There are 3D printers for sale and you can order things made too

Nov 30, 2013 07:53 GMT  ·  By

3D printing shops didn't start to show up all that long ago, but there is more than enough backing for the idea, especially since most 3D printers are too expensive for the common man. On that note, the first such store in Mexico has opened now.

Called Ideaz 3D, it offers visitors the chance to have various things made, from tiny figurines to large toys. They can even order figurines of themselves.

That's right, Ideaz 3D has a 3D photo booth where you can get yourself scanned on a turntable. The 3D virtual model is later printed for you.

You'll probably have to find some different way to color the figurines though. The sculptures can only vary in extruder color, but they're always uniform. At least the ones in the pictures are.

So it's not quite the same level of customizability as, say, the technology behind 3D printed glass eyes (which only need the iris to be modified after the process).

Then again, this is a 3D printing store, not a toy making factory, and it's not like there are better alternatives at the moment.

In the future, 3D printers are bound to gain the ability to combine filament extruders, maybe even to the point where the level of detail is almost lifelike, but that's a long way off.

That said, in addition to replicating small objects in various materials, or getting yourself shrunk down and immortalized in a heroic pose, you can browse for a printer of your own too, or a 3D scanner. Or both.

Unless I'm reading this wrong and Ideaz 3D is not, in fact, selling printers, but if that was the case, the store would not bother having more than one type on hand.

As it is, you'll find the Cube from 3D Systems, Ultimaker 1, Ultimaker 2, Makerbot Replicator 2, and Makerbot Replicator 2X.

That's five in total. Add to them the Kinect scanner and the newly launched Makerbot Digitizer 3D scanner and you have a nice collection of equipment.

"It was a mixture of ideas from three partners. My husband is a technology lover, my brother works with this technology and I like all the creative stuff," said Carolina Munguia, part of the team that came up with the idea for Ideaz 3D back in December 2012.

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Ideaz 3D 3D Printing Store opens in Mexico
Ideaz 3D 3D Printing Store opens in MexicoIdeaz 3D 3D Printing Store opens in Mexico
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