Getting Started

What do I need to scan a sample?

A cut foam sample, a gram scale, and a plain, contrasting surface to set the sample on. On iPhones and iPads
without a LiDAR sensor you’ll also want a credit-card-size reference to set the scale.
A built-in tutorial walks you through the whole setup — replay it any time from Settings.

How do I fill in my product data?

On the Scan tab, open the Product Data card and enter your
ISO and Resin material, lot/batch, and expiration. These persist across
scans and are saved with every result, so you only enter them when they change.

What are Job ID and Sample ID for?

• Job ID groups results for a job or project. It persists across scans until you change it.
• Sample ID (optional) identifies one specific sample — useful for R&D. It clears after each saved result so it isn’t reused by mistake.

Both are saved with the record and included in every export.

Scanning a Sample

How does the scan work?

Tap SCAN SAMPLE and photograph four sides of the sample, giving it a quarter turn between
shots. The app finds the sample’s outline, measures each side at multiple points, and averages them to handle
slightly irregular cuts. You then review the length, width, and height, enter the weight in grams, and the
density appears instantly.

How does it measure size from a photo?

• LiDAR devices (Pro iPhones and iPads) use the depth sensor to set scale — no reference object needed.
• Other devices use a credit-card-size reference placed next to the sample.
• Manual entry is always available, including fractions like “3 1/16”.

The green outline missed the sample — can I fix it?

Yes. On the review screen, tap a side thumbnail and drag the outline’s corners onto the sample’s actual
corners. A magnifier bubble helps you land them precisely, and the dimensions update as you drag.

What’s the best way to hold the phone?

Hold the phone vertical and square to the sample face — aimed straight across at it, not tilted
down from above. Resting the phone against a table edge keeps it upright. Stay about 10–14 inches away; closer
than roughly 8 inches the camera can’t focus. The on-screen level turns the shutter green when you’re lined up.
See the Camera Position page in the tutorial for a diagram.

Accuracy & Calibration

How is density calculated?

Using the standard formula — density (lb/ft³) = (weight in grams ÷ 454) ÷ (volume in cubic inches ÷ 1728) —
rounded to the hundredths place.

What is the Calibration Check?

In Settings → Measurement → Calibration Check, scan an object whose true dimensions
you know. The app shows the error per dimension and lets you save a per-device correction factor (separately for
LiDAR and reference-card modes) so scans on your specific device read more accurately.

What is the top/bottom flatness check?

On LiDAR devices, after the four side shots you photograph the top and bottom faces straight down. The app uses
the depth map to detect a dished, domed, or voided face — the kind of defect that would make density read
falsely low — and flags it on the review screen. Rough but flat saw-cut faces are not falsely flagged.

Does it work on rough, saw-cut field samples?

Yes. It’s built for real field samples, not just clean lab cubes. When a sample’s edges are very irregular it
still measures to the average edge and simply flags the reading as approximate, so you know to double-check.

Results, Archive & Export

Where are my results?

Every saved result is on the Results tab, newest first. Swipe a result to
share, archive, or delete it. Archived results live on the
Archive tab. Tap any result for full detail, including a map and the scan photos.

How do I export?

From the Results tab you can export as:

• CSV — every field, for spreadsheets
• PDF — a formatted report
• Folder — a date-stamped folder containing the CSV, PDF, and scan photos, delivered as a zip

Everything is handed to the standard iOS share sheet, so you can save to Files, email, message, or AirDrop it.

Can results include location?

Optionally. When you enable Record Location in Settings, each result is tagged with GPS
coordinates so it can be tied to a project site. It’s off-limits unless you turn it on, and coordinates leave
the device only when you export.

Privacy & General

Where is my data stored?

On your device. Density Scanner works fully offline, needs no account, and uploads nothing. When you share or
export, the files go only where you send them through the iOS share sheet.

Are the density readings guaranteed?

No. Density values are good-faith field estimates derived from camera-based measurements and user-entered
weights, intended for general quality-assurance reference. They are not a substitute for calibrated laboratory
equipment or applicable standard test methods. See the on-screen disclaimer in the app’s About page.

Does it work on iPad?

Yes — Density Scanner runs on both iPhone and iPad. LiDAR-based measurement is available on Pro models with a
LiDAR sensor; other devices use the reference-card method.

Tips & Tricks

• Hold the phone vertical and square to the sample face — the most common cause of a bad reading is shooting at an angle
• Run the Calibration Check once against a known object to tune accuracy to your device
• Use a plain, contrasting background and diffuse light — dark foam on a light surface, or vice versa
• Set a Job ID so a batch of results stays grouped in your exports
• If the outline misses, tap a thumbnail and drag the corners with the magnifier