If you are comparing 3D scanners, you have probably landed here because you are weighing up two well-known names in professional handheld scanning. Artec 3D and Peel 3D. Both build scanners used across engineering, manufacturing, and quality control, but they are built on different technology and aimed at slightly different jobs. That difference matters more than it might first appear.
This article compares Artec’s metrology-grade laser scanner, the Artec Point, with the Peel 3 family of scanners, so you can make a decision based on facts rather than a spec sheet skim.
What Is the Artec Point?
Artec Point is Artec 3D’s metrology-grade handheld laser scanner, and it works quite differently from the structured light scanners most people associate with the Artec name, such as Eva or Leo. Point was Artec’s first target-based laser scanner, built specifically for quality control, inspection, and reverse engineering work where formal, certified accuracy matters.
Instead of structured light, Point uses blue laser lines projected onto the object and captured by HD cameras set at a steep angle. It offers three scanning modes: a fast grid mode using multiple crossed laser lines for general coverage, a parallel laser mode for capturing complex geometry in higher resolution, and a single laser mode for reaching into deep holes and other hard-to-access features. Point is specifically built to capture black or reflective surfaces effectively.
Point is ISO 17025 and VDI VDE certified, which means its accuracy claims are backed by formal, recognised metrology standards rather than manufacturer testing alone. It does not capture colour or texture. It is a geometry-only tool, purpose-built for dimensional accuracy rather than visual detail.
Artec Point specifications:
- Technology: Blue laser, target-based tracking
- Certification: ISO 17025 and VDI VDE certified
- Accuracy: Up to 0.02 mm
- 3D resolution: Up to 0.02 mm
- 3D accuracy over distance: 0.015 mm plus 0.035 mm per metre, improving to 0.015 mm plus 0.015 mm per metre when used with the Artec Metrology Kit
- Data acquisition speed: Up to 2.8 million measurements per second
- Scanning speed: Up to 120 FPS
- Working distance: Greater than 300 mm
- Scanning area: Up to 700 mm by 600 mm
- Weight: 570 g
- Colour or texture capture: Not supported, geometry only
- Connectivity: Tethered to a computer running Artec Studio
- Software: Artec Studio, with compatibility for metrology software such as Control X and PolyWorks via the Artec Metrology Kit
What Is the Peel 3D Scanner?
Peel 3D is a Canadian scanner brand backed by Creaform, a business of AMETEK. Their scanners are built around one core promise. Affordable, professional-grade 3D scanning for reverse engineering. Their current hardware, the Peel 3, launched in 2022 as the successor to the Peel 1, Peel 2, and Peel 2 S.
The Peel 3 uses structured light technology, combining white LED and infrared light sources, and captures the results through three onboard cameras, two of which are dedicated to geometry and surface capture. It is a tethered scanner that connects via USB 3.0 to a laptop and features a triangulated handle with a built-in touchscreen, allowing the operator to monitor scan coverage without looking at a separate monitor.
Peel 3D sells three tiers of the same hardware, priced differently depending on the software bundled with it.
Peel 3. The base scanner bundled with Peel.OS, the standard scanning and mesh cleanup software. This is the entry point into the range and does not include dedicated CAD tools.
Peel 3. CAD: The same scanner bundled with Peel.CAD, which adds reverse engineering features such as geometric entity fitting and direct export to CAD software.
Peel 3 Pro.CAD. The same scanner bundled with Peel.CAD Pro, which adds more advanced sketching, modelling, and real-time comparison tools for scan-to-CAD workflows.
Pricing increases with each tier, since you are paying for progressively more capable software while using the same hardware. Because pricing changes over time and varies by region, it is best to confirm current figures directly with Peel 3D or an authorised reseller rather than relying on a published number.
