GratKit S1 3D Scanner Review: Best Mid-Range Pick?

• By Christopher Hoffman
• Posted in 3dscanning, blog
• On January 16, 2026
• No Comments.

The GratKit S1 is a dual-mode structured light 3D scanner that promises automated turntable scanning, handheld flexibility, full-color texture capture, and 0.04mm accuracy at a price that undercuts most of the competition. After a full month of testing it on everything from tiny statues to car bumpers, here’s exactly what you need to know before you buy.

Spec	Value
Scanner Type	DLP Structured White Light
Scanning Modes	Turntable + Handheld
Claimed Accuracy	0.04 mm
Spatial Dot Pitch	0.1 – 0.6 mm
Turntable Scan Volume	50x50x50 mm – 200x200x200 mm
Handheld Scan Volume	200x200x200 mm – 1000x1000x1000 mm
Handheld Working Distance	300 – 600 mm
Handheld Scan Area	200×170 mm at 400 mm distance
Frame Rate (Handheld)	10 fps
Color Camera	2.2 MP RGB
Software	ExploreScan (free download)
Export Formats	.stl, .ply, .obj, .3mf
Connection	USB 3.0 Type-C + external power
Kickstarter Price	$649 (Super Early Bird) / $699 (Early Bird)
MSRP	$999

What Is the GratKit S1 3D Scanner?

The GratKit S1 is a DLP structured light scanner that works by projecting a series of white light patterns onto your object. Two cameras pick up how those patterns deform across the surface, extracting depth data point by point. Layer in the 2.2 megapixel RGB camera and you get full-color texture on top of the geometry. The result is a complete 3D model you can export as an STL, OBJ, PLY, or 3MF for 3D printing, game design, digital art, or reverse engineering.

GratKit specs the S1 at 0.04mm accuracy and a 0.1 to 0.6mm spatial dot pitch. Those are strong numbers for this price range, and the real-world tests below show how it holds up against those claims.

Turntable Scanning: Where the GratKit S1 Excels

The motorized turntable is the headline feature of the S1, and it earns it. Place your object, hit scan, and the scanner fires structured light patterns across the surface before the turntable auto-rotates and repeats. A full first pass — 15 positions with texture enabled — completes in under 60 seconds. Follow-up passes to fill in the underside or missed angles take about 30 seconds each with only 6 scan positions.

The real-time preview in ExploreScan lets you watch the point cloud build out as each position completes. Most of the time, the software aligns subsequent scans automatically. When it doesn’t, the manual alignment tool asks you to click four matching points on each scan and handles the rest. It takes seconds and works well. Turntable mode supports objects from 50x50x50mm up to 200x200x200mm.

Handheld Mode: Flexible, Smooth, and Smarter Than Expected

Lift the GratKit S1 off its magnetically-attached base and it instantly becomes a handheld scanner. No mode switch, no reconfiguration. The handle detaches cleanly and the scanner starts capturing at 10 frames per second.

The working distance is 300 to 600mm with a generous 200x170mm scan area at 400mm. That wide field of view helps the scanner maintain tracking, which is one of the more frustrating limitations of smaller-area handheld scanners. If it does lose tracking, moving back over a familiar area re-establishes it within seconds.

One behavior worth calling out: the S1 appears to skip capturing new frames when you hover over areas already scanned. The frame counter stays put. This keeps the point cloud lean, speeds up post-processing, and is a smart design choice that most handheld scanners don’t bother with. Handheld mode handles objects from 200x200x200mm up to a full cubic meter, making it practical for automotive and large-format work.

ExploreScan Software: Fast and Practical

ExploreScan is the free companion software for the S1. Setup starts with a calibration routine using the included card, which the software walks you through step by step. Then you choose your mode, color or geometry-only, accuracy level (Standard, Higher, or Highest in turntable mode), and tracking method.

Post-processing is where ExploreScan stands out. Cleaning up the point cloud, filling mesh gaps, simplifying, smoothing, and applying texture maps all happen in a clean workflow with previews and before/after toggles at each step. Processing times for every single scan tested came in under 5 minutes. That’s a meaningful difference from other scanning software where mesh processing alone can take 10 to 30 minutes.

One gap worth mentioning: the lasso selection tools work well for removing bad data outside a model, but cleaning up floating artifacts inside a complex mesh (like the interior of a voronoi structure) is tedious. A “remove small blobs” filter would be a welcome future addition.

Tracking Modes: Feature vs. Marker

The S1 offers two tracking modes for handheld scanning. Feature mode uses the geometry of the object itself to track position between frames. This works well for objects with distinct shapes and surface detail. For smooth or featureless surfaces, like a car bumper, feature mode struggles to maintain tracking because there’s nothing unique to lock onto.

That’s where marker mode comes in. Stick the included reflective dots randomly across the surface and the scanner uses those as reference points. The S1 wants to see at least five or six markers in frame at all times. Spacing them too far apart drops that count and tracking suffers. With proper marker density, even a featureless automotive bumper scanned without issues.

Real-World Scan Results

Testing covered a wide range of objects to stress different aspects of the S1’s performance:

Small detailed statues (Michelangelo, Harvest of the Undying): Turntable mode produced clean, detailed scans. Sub-millimeter features like fine filigree pushed the limits of the 0.1mm dot pitch and were softened in the output, but the overall form and mid-size detail came through well.

