Artec Micro II

# Artec Micro II

Overview

The Artec Micro II is an automated benchtop structured-light 3D scanner built for small parts that need metrology-level dimensional capture. Artec specifies up to 0.005 mm (5 µm) 3D point accuracy, approximately 0.002 mm (2 µm) repeatability, and 0.04 mm 3D resolution, placing Micro II in a different class from general-purpose small-object scanners.

Its workflow is deliberately hands-off. The object is secured inside the scanner, and Artec Studio can calculate an appropriate scan trajectory automatically. Four 13 MP cameras, RGB LED structured light, automated object positioning, full-color capture, and target-free operation make it particularly relevant to quality inspection, small-part reverse engineering, jewelry, dentistry, precision manufacturing, forensics, and heritage digitization.

The current Micro II specification lists a Ø200 × 150 mm field of view and 4,700 cm³ capture volume. Artec separately recommends objects up to 200 × 200 × 150 mm and 2 kg. Those figures describe different limits and should not be interpreted as a rectangular 6,000 cm³ scan volume.

For current specifications, pricing, and support information, see the official Artec Micro II product page, the Artec Micro II documentation, and Artec Studio.

Key Strengths

• Up to 0.005 mm / 5 µm 3D point accuracy
• Approximately 0.002 mm / 2 µm repeatability
• ISO 12836 accuracy certification
• 0.04 mm / 40 µm 3D resolution
• Four 13 MP cameras
• RGB LED structured-light scanning
• Up to 1 million points/s data acquisition
• Automated Smart Scanning Mode
• Target-free desktop scanning
• Ø200 × 150 mm field of view
• 4,700 cm³ capture volume
• Recommended objects up to 200 × 200 × 150 mm
• Maximum recommended object weight of 2 kg
• Native 24-bit color capture
• Photo-texturing support in Artec Studio
• USB 3.0 interface
• Optional third-axis scanning accessory
• HD scanning support in current Artec Studio workflows
• Direct CAD and inspection workflows
• 2-year scanner warranty

Best For

Best for precision inspection, small-part reverse engineering, metrology, gears and connectors, jewelry, dental parts, tooling, forensics, heritage objects, and repeatable automated scanning.

Technical Specifications

Capture-volume note: Artec's specifies 4,700 cm³ of volume capture and a Ø200 × 150 mm field of view. The separate 200 × 200 × 150 mm figure is Artec's recommended maximum object size, not a rectangular capture-volume specification.

5-Micron Accuracy and 2-Micron Repeatability

Micro II's strongest specification is its 5 µm 3D point accuracy.

That figure represents how closely captured geometry can correspond to the measured object under the manufacturer's stated conditions. Artec also reports approximately 2 µm repeatability, meaning repeated scans of the same object can remain extremely consistent.

Accuracy and repeatability should not be treated as the same metric.

• Accuracy describes closeness to the true dimension.
• Repeatability describes how consistently repeated measurements agree.
• Resolution describes the level of geometric detail the scanner can resolve.

Micro II's published 0.04 mm resolution is therefore not a contradiction to its 0.005 mm accuracy figure. They describe different aspects of measurement performance.

For more background on these terms, see 3D Scanner Accuracy vs Resolution.

ISO 12836 Metrology Certification

Artec lists Micro II's accuracy certification as ISO 12836.

This standard is associated with digitizing devices used in dentistry and provides a defined framework for evaluating scanner accuracy.

For industrial buyers, the practical value is repeatable measured geometry for CAD comparison, part recreation, and production-deviation checks.

Automated Smart Scanning Mode

Micro II is designed to reduce manual camera positioning.

With Smart Scanning Mode, Artec Studio can automatically choose an appropriate scanning path and determine how many frames are needed to cover the object.

The operator still needs to secure the object, maintain calibration, manage difficult surfaces, and flip parts when the underside cannot be reached. Automation is especially useful for repeated inspection of similar components.

Multi-Axis Object Positioning

The scanner moves the object through controlled orientations while its four cameras capture the surface from different directions.

Artec's current specification describes the system as 3-axis, with the third axis sold separately.

The optional third-axis holder is intended for complex objects where an additional rotational degree of freedom helps expose surfaces that are difficult to reach with the standard two-axis arrangement.

Artec Studio 20 introduced expanded three-axis support for Micro II, including scan paths for compact objects that can be clamped off-center.

Even with three-axis motion, the underside of an object may still require a second scan after the part is flipped.

Four 13 MP Cameras

Micro II uses four 13 MP cameras positioned to view the object from multiple angles.

