Creality Sermoon S1 review: This pro-grade 3D scanner produced impressive results, but my tests revealed a huge learning curve

TechRadar Verdict

The Creality Sermoon S1 is a professional handheld 3D scanner that offers a choice of a blue laser or NIR structured light, depending on the complexity and size of the scanned object. The scanner is designed to scan objects from 5mm to 4000mm with up to 0.02mm accuracy and a 90fps scanning speed. It produces impressive results, decent meshes, accurate geometry, and easy scan blending in software, but all this comes only once you master the process. Preparation is key, as is using markers, correct lighting, and selecting the right light and mode for scanning the object's details. Once you get the hang of it, it does take a step toward a simpler point-and-scan process, but it’s not quite as simple as you first think.

Pros

• +Impressive scan quality
• +Different light mode for fine detail
• +Scan blending is handled by software

Cons

• -Steep learning curve
• -Wired USB limits freedom
• -Reflective, transparent, and dark surfaces are difficult

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Jump To:

• Price and Availability
• Design
• Features
• Performance
• Final verdict

The Creality Sermoon S1 is a handheld 3D scanner, and initial impressions of the quality and design are good. The scanner arrives in a hard carry case, which instantly reinforces the pro rather than enthusiast design. Inside, the scanner and all the accessories are neatly organised, and the glass calibration plate is tucked into a pocket in the lid section, along with two sets of different-sized marker sheets.

The scanner’s size and build quality make it extremely portable, especially with that hard case for transport. As I got started, connecting up the scanner with the Y-cable that provides both power and the data connection to the computer, I started to get why there’s a wireless option available for an additional cost. That cable is a little annoying during setup and in use.

The cable is also USB-A and requires an adapter to USB-C, which is in the box, and can be used with many modern laptops, including my MacBook Pro. This is a minor issue generally, but on a couple of occasions, as the scanner was moved around the object, that adapter plug did prove to be something of a weak point.

I soon found using a lazy Susan, usually reserved for product videos, was a good way to rotate the object while the scan was taking place, then all I had to do was adjust the scanner height and angle as needed.

Before the scanning process can start, calibration of the scanner using the glass calibration plate and software must be performed, and this is all nicely guided step by step. Essentially, this sees you align the scanner with the calibration plate in a variety of different positions; that process does take some time, and should really be carried out at the start of each session.

After the initial setup is complete, it’s then just a case of familiarising yourself with the scanner and software.

Through the scanning process, there are several modes and two light options. In the Blue light option, which is the one that I focused on in this review due to the greater surface detail that it enables, there are three modes. Single line, 7 parallel lines, and 34 cross lines and these took a while to discover exactly what they did and why.

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