Calibration kit
A redesign of a delicate, accuracy-critical workflow —
where precision becomes intuitive, setup becomes effortless, and calibration becomes human
where precision becomes intuitive, setup becomes effortless, and calibration becomes human
The set of tools for accurate 3D scanner calibration
Calibration is a fragile moment in the life of a 3D scanner — a precise ritual where even a millimeter of misalignment changes the quality of the entire device
I encountered a number of problems during the process
Before redesigning the kit, I went through the process myself: assembling the plastic stand, unfolding a paper mat, clipping a rigid calibration plate into a too-tight holder, positioning each element onto printed marks, and moving the plate through a sequence of points.
Then I watched others faced the same issues.
Experienced users, first-timers, engineers, designers.
Hours of footage. Slowdowns. Failures. Hesitations.
From these observations eight recurring issues surfaced — from incorrect assembly and unstable parts to fragile materials, poor visibility, and a preparation workflow that felt improvised rather than designed.
Experienced users, first-timers, engineers, designers.
Hours of footage. Slowdowns. Failures. Hesitations.
From these observations eight recurring issues surfaced — from incorrect assembly and unstable parts to fragile materials, poor visibility, and a preparation workflow that felt improvised rather than designed.
My approach was to rethink the preparation itself. Instead of asking people to align multiple loose components, I started sketching ways to make the geometry self-guiding: cardboard mockups, folding prototypes, magnetic structures — all inspired by the quiet logic of tablet covers and the simplicity of modular constructions.
The result is a calibration kit that works like a quiet tool: simple to open, impossible to assemble incorrectly, reliable in any conditions, and crafted with the same level of precision as the scanner it serves
The new kit prepares itself in seconds — not minutes.
It unfolds into a stable, rigid calibration environment, with every surface and position defined by the geometry of the structure rather than the judgement of the user. The textile-covered surfaces carry precise silk-screen graphics, replacing the wrinkled paper mats and improvised-looking parts of the previous system. What used to feel temporary now feels deliberate, durable, and calm.
It unfolds into a stable, rigid calibration environment, with every surface and position defined by the geometry of the structure rather than the judgement of the user. The textile-covered surfaces carry precise silk-screen graphics, replacing the wrinkled paper mats and improvised-looking parts of the previous system. What used to feel temporary now feels deliberate, durable, and calm.
The breakthrough came with a folding magnetic structure:
two compact “folio” panels that open, lock, and align themselves automatically using embedded magnets.
two compact “folio” panels that open, lock, and align themselves automatically using embedded magnets.
The core problem became clear:
a calibration kit should remove cognitive load
a calibration kit should remove cognitive load
No fragile plastic.
No guessing of angles.
No wrong assembly.
No guessing of angles.
No wrong assembly.
When a scanner operates at an accuracy of 0.01 mm, the tools preparing it must behave predictably, assemble intuitively, and resist error by design.
Artec Calibration Kit · 2021
The set of tools for accurate 3D scanner calibration
The set of tools for accurate 3D scanner calibration
Industrial designer: Albert Degin
3D visualization designer: Albert Degin
3D visualization designer: Albert Degin