What the FreeScan Trio is
The FreeScan Trio was the first laser scanner to make marker-free scanning a metrology-grade proposition. A 98-line laser mode captures a workpiece without a single target stuck to it, and three further modes — 26 lines, seven fine-detail lines and a single line for deep pockets — cover everything from a broad casting face to a slot you cannot see into. Three 5 MP cameras and built-in photogrammetry hold the geometry together, at up to 3,010,000 points per second.
It is a metrology instrument for inspection, quality control and reverse engineering: accuracy up to 0.02 mm with markers, volumetric accuracy of 0.02 + 0.03 mm/m — tightening to 0.02 + 0.015 mm/m with the photogrammetry mode engaged.
Marker-free, and what that is worth
Targets are the slowest part of most scanning jobs: laying them out, checking them, taking them off, and finding out afterwards that one moved. The Trio’s 98-line mode removes that step for the majority of parts, which is why it tends to pay for itself in preparation time before accuracy is even discussed. Where a surface is genuinely featureless, you fall back to markers as on any laser scanner — and the 26-line mode with 0.02 mm accuracy is there for that work.
Four modes, one machine
- 98-line scan — marker-free capture, 300 mm working distance, for large surfaces and complete parts.
- 26-line scan — up to 0.02 mm accuracy with markers at a 300 mm working distance.
- Fine detail scan — seven parallel lines at 200 mm for edges, ribs and small features.
- Single line scan — for deep holes, narrow slots and recesses at 300 mm.
The field of view is 650 × 580 mm with a 360 mm scan depth and point distance from 0.01 to 3 mm, so one pass covers a lot of surface. In practice the limiting factor is usually the part’s access, not the scanner’s reach.
Photogrammetry built in
The Trio carries a photogrammetry mode that lifts volumetric accuracy from 0.02 + 0.03 mm/m to 0.02 + 0.015 mm/m, which is what makes it usable on long assemblies rather than just bench-sized parts. It is the same principle as VPG elsewhere in the range: establish a global reference first, then let the scanner work within it, so error does not accumulate as you walk down the part. If you are comparing that with a tracked system, the handheld, desktop and tracked guide sets out where each approach wins.
Where it sits in our range
The Trio is the marker-free specialist of the FreeScan family. The FreeScan Combo+ Wireless is the general-purpose wireless choice with 93 lines and a deep-pocket mode; the FreeScan UE Pro2 suits very large objects with a wider field of view; the FreeScan Omni puts processing and inspection on the scanner itself; and the FreeScan Trak Pro2 uses an optical tracker where accuracy must hold across a whole assembly to an accredited standard. If you are still working out which class of machine your drawing needs, start with the buyer’s guide.
Typical jobs
- Incoming and first-article inspection — as-built parts compared against CAD, with a report that can be filed.
- Tooling and mould verification — wear and dimensional checks on parts that are awkward or impossible to mark up.
- Reverse engineering — legacy components digitised into editable models; see our reverse engineering service.
- Large assemblies — the photogrammetry mode keeps the global frame honest on parts measured over metres.
- Occasional demand — if this capability is needed a few times a year, our 3D scanning service costs less than owning the system.
How the FreeScan Trio compares
| Model |
Form |
Accuracy |
Best for |
| FreeScan Trio |
Marker-free laser handheld, three 5 MP cameras, built-in photogrammetry; 98 / 26 / 7 / 1-line modes |
Up to 0.02 mm with markers; volumetric 0.02 + 0.03 mm/m, or 0.02 + 0.015 mm/m with photogrammetry; 3,010,000 points/s |
Marker-free metrology — parts you cannot or will not put targets on, at bench or assembly scale |
| FreeScan Combo+ Wireless |
Wireless hybrid-light handheld — 93 lines, 25-line detail, deep-pocket, IR VCSEL, VPG; 550 g |
Accuracy 0.02 mm; volumetric 0.02 + 0.015 mm/m with VPG; up to 9,106,000 points/s |
The general-purpose default when one handheld has to cover detail and large parts, cordlessly |
| FreeScan UE Pro2 |
Wireless handheld with a wide field of view; 50 laser lines plus a 7-line detail mode |
Accuracy 0.02 mm; volumetric 0.02 + 0.015 mm/m with patented binocular photogrammetry |
Large objects where a wider field of view shortens the job |
| FreeScan Omni |
Standalone scan-to-inspect handheld with on-scanner processing, PTB-certified inspection module |
Volumetric accuracy 0.02 + 0.03 mm/m; 93 lines plus a 25-line mode |
Inspection and reporting produced where the part is |
| FreeScan Trak Pro2 |
Tracked measuring system, marker-free, dynamic referencing |
Up to 0.023 mm; 3,070,000 points/s; ISO 17025 accredited workflow |
Repeated measurement of large assemblies where accuracy must hold over the whole part |
How to choose. If markers are the obstacle, the Trio is the answer and little else competes. If you need the same metrology reach cordlessly across both detailed parts and large assemblies, the Combo+ Wireless is the broader tool. If the object is bigger still, or the tolerance must hold over an entire assembly with an accredited workflow, the UE Pro2 and Trak Pro2 are the ones to look at. We will tell you which of those the job actually needs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the FreeScan Trio really marker-free?
Yes — its 98-line mode captures a workpiece without any targets attached, which is what made it the first marker-free laser scanner in the range. The other three modes use markers where a surface has too little feature to track.
How accurate is it?
Accuracy up to 0.02 mm with markers, with volumetric accuracy of 0.02 + 0.03 mm/m — tightening to 0.02 + 0.015 mm/m when the built-in photogrammetry mode is used.
How fast does it scan?
Up to 3,010,000 points per second, with a 650 × 580 mm field of view and 360 mm scan depth, so large surfaces are covered in few passes.
Can it scan deep holes and slots?
Yes — a dedicated single-line mode at a 300 mm working distance reaches into deep holes, narrow slots and recesses that a wide multi-line mode cannot see into.
Does it need special software?
It runs with the SHINING 3D scanning and inspection software family, and scan data feeds dimensional inspection, GD&T analysis and scan-to-CAD reverse engineering. We quote scanner and software together so there are no surprises.
What does a FreeScan Trio cost in Malaysia?
It is quoted per configuration rather than sold from a headline price, because the package depends on your parts, the tolerances you must prove and the software your quality team will run. Most of what makes a system suit your work is included. Tell us the application and we will quote against it.
What are its limits?
Two honest ones. A wireless-only workflow is not what this machine is — it connects over USB 3.0 and runs from mains power, so the cordless Combo+ Wireless is the better choice if you need to work untethered. And for very small, intricate parts at volume, a fixed automated structured-light system measures more repeatably than any handheld.
Buying and demonstration
The FreeScan Trio is quoted per configuration rather than sold from a headline figure, because the right package depends on the parts you measure, the tolerances you must prove and the software your quality team will run. Most of what makes a system suit your work is included. Tell us the application and we will quote against it — and say plainly if a different tier fits you better.
We demonstrate in Kuala Lumpur and on customer sites across Malaysia, using your own parts where possible. Book a demo and see the marker-free workflow on your own component before committing.
