This is a digitizer that will let you duplicate anything

Aug 23, 2013 08:46 GMT  ·  By

3D printing has been gathering a lot of hype, but so far it has remained dependent on 3D designers' whims, simply because to print something in 3D required a 3D model to start from.

Now, however, MakerBot has launched a 3D digitizer, essentially a scanner that automatically creates 3D models of anything placed on its rotating platform.

3D scanners like this aren't totally new, but the MakerBot Digitizer is the first commercially-available, consumer model.

Sure, it's pretty small, but at least you'll be able to make virtual avatars of your favorite porcelain ornaments and lawn decorations.

According to the firm, the MakerBot digitizer captures enough points to create around 20,000 triangles for each new 3D model.

The surface depth can be of as little as 0.5mm, and the dimensional accuracy is of ± 2 mm. In layman terms, that means that the margin of error for the scan of the object is of within 2 mm.

“Bringing the MakerBot Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner into the world has been a big goal of ours this year,” MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis said in a statement (PDF) on Thursday.

“We are really excited about the MakerBot Digitizer. This is another innovative product for visionaries, early adopters, experimenters, educators, creative hobbyists, 3D sculptors, organic modelers, designers, and architects who want to be the first to become an expert in Desktop 3D Scanning.”

MakerBot's 3D Digitizer bears a price of $1,500 / €1,124. Sadly, the technical decisions are scarce, but the picture up there looks promising.

It makes one wonder if maybe MakerBot couldn't have stood on its own instead of allowing itself to be bought by another firm earlier this year.

“We believe that the MakerBot Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner is an innovative technological breakthrough that sets the standard for affordable desktop 3D scanning,” noted Pettis.

“We focused on making the MakerBot Digitizer super easy to use, intuitive and simple. The MakerBot Digitizer is powered by MakerBot MakerWare software, and we plan to offer in the future additional software updates that are expected to add even more features and capabilities.”