Why is my scanner cutting off limbs and producing incomplete body scans?

If your Styku scanner is cutting off limbs or producing incomplete 3D body images, the most likely cause is that the scanner is placed too close to a wall or nearby furniture. Moving the unit away from surrounding objects usually resolves this immediately.

Why This Happens

The camera tower needs a clear, unobstructed view of the person rotating on the turntable. When walls or objects are too close, they interfere with the sensor's field of view and cause parts of the body — most often arms or legs — to be cut off in the captured image. Missing limbs mean the software cannot generate accurate circumference or body composition measurements for those areas.

How to Fix It

1. Power down the scanner and clear the area around the turntable.
2. Measure the space around the turntable on all sides — there should be at least 17 inches of clearance between the edge of the turntable and any wall, mirror, equipment, or furniture.
3. Reposition the scanner unit if any side falls short of that distance.
4. Make sure the room has no direct sunlight or strong ambient daylight coming in. Natural light interferes with the infrared depth sensor and can also cause incomplete captures.
5. Reconnect all cables, power the scanner back on, and run a test scan.

Check Your Environment First

Before scanning clients, do a quick environment check:

• No windows letting in direct sunlight
• No large mirrors directly facing the camera tower
• Turntable has open space on all sides
• Camera tower USB cable is securely connected to the laptop

A poor environment is one of the most common causes of incomplete scans. Per Styku's guidance, reflective objects, no backing wall, natural light, or other environmental factors can cause inconsistencies in measurements — not just incomplete captures. Taking a few minutes to set up correctly will save time and prevent the need to re-scan clients.

Note on USB cables: If you need to increase the distance between the sensor tower and the computer, only use a Styku-approved active USB 3.1 extension cable. Off-the-shelf extension cables from local retailers or online stores do not deliver stable results and will cause performance issues. Styku has tested and recommends the Newnex FireNex active extension cable, which works with both the Styku S100 and S100X sensor towers and can extend the connection distance from 2.1 meters to 7.1 meters (about 23 feet).

If this resolves your issue, no further action is needed.

If the problem persists, contact support and include: a photo or short video of your scanner setup showing the surrounding space, a description of which body parts are being cut off, and the scanner model you are using.

Applies to: All Styku scanner configurations — Styku S100 and S100X sensor towers, and all models of Styku turntable

Related Resources

• Can I use USB extension cables with my Styku scanner?
• My progress measurements don't look right, and there are inconsistencies. What causes these, and how can I fix them?