Whether you're an avid fan of technology or simply yearning for a new DIY project to busily while-away your free time, constructing a handheld 3D scanner from scratch is an experience like no other. Akin to constructing your own PC, amassing the specific elements, learning about their individual functions and understanding how they coalesce to create a functional product is both enlightening and satisfying.

It's important to note that the creation of a 3D scanner is predicated upon the principles of photogrammetry, the practice of obtaining reliable information regarding physical objects through the process of recording, measuring and interpreting photographic images. With the advancement of technology, we now have the capacity to translate these concepts into our DIY endeavours, creating a handheld 3D scanner that can manipulate the magic that is 3D technology.

To set the stage, let’s first understand that a 3D scanner works by analyzing a real-world object or environment to collect data on its shape and possibly color. This data is used to construct digital three-dimensional models. Handheld 3D scanners are designed to be portable and as easy to move around the object being scanned as possible.

The Essential Components:

There are several key elements that form the crux of a handheld 3D Scanner:

1. A Camera: It can be a DSLR, a smartphone camera or the camera module from a Raspberry Pi for example. This captures a sequence of 2D images, or 'frames', as you scan the object.

2. A Light Source: Typically an Infra-Red (IR) projector which reveals high-contrast features on the object's surface by casting a grid pattern. If your light source is part of the camera (like the sensor in Microsoft Kinect), you would not require an additional IR projector.

3. A PC/Microcontroller: To store the sequence of 2D images and generate a 3D model using them.

The Steps to Creating your Handheld 3D Scanner:

While the technical elements of creating a handheld 3D scanner can be intimidating, let's break it down into small, manageable segments.

1. Frame Acquisition: The camera captures a sequence of 2D frames as it travels around the object. Each frame encloses a ‘point cloud’, where each point captures a minute detail of the object’s texture, alongside its relative position in space. Frame acquisition is controlled by specific software such as Python script or MCU based controller script, depending upon the chosen configuration.

2. Frame Alignment: Once the frames have been acquired, the next step is frame alignment or ‘Registration’. This is aided by the software associating multiple points from two frames and aligning them based on the object’s kinematics. These thinking steps should be carried out in a reasonable PC, as it requires substantially high computational prowess.

3. Model Generation: After registration, the software merges all the frames to create a single point cloud that captures the complete geometric and textural details of the object. The point cloud data is then used to generate the triangular mesh, creating the 3D Model.

4. Configuring: After the individual areas have been 3D scanned, the resulting scans, or “frames” as they are sometimes called, need to be placed in a common coordinate system, a step called alignment or “registration”.

5. Refining: The details of the complete object can be created by merging these frames together into a single point cloud (also known as “fusion”).

It's a wonderful process, repetitively testing the mettle of your knowledge and endurance. Yet, there is a certain thrill that accompanies bringing a hand-implemented device to life. One of the best parts about this process is that you can iterate and improve over time, refining the model as you gain more expertise and sturdiness with the technology.

Bear in mind that technology is a formidable tool at our disposal, continuing to evolve and flourish over time. It offers us a foray into a world beyond ours. Hence, broaden your horizons and venture into the wonder that is your handheld 3D Scanner, a realm where technology converges with creativity. Dive into the dynamic waters of 3D technology and let this device be your guide. After all, the world is but a blueprint of a never-ending learning process, and with your 3D scanner in your armory, you're well equipped to navigate these fascinating circuits.