Peel 3 hardware specifications:
- Technology: Structured light, white LED plus infrared
- Accuracy: Up to 0.050 mm
- Volumetric accuracy: 0.050 mm plus 0.100 mm per metre
- Recommended object size: 0.1 m to 3.0 m
- Scan speed: Approximately 1,250,000 measurements per second
- Colour resolution: 50 to 200 DPI on scanned objects
- Positioning: Geometry, targets, and texture, used individually or combined, so targets are optional rather than required
- Weight: 950 g
- Connectivity: USB 3.0, tethered
- Software: Peel.OS as standard, with Peel.CAD and Peel.CAD Pro as paid tiers
Artec Point vs Peel 3: Side by Side Comparison
| Artec Point | Peel 3 | |
| Technology | Blue laser, target-based tracking | Structured light, LED plus IR |
| Formal certification | ISO 17025 and VDI VDE certified | Not independently certified |
| Max accuracy | Up to 0.02 mm | Up to 0.050 mm |
| 3D resolution | Up to 0.02 mm | 0.250 mm mesh resolution |
| Object size range | Working distance greater than 300 mm, scanning area up to 700 mm by 600 mm | 0.1 m to 3.0 m |
| Scan speed | Up to 2.8 million measurements per second, 120 FPS | Approximately 1.25 million measurements per second |
| Weight | 570 g | 950 g |
| Colour or texture capture | Not supported, geometry only | Yes, full colour texture capture, rated at 50 to 200 DPI on scanned objects |
| Positioning method | Target-based tracking | Geometry, targets, or texture, used individually or combined |
| Onboard controls | External computer display | Touchscreen on the handle |
| Core software | Artec Studio, with Control X and PolyWorks compatibility via the Metrology Kit | Peel.OS, with Peel.CAD and Peel.CAD Pro as paid tiers |
| Scanner ecosystem | Part of a full scanner family, Leo, Eva, Spider II, Micro II, Ray II, sharing one software platform | Standalone product line |
| Best suited to | Certified metrology, quality control, and reverse engineering on difficult surfaces or fine detail | General reverse engineering with colour capture, across a wide object size range |
Understanding the Accuracy Numbers
This is the one area where the numbers clearly favour a specific scanner. Point’s 0.02 mm accuracy is tighter than Peel 3’s 0.050 mm, and unlike Peel’s figure, Point’s accuracy is backed by ISO 17025 and VDI VDE certification, meaning it has been independently verified against recognised metrology standards rather than relying on manufacturer testing alone.
That precision comes with trade-offs. Point does not capture colour, has a smaller working distance and scanning area than Peel 3’s stated object size range, and its target-based tracking generally works best when enough target points are visible in the scanner’s field of view. For applications where certified, tight tolerance accuracy is the priority, Point is a genuinely stronger fit. For general-purpose reverse engineering across a wider range of object sizes, with colour capture included, Peel 3 remains a capable option.
Comparing Use Cases and Applications
Quality control and metrology
This is where Point has a clear advantage. Its ISO 17025 certification, 0.02 mm accuracy, and dedicated scanning modes for difficult surfaces make it a strong fit for formal inspection workflows in automotive, aerospace, mould making, and heavy industry, where documented, certified accuracy is often a requirement rather than a nice-to-have.
Reverse engineering
Both scanners are capable here, but they suit different scenarios.
Point suits reverse-engineering projects where dimensional accuracy of individual features matters more than overall visual detail, and it is specifically built to capture black, shiny, or geometrically complex parts.
Peel 3’s CAD tiers bundle dedicated feature extraction and sketching tools directly with the scanner, and its broader object size range and colour capture make it a strong general-purpose choice.
Difficult surfaces and hard-to-reach features
Point’s laser-based single-line mode is built for scanning into deep holes and other hard-to-access features, and it is designed to capture black or reflective surfaces effectively. If your work regularly involves these kinds of parts, Point’s scanning modes are a genuine practical advantage.
Product design and visual capture
Point is not built for this. Since it does not capture colour or texture, it is not suited to design reviews, presentation models, or any project where visual appearance matters alongside geometry. Peel 3 covers this better on its own, and if colour capture combined with Artec’s broader software ecosystem is the priority, Artec Eva is a more relevant Artec alternative to compare against Peel 3 than Point.
Field and mobile work
Both Point and Peel 3 are tethered scanners that need a connected computer to operate, so neither is built for fully wireless field capture. If your work genuinely needs a standalone wireless scanner, Artec Leo is worth considering on its own, since it includes its own onboard computer, touchscreen, and battery.
When Artec Point Is the Better Choice
- Your work involves formal quality control or inspection where certified, documented accuracy matters, not just a manufacturer’s stated figure.
- You need tighter accuracy than Peel 3 offers, down to 0.02 mm.
- You regularly scan black, shiny, or reflective parts, since Point is specifically built to capture these surfaces, or need to capture deep holes and other hard-to-reach features.
- Colour and texture capture are not required for your workflow.
