ideal as they do not produce any disturbing reflections.

3. Organic shapes with smooth transitions
Free-form surfaces or objects with soft curves, such as human bodies, figures or ergonomic components, can be digitized quite well. Tracking stability remains high, as no abrupt edges or symmetrical areas confuse the system. The breakfast roll is the classic par excellence, unfortunately my Nubi is already too complex.

4. Objects with complex but clearly defined structures
Components with clear contours, engravings or a varying surface structure can be captured well as long as they are not too small. For example, larger gear wheels or various housings can be captured well, while very fine details are not resolved sufficiently.

Difficult and rather unsuitable shapes for scanning

1. High-gloss or reflective surfaces
Chrome, polished metal or glass reflect the scanner’s light and lead to data loss or distortion. Such surfaces must be pre-treated with matting spray and even here there are limits. Above a certain layer thickness, the spray generates further noise and is therefore only suitable for larger surfaces and objects.

2. Very small and filigree structures
As the MetroX has a certain dot density, it cannot reliably capture extremely fine details such as thin wires, fine engravings or filigree grid structures. The lid of the glue bottle tested represents roughly the sensible limit.

3. Symmetrical or uniform geometries
Objects without clear features or with a highly symmetrical shape can cause problems during tracking. These include spherical or cylindrical components, which can easily lose their orientation without additional reference points. A breakfast egg was rather difficult.

4. Transparent or translucent materials
Glass or translucent plastics cannot be correctly detected by the scanner as the light is not reflected as it is with opaque surfaces. Here too, matting is necessary, but this quickly reaches its limits with smaller objects.

Software

The Revopoint MetroX software also supports GPU acceleration for Windows systems. However, there are currently still limitations in terms of hardware support. In particular, NVIDIA GPUs of the Blackwell architecture and generally all AMD GPUs are not supported. This means that users with such graphics cards cannot use GPU acceleration and instead have to rely purely on CPU processing. This is noticeably disadvantageous, as CPUs are not optimally suited to the parallel processing of large amounts of data, as is the case with GPUs.

This leads to longer processing times, lower efficiency and a reduced frame rate during scanning. The software also does not effectively utilize all available cores of my Ryzen 9 9950X3D when using the CPU exclusively, which further impairs performance. With a GeForce RTX 4090 or even an RTX 6000 Ada, however, the program becomes a sprinter:

Conclusion and target group

The Revopoint MetroX achieves the best results with matte, voluminous objects with distinctive geometries. High-gloss, transparent or very fine structures as well as symmetrical objects without distinctive orientation points are problematic. In such cases, alternative 3D scanning technologies such as laser triangulation or photogrammetry are more suitable. However, it offers a good combination of accuracy, ease of use and value for money. It is also ideal for users who want to capture medium-sized to large objects with clear structures.

I see clear limitations with highly reflective, transparent or very small details, where more specialized scanners would certainly be better suited, but which would then also cost significantly more. However, for semi-professional and industrial applications that do not require the highest accuracy in measurement technology, it is still a practical and economical solution. However, you can’t expect miracles at this price and I hope that the software will continue to develop. The beginnings are certainly there, so I’m not disappointed, especially as I was able to experiment again and even learn a few things in the process. After all, the scanner is only as good as the person using it.

Revopoint Homepage und Shop

Revopoint MetroX on Kickstarter