Photo: Creative Tools
Just a few years ago people would have laughed at you if you suggested that 3D printing would be possible and that the general public would have access to it. But lately all sorts of 3D printing paraphernalia are flooding the market and the technology has become as normal as cucumber sandwiches.
With each gadget that comes onto the 3D printing market, it seems that the technology and ideas just get bigger and better. Case in point, the MakerBot Digitizer (even the name sounds ultra cool).
What is it?
The MakerBot Digitizer is a desktop 3D scanner that lets you scan any object that’s up to 8 inches in diameter and height, and up to 3kg in weight. You can then either replicate your scanned object as is or alter it before printing it with a 3D printer. The device uses a combination of two lasers and a camera to scan items which it then turns into 3D design file formats.
By using the MakerBot Digitizer you can scan an object in a matter of just 12 minutes without the need to learn how to use complicated 3D software, which is one of the gadget’s biggest drawcards. If you’re not interested in printing your object or don’t have access to a 3D printer, you can still use the Digitizer to create designs and then upload them to Thingiverse – a website where design ideas are shared with more than 100,000 members.
Photo: MakerBot
Although the Digitizer is not ideal for creating the most intricate of designs (and doesn’t scan items with shiny, reflective or fuzzy surfaces well), MakerBot has stated that it’s “…for early adopters, experimenters, and visionaries who want to be pioneers in Desktop 3D Scanning…This includes, but is not limited to, architects, designers, creative hobbyists, educators, and artists”. The company just recommends that users keep their expectations of the machine “realistic” and do mention that it’s not intended for scanning living things.
Some of the technical stuff
Product dimensions: 47.5 (L) x 20.3 (H) x 41.1 (W) cm
Weight: 2.1kg
Lasers: 2 eye-safe Class 1 laser line generators
Camera: 1.3MP CMOS image sensor
Included software: MakerWare for Digitizer
Operating systems: Windows (7+), Mac OSX (10.7+), Linux (Ubuntu 12.04+)
The deal
The MakerBot Digitizer is currently being sold for $1,400 (around £901) through the company’s website. Buyers have the choice of adding an additional $150 (£97) to this price for a service and support programme called MakerBot Digitizer MakerCare.
Would you fancy owning a 3D scanner, even if you didn’t have access to a 3D printer? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Picture credit: Flickr 2.0 Common Terms/3D printed octopus by Creative Tools