The quad-camera layout improves coverage around edges, holes, recesses, gear teeth, narrow features, and detailed surface transitions, while reducing blind areas compared with simpler single-view systems.

0.04 mm 3D Resolution

Artec currently specifies 40 µm / 0.04 mm 3D resolution for Micro II.

This is an important current specification because older Artec materials originally listed Micro II resolution as pending.

The 0.04 mm figure describes geometric detail reproduction rather than absolute point accuracy.

For small mechanical features, the combination of 0.04 mm resolution, 5 µm point accuracy, and automated repeatability is more meaningful than any one number on its own.

Field of View, Capture Volume, and Object Size

Three different size specifications appear in Artec's current information:

Field of view: Ø200 × 150 mm

Volume capture: 4,700 cm³

Recommended object size: up to 200 × 200 × 150 mm and 2 kg

These should not be collapsed into a simple 200 × 200 × 150 mm rectangular scan volume.

The circular field-of-view specification and 4,700 cm³ capture-volume figure better describe the optical capture envelope, while the 200 × 200 × 150 mm figure describes the maximum object size Artec recommends placing in the system.

Typical parts include engine valves, electrical connectors, watch components, gears, small housings, dental components, jewelry, mold inserts, and precision-machined parts.

Target-Free Desktop Scanning

Micro II does not require reflective tracking targets for its normal automated workflow.

The object's position is controlled mechanically by the scanner, so the system does not need the same marker-based tracking method used by handheld metrology scanners.

This makes setup cleaner for very small parts where covering the object with targets would be impractical.

The tradeoff is mobility: Micro II is a 12 kg desktop system designed to operate indoors on a stable, vibration-free surface.

Full-Color Capture

Micro II supports native 24-bit color scanning.

Artec Studio can also apply color from high-resolution external photographs for more photorealistic results. Native color is useful for heritage, jewelry, forensics, dental, product-documentation, and archival workflows.

Artec Studio Workflow

Micro II integrates with Artec Studio for scanning, alignment, fusion, mesh processing, measurement, inspection, and reverse-engineering preparation.

Relevant workflow tools include:

• Smart Scanning Mode
• Automated scan-path generation
• HD scanning
• Three-axis scanning support
• Mesh cleanup
• Registration and fusion
• 3D Compare Map
• Tolerance Checking
• Auto-surfacing
• CAD primitive creation
• Photo texturing
• Model export

Artec Studio 20 expanded Micro II capability with HD Mode and three-axis integration. Artec states that HD Mode can capture four times more data points per scan than the standard workflow.

Inspection and Reverse Engineering

Micro II data can stay inside Artec Studio for basic comparison and reverse-engineering work or move into specialized software.

Typical workflows include scan-to-CAD comparison, deviation mapping, tolerance evaluation, CAD primitive extraction, auto-surfacing, inspection reporting, and reverse engineering.

Artec also supports workflows with Geomagic Control X, Geomagic Design X, PolyWorks Inspector, and SOLIDWORKS.

For broader scanner selection, see Best 3D Scanners for Reverse Engineering in 2026.

Output Formats

Artec Studio supports Micro II data in a broad set of export formats.

Mesh and Geometry

• OBJ
• PLY
• WRL
• STL
• AOP
• ASC
• PTX / PTEX
• E57
• XYZRGB

CAD

• STEP
• IGES
• X_T

Measurement

• CSV
• DXF
• XML

Format choice depends on whether the next step is visualization, 3D printing, inspection, CAD reconstruction, or metrology.

Computer and Power Requirements

Micro II is not a standalone scanner. It connects to a Windows workstation over USB 3.0.

Artec currently supports Windows 10 x64 and Windows 11. Its support documentation recommends modern NVIDIA hardware for current Micro II workflows and does not support macOS.

The scanner uses a 24 V, 3.75 A, 90 W power supply with 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz input.

Comparison Table

The table shows why Micro II should not be judged only by portability or acquisition speed. Its main advantage is automated, repeatable 5-micron-class small-part measurement. The alternatives offer more mobility, lower cost, or broader object-size coverage, but target different workflows.

Artec Micro II vs Artec Point II

The Artec Micro II vs Artec Point II comparison is primarily a choice between automated benchtop metrology and portable industrial metrology.

The Artec Point II is a handheld target-based blue-laser scanner with up to 0.02 mm accuracy and resolution. It is designed for small-to-large industrial parts and can be moved around components that would never fit inside Micro II.