3D prints (Kerbal, Voronoi Bulbasaur, Dragon): The Kerbal scan captured surface defects and scuff marks with good fidelity. The Voronoi Bulbasaur was the toughest geometry test — the auto-alignment struggled and failed on the second orientation, but manual alignment fixed it quickly. The post-processing left some floating artifacts inside the model that were difficult to remove without better internal selection tools.

Black objects (PS4 Controller, Stadia Controller, car interior): White structured light scanners have a known weakness with matte black surfaces, and the S1 is no exception. The PS4 controller scanned with a noticeably rough surface that smoothed out well in post-processing. The all-black car interior panel was the worst-case result, with significant missing detail on the black surfaces. Grey areas on the same panel scanned fine. If your workflow involves a lot of black objects, plan to use smoothing in post or consider a scanning spray.

Reflective surfaces (Lion statue, door panel): The gold-and-mirror lion statue couldn’t be scanned at all without a matte coating spray. The door panel’s reflective metal frame caused similar issues. This is expected behavior for any white light scanner.

Automotive (bumper, door panel, center console): The car bumper worked well in marker mode with sufficient dot density. The door panel captured the plastic sections cleanly but missed the reflective metal frame. The center console’s all-black surface was a challenge throughout, though the texture map made it look more complete than the underlying mesh suggested.

What the GratKit S1 Struggles With

To set honest expectations: the S1 has the same weaknesses as any white structured light scanner. Reflective, shiny, or transparent objects need to be coated before scanning. Dry shampoo works as a budget-friendly matte spray if you don’t want to buy dedicated scanning powder. Black surfaces scan but produce rougher geometry that needs post-processing attention.

Handheld mode is noticeably lower resolution than the turntable’s Highest setting. Thick layer lines on 3D prints that were sharp in turntable scans got smoothed over in handheld. It’s still useful for large objects, but don’t expect turntable-level detail in handheld mode.

One crash occurred during post-processing of the Master Chief helmet project. No other file caused issues across all tests. GratKit is aware and working on a fix.

GratKit S1 vs. the Competition

The S1 sits in an interesting spot in the market. At $999 MSRP, it’s priced below most other automated turntable scanners, including offerings from Einstar. It costs more than hobbyist handheld scanners from Revopoint or Creality, but those don’t include an automated turntable. If a motorized turntable is on your requirements list, the S1 is one of the more affordable ways to get there, and the Kickstarter pricing makes it even more compelling.

Verdict: Should You Buy the GratKit S1?

The GratKit S1 delivers a well-rounded scanning experience for the price. Turntable mode is fast, accurate, and easy to use. The magnetic handle swap to handheld mode is a genuinely smart design. And ExploreScan’s post-processing speed puts it ahead of most competing software in day-to-day usability.

It’s a strong fit for makers, engineers, and digital artists who want an automated turntable scanner without spending $1,500 or more. The handheld mode adds flexibility for larger objects, even if it trades some resolution to get there. The known weaknesses (black surfaces, reflectives) are shared by the entire category and manageable with a can of dry shampoo.

At the Kickstarter Early Bird price of $699, it’s an excellent value. At $999 MSRP after the campaign, it’s still competitive for what you’re getting. If an automated turntable is important to your workflow, the S1 is worth a serious look.

Check the latest price and availability for the GratKit S1

Pricing and Where to Buy

• GratKit S1 3D Scanner (Kickstarter / Official) — $649 Super Early Bird / $699 Early Bird / $999 MSRP

Prices may have changed. Click the links for current pricing and any available discount codes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GratKit S1 worth it at $999?

At $999, the S1 is competitively priced for an automated turntable scanner. Most comparable scanners with motorized turntables cost more. If turntable automation is a priority and your budget is around $1,000, the S1 offers strong value. At the Kickstarter price of $649 to $699, it’s an even better deal.

Can the GratKit S1 scan black objects?

Yes, but with caveats. Matte black surfaces scan with a rougher surface finish than lighter objects. The geometry is there, but you’ll need to apply smoothing in post-processing. Very dark interiors with multiple black surfaces (like an all-black car console) will have more significant gaps. A matte scanning spray or dry shampoo can improve results on difficult dark surfaces.

How does turntable mode compare to handheld mode on the S1?

Turntable mode is faster, more accurate, and produces higher-resolution scans. The Highest accuracy setting captures fine detail that handheld mode softens over. Handheld mode’s advantage is scale — it handles objects up to 1 cubic meter that would never fit on the turntable. For most desktop objects, turntable mode is the better choice.

What software does the GratKit S1 use?

The S1 uses ExploreScan, a free download from GratKit’s website. It covers the full workflow from scan capture through point cloud cleanup, mesh processing, texture application, and export. Post-processing is fast, typically under 5 minutes per project. Export formats include STL, OBJ, PLY, and 3MF.

Can the GratKit S1 scan faces or people?

No. The S1 uses white structured light, which is not safe to point at a person’s face. It is not suitable for facial scanning or body scanning. For that use case, you’d need a scanner that uses infrared light or photogrammetry instead.

Disclosure: This GratKit S1 scanner was provided by GratKit for review. This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own based on one month of hands-on testing.