Project Description

Human-Sized Turntable for 3D Scanning

The VAR Lab has also been developing a separate human-sized turntable for 3D scanning. Commercial scanning turntables can cost anywhere from around $1,000 to $5,000, so the lab built a custom low-cost version for approximately $200.

The turntable was created by repurposing a pig roaster, flipping it 90 degrees, and using free-moving support wheels to help carry and stabilize the weight of a person during rotation. This approach allows the lab to test full-body scanning workflows without relying on expensive commercial equipment.

The project reflects the VAR Lab’s interest in building practical, low-cost tools that support immersive media, 3D scanning, and digital production. Future plans include connecting the scanner and motor system together so the rotation and scan capture can work automatically. This would make human 3D scanning faster, more consistent, and easier to repeat across future projects.