VirtuMake & Shapeways Create the First 3D Printed Porcelain Figurine From 3D Scanned National Monument

Back in November, we reported on something new to the 3D printing space; porcelain. Shapeways, at the time, announced the launch of this new 3D printing material option. While the porcelain itself isn’t actually 3D printed, Shapeways uses selective laser sintering 3D printers in order to create molds for the porcelain. Today comes news that this method, which still remains in a beta phase, was used to create a porcelain figurine of a 3D scanned statue.

The project, a collaboration between VirtuMake and Shapeways, really goes to prove that 3D printing can be used to create virtually any custom porcelain object that a designer can conceive of or scan into their computer.

Using an Artec Eva 3D scanner, VirtuMake was able to create a 3-dimensional scan of the famed “Giffin Sculpture” located in front of the Austrian House of Parliament, and then turn it into a 3D printable model. They decided to use the Griffin sculpture because it is a unique piece of art, and they wanted to explore the potential that handheld scanners like the Eva had in outdoor situations.

“We did an outdoor 3D scan of a Griffin sculpture,” Bernhard of Virtumake tells 3DPrint.com. “We are lucky to be part of Shapeways’ beta phase of 3D printing procelain. The scan was done within a few minutes. We received the printed figurines today and were astonished at the quality of the prints. You have to hold it in your own hands to feel how awesome the perfect glazed surface is and the 16 cm figurines have quite some weight, so you get the impression of a premium product.”

Bernhard really believes that this new method of 3D printing, utilized by Shapeways, will attract quite a lot of new customers to the 3D printing space. Bernhard and VirtuMake have a lot of other things planned for this material in the future.

Original Griffin Sculpture (bottom right)

“We are going to run some experiments with fully customized household articles, replicas, and maybe jewelry,” Bernhard tells us. “The big thing about this material is that you can customize it very easily. Each model can be unique. If you combine this premium material with the power of 3D scanning technologies, you get endless possibilities.”

It should really be interesting to see all of the new product options which come about once Shapeways’ porcelain material becomes available to all of their designers.

What do you think of these porcelain replicas that VirtuMake has 3D printed using Shapeways’ new method? Discuss in the 3D printed porcelain forum thread on 3DPB.com.