Six months on from itsunveiling at SXSW, and the Makerbot Digitizer Desktop 3D scanner is hitting the streets in a form barely recognizable from the prototype introduced to the world in March.
Makerbot’s regular updates since that time have seen this product evolve into a sleek, tightly branded product that “builds out the Makerbot 3D ecosystem.” That’s according to CEO, Bre Pettis, in the video message he has put out with this product release. It’s also a chosen phrase in the accompanying marketing material. Indeed, the growing Makerbot marketing team forewarned the world that this week was the week in their recent newsletter, following the pre-announcement announcement trend; and, true to their word, today the company has confirmed that the Digitizer is available to order from its online store. No word on when it will be available in store in New York, or delivery times.
The Digitizer scanner — proudly made in the USA — has been designed and developed to fully complement the Replicator 2 3D printer in every way — physically and practically — and provide a quick and easy gateway to desktop creativity. I think its ease of use will be its main selling point actually. But this is an entry level tool, the intention is to provide access to 3D scanning for people that would otherwise be priced or frightened out of the market.
According to Makerbot, this is what the Digitizer can do:
- run on our simple, yet sophisticated software [included] that creates clean, watertight 3D models with just two clicks
- turn physical objects into 3D digital design files in approximately 12 minutes
- output a standard 3D model file format (STL) [that] can be modified and improved in third-party 3D modeling programs, like Autodesk’s free software MeshMixer
- work seamlessly with MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printers to let you make your freshly scanned models
- allow easy upload of scans toThingiverse.com
- [eliminates] need [for] design skills, 3D modeling, or CAD expertise to get started.
But they do also state what it can’t do, well, sort of, saying: “Expectations should be realistic. You will not be able to, for example, scan a hamburger and then eat the digital design. Expectations for precision should be realistic, too. The MakerBot Digitizer is not ideal for engineers who require very high precision scanning. If you need a realistic reproduction of the tiny features on an insect’s body, the MakerBot Digitizer is not the tool for you.”
As stated, the Digitizer has specifically been developed to work seamlessly with Makerbot’s own 3D printers and software, however, the STL output does mean that it can be used with other 3D printers too. But if you’re not a die hard Makerbot fan, you must surely be also looking at theFuel3D scanner, currently well past its funding goal on Kickstarter.
Some of the key specs of the Digitizer are listed as follows:
Scan size: Up to 20.3 (diameter) x 20.3 cm (H)
Dimensional accuracy: ± 2.0 mm
Detail resolution: 0.5 mm
Triangles per 3D model : Approx. 200K
Scan speed : Approx. 12 minutes
Steps per rotation : 800
Maximum weight on turntable : 3 kg
Included Software : MakerWare
Exported File Types: STL
Operating Systems : Windows (7+) / Mac OSX (10.7+) / Linux (Ubuntu 12.04+)
Lasers : Two eye-safe Class 1 laser line generators
Camera : 1.3 megapixel CMOS image sensor
Bre的视频消息（在下面查看）让我微笑 - 他的标志性微笑（和黑色衬衫）以及他的热情效果。老实说，如果您用该男子的Google图像，他的衬衫中有99％是黑色和/或灰色的。我知道，因为我尝试了。悲伤，但是真的。从字面上看，有一对他穿着原色的夫妇，还有一个奇怪的棕色背心怪物的东西，但除了他的个人风格现在适合他的公司品牌！Kinda也有效。哦，如果您确实自己查看Google图像，请确保使用他的全名 - 当我纠正我的错误时，那是一两分钟的眉毛！