Choose Micro II when parts fit its small-object envelope, 5 µm point accuracy is valuable, automated repeatability matters, and similar parts are inspected repeatedly.

Choose Point II for larger parts, in-place inspection, automotive and aerospace components, and surfaces that benefit from handheld blue-laser capture.

Artec Micro II vs 3DMakerpro Seal

The Artec Micro II vs 3DMakerpro Seal comparison is relevant to jewelry, miniatures, and other small objects, but the two scanners occupy very different price and workflow classes.

The 3DMakerpro Seal publishes 0.01 mm accuracy, 0.05 mm resolution, and 24-bit color capture.

Seal is easier to justify for hobby and prosumer jewelry capture, miniatures, decorative objects, portable scanning, and lower-cost 3D-printing workflows.

Micro II is better suited to professional inspection and reverse engineering where automated positioning, 5 µm point accuracy, 2 µm repeatability, ISO 12836 certification, and Artec's metrology software ecosystem justify the higher investment.

Artec Micro II vs Revopoint MINI 2

The Artec Micro II vs Revopoint MINI 2 comparison separates consumer/prosumer small-object scanning from professional automated metrology.

The Revopoint MINI 2 specifies up to 0.05 mm single-frame accuracy, 0.02 mm single-frame precision, and 0.02 mm point distance.

MINI 2 is attractive when handheld portability, Wi-Fi scanning, jewelry capture, turntable workflows, and lower purchase cost matter most.

Micro II is the better fit when measurement repeatability, automated scan paths, small-part inspection, and CAD comparison are central to the buying decision.

Artec Micro II vs Revopoint MetroX Pro

The Artec Micro II vs Revopoint MetroX Pro comparison is useful for engineering teams deciding between a fixed automated metrology station and a more flexible blue-laser scanner.

The Revopoint MetroX Pro publishes up to 0.02 mm single-frame accuracy, 0.01 mm precision, and 0.02 mm + 0.04 mm × L volumetric accuracy. It combines 30 crossed laser lines, 15 parallel laser lines, and full-field blue structured light.

MetroX Pro is better suited to portable engineering capture, shiny or dark surfaces, small-to-medium parts, blue-laser reverse engineering, and broader object coverage.

Micro II remains the stronger fit when a controlled benchtop workflow, automated positioning, and substantially tighter published point accuracy are the priority.

Which Artec Micro II Alternative Fits Best?

The best Artec Micro II alternative depends on why Micro II does not fit the project.

• Artec Point II: better for portable industrial metrology and larger parts.
• 3DMakerpro Seal: better for lower-cost jewelry, miniature, and small-object capture.
• Revopoint MINI 2: better for compact wireless small-object scanning and turntable workflows.
• Revopoint MetroX Pro: better for flexible blue-laser reverse engineering of small-to-medium engineering parts.
• Artec Micro II: strongest when automated small-part scanning, 5 µm point accuracy, 2 µm repeatability, and metrology workflow integration justify a dedicated desktop system.

Micro II's value is repeatable automation and measurement performance on parts that fit its controlled desktop workspace.

Price and Availability

Artec lists the Micro II from US$24,240. Approximate regional equivalents: North America: US$24,240 / C$33,646 · Europe: €21,130 / £17,920 · Middle East: AED 89,021 · Australia: A$34,320 · India: ₹2,313,720.

Available through Artec 3D and authorized regional resellers. Final pricing varies with taxes, import duties, shipping, software, support packages, accessories, and reseller bundles. Currency conversions are approximate.

Limitations and Practical Considerations

• Micro II is limited to small objects and a desktop scanning envelope.
• Recommended object weight is no more than 2 kg.
• The current capture volume is 4,700 cm³, not 6,000 cm³.
• The 200 × 200 × 150 mm object-size recommendation should not be treated as a rectangular optical scan volume.
• The optional third-axis holder is not part of the standard current configuration.
• The scanner must be used indoors on a stable, vibration-free surface.
• Strong external light or direct sunlight can degrade results.
• Highly challenging reflective or transparent surfaces may still need preparation.
• The underside of an object may require a second scan after flipping the part.
• A compatible Windows workstation is required.
• Artec Studio and third-party metrology/CAD software can materially increase total system cost.
• 5 µm accuracy is a manufacturer specification under controlled conditions; real results still depend on calibration, setup, surface behavior, and workflow.

Callout Section

Recommended use: Choose Artec Micro II when small-part inspection, repeatable automated scanning, 5-micron point accuracy, and integration with professional metrology and reverse-engineering software matter more than portability or low purchase price.

Frequently Asked Questions