14 DAY TRIAL // For better or for worse, you can get a 3D printer from dozens of manufacturers these days, for as little as $200 (€145) or many, many times more if you want. But 3D scanners are a different story. The first relatively affordable model only came into market earlier this year.
But things are evolving fast and there's an obvious need for such devices. That explains the phenomenal success of the Structure Sensor 3D scanner for the iPad.
Occipital, the company behind the Structure Sensor, put the device on Kickstarter where it met its funding goal of $100,000 (€72,650) in just 3.5 hours. At this point, the campaign has raised over $1.1 million (€800,000) and has three more days to go.
$349 (€254) will get you the Structure Sensor for the iPad or, alternatively, the "Hacker Kit," which makes it possible to use the scanner with any computer you want.
The Hacker Kit comes with open source drivers for the device and CAD models so you can adapt the scanner to any platform and device. You can get both kits for $379 (€275) if you hurry. The Kickstarter campaign only has until November 1 to go.
What's unique about the Structure Sensor is that it doesn't look like any 3D scanner before it. That's not just an issue of aesthetics; the fact that you can mount the scanner to a portable device makes it possible to take it with you everywhere you go. You don't have to get an object in your workspace to scan it.
"With the Structure Sensor attached to your mobile device, you can walk around the world and instantly capture it in a digital form. This means you can capture 3D maps of indoor spaces and have every measurement in your pocket," Occipital explained on the KickStarter page.
"You can instantly capture 3D models of objects and people for import into CAD and for 3D printing. You can play mind-blowing augmented reality games where the real world is your game world," it added.
And, if you were worried that the scanner wouldn't work with the new iPads Apple just announced, the company has already adapted the device to the new design of the iPad Air and the new iPad Mini.