FreeScan Combo & Combo+ 3D Scanners
From $11,999.00
View FreeScan Combo & Combo+ 3D Scanners
FreeScan Combo+ for Reflective Metal Inspection
| Planning item | Published or verified value | Qualification note |
|---|---|---|
| Light sources | Blue laser and infrared VCSEL | Select the mode by surface, geometry, alignment, and acceptance requirement |
| High-speed laser mode | 50 laser lines | Useful for overall capture of reflective or dark industrial parts |
| Fine and deep-feature modes | 7 parallel laser lines and 1 single laser line | Use for small features, edges, pockets, and deep holes |
| Infrared mode | Marker-free capture on suitable feature-rich parts | Smooth, repetitive, or symmetric geometry may still need markers |
| Published laser-mode accuracy | Up to 0.02 mm | Not a substitute for application-specific uncertainty and acceptance testing |
| Maximum scan rate | Up to 3,600,000 points/s | Published maximum; actual throughput depends on mode and part |
| Included software | FreeScan Software | Advanced inspection or reverse-engineering software is separate unless bundled |
| Supported PC platform | Windows 10/11 Pro, 64-bit; NVIDIA GPU required | macOS is not listed as supported in current official requirements |
Reflective metal does not create one single scanning problem. A polished machined surface, a dark coated casting, and a stamped part with repeated holes can each fail for a different reason: weak optical return, unstable alignment, or an inspection plan that was never defined.
The FreeScan Combo+ metrology scanner available from SKYLAB3D combines blue-laser and infrared capture in a 620 g handheld unit. Its value is not simply that both light sources are available. The practical advantage is choosing the right mode, reference method, and acceptance check for the exact component.
Choose the capture mode before you scan
| Part or task | Starting mode | Why | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polished machined component | Blue laser, 7-line fine mode | Prioritizes edge definition and localized detail | Specular hotspots, small radii, marker placement, and exposure |
| Large reflective casting | Blue laser, 50-line high-speed mode | Covers broad geometry quickly while remaining suited to reflective metal | Thermal condition, marker distribution, repetitive ribs, and long-range drift |
| Feature-rich housing | Infrared mode for an initial capture test | Can track natural geometry without markers | Symmetry, repeating features, and whether the required tolerance allows the mode |
| Deep bore, groove, or pocket | Single-line deep-hole mode | Improves access to recessed geometry | Line of sight, occlusion, surface condition, and whether another gauge is still required |
Qualify the part before you specify the workflow
Send the part envelope, material and finish, drawing or CAD, tolerance band, datum scheme, access constraints, and the required inspection output. SKYLAB3D can use those details to plan a controlled sample-part review.
Blue laser and infrared solve different problems
The manufacturer specifies 50 laser lines on FreeScan Combo+ for rapid overall capture, seven parallel laser lines for fine detail, and one single laser line for deep features. The manufacturer lists up to 0.02 mm accuracy in laser modes and a maximum scan rate of 3,600,000 points per second. These are published scanner specifications, not a guarantee that every part and setup will meet a drawing tolerance.
Blue laser is the starting point for dark or reflective surfaces because it is designed to maintain usable contrast on those materials. Infrared mode is a speed and setup option for feature-rich geometry that can support natural-feature alignment. It is not automatically the best inspection mode for a polished, smooth, symmetric, or repetitive part.
Surface preparation is a controlled variable
Changing exposure, angle, distance, or scan mode should come before assuming that every shiny part needs coating. Temporary scanning spray can improve consistency on mirror-like, translucent, or mixed-finish surfaces, but it can also add thickness or affect a sensitive surface. If spray is used, record the product, application method, expected layer thickness, and cleaning process in the work instruction.
Reference markers also need a plan. Keep them out of critical inspection zones when practical, maintain enough visible markers through the scan path, and avoid creating a repetitive pattern that can confuse alignment.
Build an inspection result, not just a mesh
A dense mesh is only the capture stage. A useful inspection workflow starts with the drawing requirement and ends with a result that can be repeated and defended.
- Define the measurand. Identify the dimensions, surfaces, GD&T controls, datum reference frame, and acceptance rule.
- Set the capture plan. Select the scan mode, point spacing, marker strategy, surface preparation, and environmental controls.
- Verify calibration status. Follow the current calibration procedure and retain the relevant records.
- Control alignment. Use a datum-based, feature-based, or best-fit alignment only when it matches the inspection objective.
- Evaluate uncertainty. Consider repeatability, operator effects, part temperature, scale, alignment, and downstream software.
- Run a repeat study. Rescan the same part and compare the characteristics that drive acceptance.
NIST guidance on traceability for 3D imaging emphasizes the measurement chain, uncertainty, procedures, and calibrated references. Traceability does not come from a scanner model name alone. For broader workflow planning, review SKYLAB3D's industrial 3D scanning and inspection guidance.
FreeScan Software is included
FreeScan Combo+ includes FreeScan Software for calibration, scanner control, data capture, mesh processing, and common exports. The manufacturer states that the scanning software has no subscription or hidden scanning fee.
Inspection and reverse-engineering applications are a separate purchasing decision. Shining 3D Inspect, PolyWorks Inspector, Geomagic Control X, EXModel Pro, and other applications are compatible options, but they are not included unless the SKYLAB3D quote or bundle says so. Confirm the required CAD formats, GD&T functions, report template, automation needs, and license type before purchase.
