Make a 3D Scanner From Lego and Milk

What can you do with a web cam, some Lego and a plastic box filled with milk? You can create your very own 3D scanning machine… The following video shows how with these three simple things you can scan objects and create a displacement map for use with Moviesandbox, or any other 3D App that would allow for displacement mapping.

The webcam is held in place over the milk by the Lego. The object that is to be scanned is placed in the box and milk is added slowly. The camera tracks the changing outline as it is slowly immersed in the milk. Milk is used as it provides a high contrast background. The software then layers the outlines together to create a 3D model.



Source: New Scientist via Instructables