4 ms·

MakerBot unveils 3-D scanner

38 points by susanhi 14y ago

stephengillie 14y ago
How extensible will the 3d files be? Can we convert them to DXF and modify them in AutoCAD now, or will that be added in later? Even if not, people will still scan and upload scans of common objects, such as the battery cover to a remote control or controller or wiimote. Someone (Google? Make?) will host the Youtube/Github of 3d image scans, where people will freely upload their scans. And there are all kinds of other prototyping situations where this could be used -- make a model out of clay or balsa or your favorite malleable material, scan it, then print it from the 3d printer. Which leads to fast physical prototyping -- 3d-print a model, modify it with hand or power tools (box knife, file, dremel), scan, modify the shape file in AutoCAD, 3d-print, modify by hand, scan, modify in AutoCAD, etc.
- MBCook 14y ago
  I'd imagine that the software produces STL files. Unfortunately Makerbot only announced this product will exist, they didn't provide any pictures or details yet. The github style site exists, it's called Thingiverse[1]. People post some amazing stuff. Watching Thingiverse was a big part of why I bought my 3D printer. I agree that the ability to make something in a medium you're familiar with and take that as a base for 3D modeling seems great. I think some people have tried that using the 3D capture programs that use a series of photographs, but this would certainly work better. 1. http://www.thingiverse.com http://www.thingiverse.com
joshuaheard 14y ago
This is great. I hope to see this feature built into their printer someday.
gfodor 14y ago
I interviewed at this company almost 10 years ago who made this: http://www.nextengine.com/ http://www.nextengine.com/ seems simliar and I'd imagine a 10 year lead on R&D is a big moat.
- regularfry 14y ago
  I doubt MakerBot will target anything like the precision one would assume from that. The printers aren't capable of very high resolution, so it's just not needed. Yet.
brokenparser 14y ago
The bigger news in this article is that they're trying to 3D-print chocolate! Everything in my apartment looks delicious now, especially those PCI cards.
- stevenrace 14y ago
  Various RepRap extruders use peristaltic pumps to print chocolate, ceramics, etc. http://richrap.blogspot.com/2012/04/universal-paste-extruder-ceramic-food.html http://richrap.blogspot.com/2012/04/universal-paste-extruder...
stevenrace 14y ago
I hope it's more than a simple line scanner given the price estimates. 'Structured Light' perhaps? I've been using a LCD projector + CCD webcam + Davids Laser Scanner [1] for sometime now to scan large objects (and a laser line scanner for smaller objects). I imagine one could build a consumer friendly setup with an arrary of 5W LEDs, a small LCD/e-ink display, and a bit of magic for fairly cheap. [1] http://www.david-laserscanner.com/wiki/david3_user_manual/structured_light http://www.david-laserscanner.com/wiki/david3_user_manual/st...

38 points by susanhi 14y ago

How extensible will the 3d files be? Can we convert them to DXF and modify them in AutoCAD now, or will that be added in later? Even if not, people will still scan and upload scans of common objects, such as the battery cover to a remote control or controller or wiimote. Someone (Google? Make?) will host the Youtube/Github of 3d image scans, where people will freely upload their scans. And there are all kinds of other prototyping situations where this could be used -- make a model out of clay or balsa or your favorite malleable material, scan it, then print it from the 3d printer. Which leads to fast physical prototyping -- 3d-print a model, modify it with hand or power tools (box knife, file, dremel), scan, modify the shape file in AutoCAD, 3d-print, modify by hand, scan, modify in AutoCAD, etc.

MBCook 14y ago
I'd imagine that the software produces STL files. Unfortunately Makerbot only announced this product will exist, they didn't provide any pictures or details yet. The github style site exists, it's called Thingiverse[1]. People post some amazing stuff. Watching Thingiverse was a big part of why I bought my 3D printer. I agree that the ability to make something in a medium you're familiar with and take that as a base for 3D modeling seems great. I think some people have tried that using the 3D capture programs that use a series of photographs, but this would certainly work better. 1. http://www.thingiverse.com http://www.thingiverse.com

joshuaheard 14y ago

This is great. I hope to see this feature built into their printer someday.

gfodor 14y ago

I interviewed at this company almost 10 years ago who made this: http://www.nextengine.com/ http://www.nextengine.com/ seems simliar and I'd imagine a 10 year lead on R&D is a big moat.

regularfry 14y ago
I doubt MakerBot will target anything like the precision one would assume from that. The printers aren't capable of very high resolution, so it's just not needed. Yet.

brokenparser 14y ago

The bigger news in this article is that they're trying to 3D-print chocolate! Everything in my apartment looks delicious now, especially those PCI cards.

stevenrace 14y ago
Various RepRap extruders use peristaltic pumps to print chocolate, ceramics, etc. http://richrap.blogspot.com/2012/04/universal-paste-extruder-ceramic-food.html http://richrap.blogspot.com/2012/04/universal-paste-extruder...

stevenrace 14y ago

I hope it's more than a simple line scanner given the price estimates. 'Structured Light' perhaps? I've been using a LCD projector + CCD webcam + Davids Laser Scanner [1] for sometime now to scan large objects (and a laser line scanner for smaller objects). I imagine one could build a consumer friendly setup with an arrary of 5W LEDs, a small LCD/e-ink display, and a bit of magic for fairly cheap. [1] http://www.david-laserscanner.com/wiki/david3_user_manual/structured_light http://www.david-laserscanner.com/wiki/david3_user_manual/st...