Plan the Windows workstation at the same time
Current official requirements list Windows only and require an NVIDIA graphics card. macOS is not listed as supported for FreeScan Combo+, so a native Mac workflow should not be assumed.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10/11 Pro, 64-bit | Windows 11 Pro 22H2, 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel i7-10700 | Intel i7-13700H or higher |
| Memory | 32 GB RAM | 64 GB dual-channel RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA RTX 3060 or higher | NVIDIA RTX 4060 with 8 GB VRAM or higher |
| Storage | SSD with 250 GB available | SSD with 1 TB or more available |
| USB | One USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0 port | Two USB 3.0 or newer ports |
Internet access is required for first activation and updates. Confirm the current FreeScan release and workstation configuration before procurement because software requirements can change.
Where Combo+ fits in the scanner portfolio
Combo+ is the higher-line-count model in the Combo series and is the better starting point when high-speed blue-laser coverage is central to the application. The FreeScan Combo versus Combo+ metrology guide separates the two models by workflow.
It is not automatically the answer for every tolerance or every part size. A tracked scanner, built-in photogrammetry system, stationary inspection scanner, touch probe, CMM, or dedicated gauge may be a better fit when the component is very large, the datum structure is difficult to reconstruct optically, the tolerance is unusually tight, or the inspection characteristic is better served by contact measurement. Compare the broader industrial scanner portfolio by application before locking the hardware choice.
Use a purchase acceptance test
- Scan a representative production part with its actual surface finish.
- Use the planned markers, fixtures, spray policy, and workstation.
- Repeat the scan with the intended operator or operator group.
- Inspect the same critical characteristics against a trusted reference method.
- Verify the alignment method, datum construction, report format, and export path.
- Record cycle time, preparation time, rework, and failed-capture conditions.
Remote training and application support can be scoped with the system. On-site training is available plus travel expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Can FreeScan Combo+ scan reflective metal?
Yes. The blue-laser modes are designed to adapt to dark and reflective surfaces. Highly polished, mirror-like, translucent, oily, or geometrically repetitive parts can still require exposure changes, markers, temporary scanning spray, or a revised setup. A sample-part test is the safest way to confirm the complete workflow.
When should I use blue laser instead of infrared mode?
Use blue-laser mode when inspection accuracy, edge detail, pockets, or difficult reflective surfaces are the priority. Use infrared mode when the part is feature-rich, marker-free capture is practical, and fast coverage matters more than the tightest laser-mode result.
What software is included with FreeScan Combo+?
FreeScan Software is included for scanner control, calibration, data capture, mesh processing, and common exports, with no subscription required for the scanning software. Shining 3D Inspect, PolyWorks Inspector, Geomagic Control X, EXModel Pro, and other downstream applications are separate unless a SKYLAB3D quote explicitly includes them.
Does FreeScan Combo+ support macOS?
Current official workstation requirements list Windows 10 or 11 Pro, 64-bit, and require an NVIDIA graphics card. macOS is not listed as supported, so buyers should not plan a native Mac workflow unless SKYLAB3D verifies a later release for the exact software version.
Does the published 0.02 mm accuracy guarantee every inspection result?
No. The published accuracy is a scanner performance specification under defined test conditions. A defensible inspection result also depends on calibration status, part size and surface, reference strategy, environment, alignment, operator method, inspection software, datum construction, tolerance, and measurement uncertainty.
Test the exact part and acceptance requirement
A controlled demo should reproduce the surface, geometry, tolerance, workstation, and inspection output that matter in production.
Technical sources
Scanners discussed in this guide
Frequently asked questions
Can FreeScan Combo+ scan reflective metal?
Yes. The blue-laser modes are designed to adapt to dark and reflective surfaces. Highly polished, mirror-like, translucent, oily, or geometrically repetitive parts can still require exposure changes, markers, temporary scanning spray, or a revised setup. A sample-part test is the safest way to confirm the complete workflow.
When should I use blue laser instead of infrared mode?
Use blue-laser mode when inspection accuracy, edge detail, pockets, or difficult reflective surfaces are the priority. Use infrared mode when the part is feature-rich, marker-free capture is practical, and fast coverage matters more than the tightest laser-mode result.
What software is included with FreeScan Combo+?
FreeScan Software is included for scanner control, calibration, data capture, mesh processing, and common exports, with no subscription required for the scanning software. Shining 3D Inspect, PolyWorks Inspector, Geomagic Control X, EXModel Pro, and other downstream applications are separate unless a SKYLAB3D quote explicitly includes them.
Does FreeScan Combo+ support macOS?
Current official workstation requirements list Windows 10 or 11 Pro, 64-bit, and require an NVIDIA graphics card. macOS is not listed as supported, so buyers should not plan a native Mac workflow unless SKYLAB3D verifies a later release for the exact software version.
Does the published 0.02 mm accuracy guarantee every inspection result?
No. The published accuracy is a scanner performance specification under defined test conditions. A defensible inspection result also depends on calibration status, part size and surface, reference strategy, environment, alignment, operator method, inspection software, datum construction, tolerance, and measurement uncertainty.