A dual-axis turntable adds ±30° of tilt to the usual 360° spin, letting a scanner see tops, undersides, and sloped surfaces a flat single-axis spin leaves hidden; a single-axis unit wins when objects are small, stable, and mostly visible from one height.
The choice comes down to how much hidden geometry your objects carry and how much you are willing to reposition them by hand. A single-axis turntable spins an object on one flat plane, so the scanner keeps seeing it from the same elevation. A dual-axis turntable tilts the platform while it rotates, changing the angle between scanner and object and cutting down on manual flipping.
What A Dual Axis Turntable Actually Changes
A dual-axis unit rotates a full 360° clockwise or counterclockwise and adds up to ±30° of tilt, shifting the scanner’s view above and below the object’s equator without you touching anything.
Revopoint’s A230-Ⅱ, sold as the Dual-axis Turntable, lists 18–90 seconds per rotation, a 5 kg (roughly 11 lb) maximum load, and a 200 mm diameter platform that stands 82 mm tall and weighs about 771 g. Onboard buttons handle direction, tilt, speed, and start/pause, and Bluetooth control runs through Revo Scan or Revo Assistant.
That tilt range earns a dual-axis unit its place. On a statuette, a helmet shell, or anything with a pronounced crown and a recessed underside, a fixed-elevation spin only ever sees the silhouette. Tilting brings those surfaces into the scanner’s line of sight in a single pass.
Dual Axis vs Single Axis Turntable: The Trade-Offs
Single-axis scanning is simpler, cheaper, and sufficient for flat-backed or rotationally symmetric parts. Dual-axis scanning costs more and adds a calibration step, but pays that back on objects with real top, bottom, or undercut geometry.
| Factor | Single Axis | Dual Axis |
|---|---|---|
| Motion | 360° spin only | 360° spin plus ±30° tilt |
| Best object type | Flat-backed, symmetric, or small parts | Objects with top, underside, or sloped surfaces |
| Manual repositioning | Often required between passes | Reduced, but not eliminated |
| Setup | Spin and scan | Bluetooth pairing and turntable calibration |
| Object size ceiling | Platform-limited | 200 mm platform on the Revopoint A230-Ⅱ |
| Load ceiling | Model-dependent | 5 kg on the Revopoint A230-Ⅱ |
| Cost | Lower | $99.00 list on the Revopoint product page |
The load and size ceilings are worth respecting. A heavy vase or wide prop will overhang even a dual-axis base and can shift mid-scan for a wobbly, incomplete mesh. If your target is large, no turntable solves it; you move the scanner instead. For a shortlist of tested bases, our roundup of 3D scanning turntables lays out the current options side by side.
Setup And Compatibility You Should Not Skip
Revopoint’s workflow requires Revo Scan for Windows or macOS version 4.1.0 or newer; older software falls outside the documented support level, so update before troubleshooting.
- Connect the scanner to your laptop by USB and open Revo Scan.
- Select the dual-axis-turntable icon, choose Search, pick the discovered device, then hit Add and Connect.
- Start a scan, select Dual-axis Turntable, and confirm.
- Set rotation speed and X-axis angle — up to five rotations, Z-axis speeds of 36–60 seconds per rotation, and tilt up to ±30°.
- Select Start. The platform runs the saved settings.
One calibration note applies to turntable-alignment mode. SHINING 3D’s OptimScan Q12 documentation states turntable calibration is required in that mode, and marker-specific functions — marker diameter, real-time recognition, and automatic cutting planes — are not supported there. It also warns that moving the scanner or turntable after calibration invalidates it. Lock your rig down before you start.
Check compatibility before you commit. Revopoint lists the A230-Ⅱ as compatible with POP, POP 2, POP 3, MINI, RANGE, INSPIRE, MIRACO, MIRACO Pro, RANGE 2, MINI 2, POP 3 Plus, MIRACO Plus, INSPIRE 2, MetroX, MetroX Pro, MetroY Pro, MetroY Ultra, POP 4, RANGE 3, and RANGE 3 Pro. A dual-axis base does nothing for a model that cannot drive it.
Which One Fits Your Scanning Work
Buy the dual-axis unit if your objects routinely hide geometry up top, underneath, or in recesses, and you are tired of re-chucking them by hand. Stay single-axis if your work is flat, symmetric, or small enough that a quick manual flip is faster than pairing Bluetooth and calibrating.
A turntable never guarantees a complete mesh. Dark, reflective, transparent, and concave surfaces still need matte spray, markers, adjusted lighting, or add-scan passes. The tilt buys angle coverage — not surface prep. Weigh the $99 against the repositioning hours it saves on your actual objects.
FAQs
Can a dual-axis turntable replace manual flipping entirely?
No. The ±30° tilt covers far more angles than a flat spin, but deeply recessed, transparent, or reflective surfaces still demand matte spray, markers, or an extra scan pass. Treat the tilt as a strong head start rather than a full replacement.
Do I need special software to run a dual-axis turntable?
For Revopoint hardware, yes. Revo Scan for Windows or macOS version 4.1.0 and above is the documented support level, and Bluetooth control runs through Revo Scan or Revo Assistant. Older software falls outside the supported workflow, so update it first.
What happens if my object exceeds the load or platform size?
Stability suffers. Revopoint’s A230-Ⅱ is rated to 5 kg on a 200 mm platform, and going past either can cause wobble, shifting mid-scan, and incomplete capture. For heavier or wider objects, move the scanner around a stationary target instead.
References & Sources
- Revopoint. “Dual-axis Turntable” Source for A230-Ⅱ specs, price, load rating, controls, and compatible scanner list.
- SHINING 3D. “Turntable Scanning” Documents turntable-alignment calibration requirements and movement caveats.