How to scan objects with the Kinect (and export them to PLY files)?

Summary slides of 3D scanning techniques of a presentation given on 11/2/11. You can download the slides here.

Setting up

• PC - the software is prepared for you in the CBA shop. If you want recreate the setup keep on reading, otherwise skip to the next section. You will need a 2.6Ghz> processor, preferably with an external video card.
  
  
• Kinect - you will only need the Kinect sensor, don't purchase the whole XBox environment
  
  
• Software (Windows) Download a library from by Nicholas Burrus. This gives you the raw depth buffer, the RGB image and you can export PLY files as your scan.
  
  
• Dependencies After downloading, find the /drivers directory and install (in this order!!):
  
  - OpenNI-Win32-1.3.2.1-Dev.msi
  - SensorKinect-Win-OpenSource32-5.0.3.3.msi
  - NITE-Win32-1.4.0.5-Dev.msi
  
  
• Download and Install Dependency for Meshlab
  
  
• Download and Install Meshlab
  
  

Getting your models out of the Kinect

Open the application





Go to Show > 3D





Disable color. Click PointCloud. Orient the Kinect. Click SaveMesh.





Find your PLY in the same folder, where you found your application.





Open Meshlab. Click open.





Hey, it works.