Matter and Form – First Affordable Crowd Funded 3D Scanner Ready to Ship

More big 3D printing news out of Canada as Matter and Form roll out their new high resolution 3D scanner. What makes this different? It’s the first crowd-funded scanner of its type. It is shipped fully assembled and ready to scan in color at a level on par with some of the most expensive and complex 3D scanners on the market. Best of all, it’s only $579 making it a great deal more affordable than its competitors.

The scanner, called the Matter and Form 3D Scanner, is the first product of Matter and Form Studios, introducing them to the scene in a big way. As a result of their innovative thinking and the success of their Indiegogo campaign, the team at Matter and Form are getting attention from some heavy hitters. Sandstone Asset Management, Inc. in conjunction with the MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund have given them a $2 million dollar fund injection which they hope to use for staff, marketing, and research and development.

While those who designed the Matter and Form scanner had envisioned designers as its target market, through their Indiegogo campaign, they found a much wider set of supporters ranging from gamers to teachers to hobbyists. Drew Cox, a designer and programmer as well as CEO and Founder of Matter and Form described the company’s situation:

“Bringing a new product to market is an arduous and complex process, and we’ve been extremely fortunate to have backers who have encouraged us to take our time and get it right. That support has enabled us to reach the point where we are very proud of the product we’re shipping. The investment is just as important but in a different way. It will let us create products that will take people as far as their imaginations will let them. We couldn’t ask for better partners than Sandstone and IAF.”

3D printing is becoming more and more a part of everyday life; however, one thing that has stood in the way of its increased market expansion is the fact that many people didn’t have meaningful things that they needed to print. It takes a lot of knowledge to be able to create the files from scratch and, of course, it takes a designer to design something. With an affordable 3D scanner, anyone can scan in objects, either those that have particular sentimental value to them, or maybe things that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive to purchase.

Sharon Watkins, CEO of Sandstone Asset Management recognized this potential:

“Our investment in Matter and Form, Inc. is an endorsement of its people and ideas. It is a fusion of an attractive investment opportunity and supporting the disruptive effects of putting powerful technologies within reach of ever-wider user bases. Sandstone is proud to support Matter and Form, Inc.’s future growth and its leadership in disruptive technologies.”

Those who backed the project through Indiegogo will get the first scanners to leave the factory this week. Then, by the end of August, people from around the world will be able to get their hands on this machine and start scanning.  Were you one of the Indiegogo backers?  Are you considering purchasing the Matter and Form scanner?  Let’s hear your thoughts on the device in the Matter and Form forum thread on 3DPB.com. Check out the brief video below, related to the 3D scanner: