NextEngine & Shapeways Partnership Offers Seamless 3D Scanning & 3D Printing

Whether the 3D scanner appeals to your professional or hobbyist needs, thanks to the amazing new technology we find in the marketplace today, you barely have to lift a finger to make virtually whatever you want. And while you might be an artist or a designer already, with the ability to replicate items from the minute to the massive, the only talent you absolutely must possess is the ability to manipulate some simple electronics and your computer.

You’ll find that scanning and 3D printing is easier than ever too, thanks to a new partnership between Shapeways and NextEngine. While the NextEngine 3D scanner retails at $2995 and may put many of the novices out of the running for such a machine, if you are serious about your scanning, NextEngine promises you outstanding quality, flexibility, and great simplicity in automation.

“We’re excited to announce a new partnership that transforms richly detailed objects into accurate 3D prints, seamlessly,” states Shapeways in a recent blog.

And while quality in scanning and such ease of use are tempting in themselves, with NextEngine and Shapeways coming together, you can send a project on its way to completion quickly with the direct link to Shapeways. NextEngine has a route to Shapeways integrated right into its app, ScanStudio. Finished scanning? Just click on Shapeways to upload and prepare for 3D printing.

 “NextEngine is thrilled to partner with Shapeways’ leading 3D print platform to bring ultra high precision 3D laser scanning to the designer community, at remarkably low cost,” said Brad Bryker, NextEngine’s VP of Business Development. “Now designers worldwide can share exquisitely accurate and detailed scans of their original creations, and just click to print them in high-quality materials on Shapeways.”

From tiny objects to larger pieces—even “larger than a seven-foot statue”—you can put the NextEngine scanner to work for making some impressive 3D prints. When you purchase the scanner, you receive a robotic motion stage which allows for automatic 360-degree capture, along with a tripod mount. All the software you will need is inclusive.

“All this means that you can produce high-quality, precisely detailed 3D models, all in less than an hour, automatically. These model files are much more accurate than other low-cost devices, and turn complex organic shapes into beautifully detailed 3D prints,” states the Shapeways team.

If you are an entrepreneur, you may find this purchase to be a perfect fit not only to your needs but those of many others too as you can offer scanning services to designers, scientists, architects, engineers, and a wide range of professionals. As an example, check out Sophie Barret-Kahn, who was able to create a successful business of her own offering scanning services.

With this new partnership, users can cash in on a great promotion running through November. When you purchase one of the NextEngine scanners, look forward to a $300 credit toward any upgrade, by entering promo code SHAPEWAYS. You will also receive 20% off your first 3D printing order when you register your device. Discuss in the NextEngine forum at 3DPB.com.