This is the fifth 3D scanner have owned over the past 12 years. It addresses all the limitations I had with previous scanners while being easy to use. Lots of options to maximize the quality of the scan while minimizing scan time for the wide range is objects we scan. The versatility is beyond what we had hoped for when we backed the kick starter project

THREE is a powerhouse, plain and simple. I've been scanning professionally for almost 5 years now, having used offerings from Artec, Einscan, and Faro. Its ability to capture surfaces that most other scanners struggle with, the detail retrieval, ease of use, flexibility and painless processing, are all worth noting on their own. But putting all of that under a prosumer price point makes this powerful little scanner something to behold. Plus, the synchronized turntable is a cherry on top of the sundae that is THREE.

This review is of the initial release and there are areas lacking like texture capture, but it can be improved on the user's side with decent lighting. Amazingly, this is the only real gripe I've had with it and it's minor. There were concerns on reddit before its launch that the 16GB of storage would be too little, but after scanning everything that was scannable on my desk at the highest density possible, I'm 22 projects in on the scanner and the storage is not even half full. I'm not sure how they are doing it, but it seems they have tapped into quantum physics and are storing scan data in a pocket dimension (don't quote me on that).

In summary, I am exceedingly happy with what THREE can do and I look forward to scanning literally everything I can get my hands on!

- All-in-one solution means I can use it with any computer without needing to worry about software updates or processing. This has been the thing I absolutely love. The scanner just works as intended - I haven't had to deal with downloads or connectivity or any of that.

- Ease of use: Calibration of the turntable was super easy, setting up the scan was intuitive. Everything is just very intuitive for a novice like me. The included turntable with the plug-and-play interface with the scanner is also just so nice.

- Post-Processing: Multi-scan auto alignment and exporting have been virtually flawless. It's nice to click an "Auto" button and actually have it be auto.

- Scan Quality and Accuracy: My first scan was a matte black object with a reflective silver metal lip. Calibration was easy, and the scan came out beautifully on the first try. The object is about 70mm L x 40mm H x 28mm D with pretty intricate features and a draft angle (injection molded). The scanner picked up all the little features and measuring the accuracy I'm within 0.1mm on everything I can readily measure with my nice pair of gauge-block tested Mitutoyo calipers.

- Support: I had an issue the first week where MAF pushed a SW update that rendered the turntable non-functional. I reached out. They responded quickly, and 12 hours after my initial issue they let me know a hotfix was deployed. The scanner is back to being fully-functional.

What could use a little work IMO:

- During focusing or initial placement/calibration with the object, it was clear that I had to turn the exposure really low for my lighting and my object to get a decent scan. However, doing so made it difficult to "find" my object via the scanner camera since the light was low. It would be nice if the exposure and light was at full blast during the initial placement and focus selection even if it is set low for the scan.

- Exposure setting: My object had some edges that turned red with very little exposure, probably because of a combo of my lighting and the angle of the edges. As recommended, I performed a scan with the exposure dialed to prevent any "red" in the scan setup. That scan came out well still, but I tried one with the exposure bumped up into the red a bit, and the scan came out even better with no signs of any issues. This could be MAF being conservative with this setting to make sure that the scan doesn't have issues, but I found it to be a bit too conservative in my testing. Not really a criticism, more of a comment.

I'm really glad I purchased the MAF THREE. I have experience with 3D scanning using photogrammetry and iPhone LiDAR, but when I purchased a 3D printer, I wanted a high-precision 3D scanner. After considering various products, I'm confident that choosing the MAF THREE was the right decision.

I purchased the Matter and Form THREE scanner specifically to handle small objects more effectively than my (redacted) 3D scanner. That goal was met immediately — but what I didn’t expect is that the THREE would become my default scanner for everything prosumer.

The user experience is refreshingly streamlined. Setup is trivial. The onboard processing is a clever design choice — it eliminates the usual driver tangle and makes it genuinely portable. You just log into its built-in web interface from any device and you're up and running. I’ve moved it between workstations and locations without any configuration headaches. Since I have old laptops and desktops sprinkled all over my residence, this makes the M&F THREE super simple to use anywhere.

Small-object scanning is effortless with the integrated turntable. Alignment is clean, the mesh quality is excellent, and I rarely need to intervene. What surprised me was how well it also handles larger objects — far better than I would have assumed from a unit this compact. For such larger objects, I would recommend a photographic tripod with as many degrees of freedom as possible in order to catch all the angles. It is surprising how many shadows you get when not using a turntable.

You don’t need fiduciary markers — at all — except maybe when working with highly symmetrical geometry, in which case you might use one just to help orient your merge for the ICP algorithm (“point picking”). You also aren't forced to use sublimating spray, but I’ve found it worthwhile when scanning very reflective or deep black surfaces.

Professionally, I work with mission-specific surface scanners that operate at the 1-micron level, so I didn’t expect much from a scanner at this price point. But the THREE gets surprisingly close. At roughly 1/20th the cost, that’s a remarkable performance-to-price ratio.

If your goal is accurate 3D scanning with minimal friction (or you just have not had any luck with those scanners that look like 1980’s brick phones) — and especially if you value versatility — the Matter and Form THREE delivers quietly and convincingly. It’s not just an entry-level tool. It’s a workhorse.

Tim Hart

Trumergence LLC