- You want the option to expand into the wider Artec ecosystem later, including scanners built for colour capture, large-scale work, or fully wireless field scanning, without changing software.
When Peel 3 Is the Better Choice
- Your work is general-purpose reverse engineering rather than certified metrology, and you want dedicated CAD tools bundled with the hardware from day one.
- You need colour and texture capture alongside geometry.
- Your objects vary widely in size, as Peel 3’s recommended object size range is 0.1 m to 3.0 m.
- You want an onboard touchscreen for monitoring scan coverage directly on the handle.
- Budget is the primary constraint, and you do not expect to need formally certified accuracy.
Software and Ecosystem
A scanner is only half the workflow. The software and ecosystem around it matter just as much over time.
Peel.OS and Peel.CAD are tightly focused on reverse engineering, which suits that specific use case well. Artec Studio, by contrast, is built to serve a single platform across the entire scanner range, and Point adds direct compatibility with dedicated metrology software such as Control-X and PolyWorks through the Artec Metrology Kit, which is useful if your inspection workflow already relies on those tools. If your organisation starts with a Point for certified inspection work and later needs a scanner for colour capture or general reverse engineering, that scanner, such as Eva, lives in the same Artec Studio environment. This kind of ecosystem thinking is also covered in Invenio 3D’s 3D scanner buyer’s guide, which walks through matching scanners to specific workflows rather than treating all 3D scanners as one category.
Artec Point: Metrology-Grade Handheld Laser 3D Scanner
Support and Availability in Australia and New Zealand
This is easy to overlook when comparing spec sheets, but it matters in practice. Where does the scanner, and the support behind it, actually come from?
Artec Point is available directly through Invenio 3D, Australia and New Zealand’s Artec distributor, with offices in Box Hill, VIC; Sydney; Brisbane; Perth; Auckland; and Christchurch. That means local demos, local training, and local warranty support from a team familiar with ANZ manufacturing and engineering environments. If your work involves ongoing QA, reverse engineering, or manufacturing support, having a local partner to call on is a genuine, ongoing benefit rather than a one-off purchase consideration. Invenio’s blog covers exactly these kinds of real-world scenarios, including streamlining factory QA with 3D scanning and cutting downtime through reverse engineering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Artec Point more accurate than Peel 3? Yes. Point is rated to 0.02 mm and is ISO 17025 and VDI VDE certified, while Peel 3 is rated to 0.050 mm without independent certification of that figure. For work that requires certified, documented accuracy, Point has a clear advantage.
Can Artec Point scan in colour? No. Point is a geometry-only scanner and does not capture colour or texture. Peel 3 does capture colour, with an official resolution of 50 to 200 DPI on scanned objects. If colour capture matters for your workflow, Peel 3 or an Artec scanner such as Eva would be a better fit than Point.
Does Artec Point handle black and shiny surfaces well? Yes. Point is specifically designed to capture black or reflective surfaces, as well as deep holes and other hard-to-reach features, through its dedicated laser-scanning modes. This is a specific, manufacturer-stated strength of the scanner.
Which scanner is better for quality control? Artec Point: if certified, documented accuracy is a requirement. Its ISO 17025 and VDI VDE certification, along with its 0.02 mm accuracy, are built specifically for formal inspection and metrology workflows.
Is Artec Point available with local support in Australia and New Zealand? Yes. Artec Point is distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Invenio 3D, with offices across both countries offering demos, training, and warranty support.
So, Which One Should You Choose?
If your priority is certified, documented accuracy, particularly for quality control, inspection, or reverse engineering on difficult surfaces, the Artec Point is the stronger choice. Its 0.02 mm accuracy, ISO 17025 and VDI VDE certification, and dedicated scanning modes for black, shiny, or hard-to-reach features are built specifically for that kind of work, something Peel 3 was not designed around. Point also sits within the broader Artec ecosystem, so if your needs later expand to colour capture or general-purpose scanning, that capability is available on the same Artec Studio platform through scanners such as Eva, backed by local support through Invenio 3D.
If your work is general-purpose reverse engineering, spans a wide range of object sizes, and benefits from colour and texture capture, Peel 3 is a capable, well-designed scanner, and its CAD tiers are a genuine strength for that specific job.
Ready to see it in action? Talk to the Invenio 3D team for a demo of the Artec Point, or explore the full Artec 3D scanner range to find the right fit for your application.
See how Artec Point can transform your quality control workflow. View the Artec Point →