If 2014 was the year of the 3D printer, then perhaps 2015 is building to be the year of 3D scanning and capture devices. We’ve seen tremendous breakthroughs in 3D scanning technology over the course of the past few years, and it is all culminating with technology capable of capturing very high detailed 3D printable models.
Permanent Aluminum Avatarium Unit
3-D Print Factory is a company that launched into operation just last year, and has since grown into a company that has the 3D printing and scanning space covered from A to Z. Offering 3D printing as a service, as well as hardware options for those interested in owning their own 3D scanners and printers, 3-D Print Factory has continued to grow at a rapid rate. Recently they got a boost with a partnership they formed with a new company called Avatarium 3D.
Avatarium is a brand new photogrammetry machine maker which 3-D Print Factory has teamed with, and will be bringing to the upcoming Inside 3D Printing Conference & Expo in Santa Clara, California this coming October. It will be the official unveiling for this brand new machine.
“In summary, the Avatarium system utilizes DSL camera array technology developed by the Avatarium engineering Team to produce ultra-detailed 3D files,” Jim Buchanan, Vice President and General Manager of 3-D Print Factory, tells 3DPrint.com. “The system is extremely efficient in capturing most every living form that will fit inside of the unit, including people, pets, as well as inanimate objects. The files are manipulated via a custom software developed by the Avatarium Team which reduces physical modeling time to an average of 15-30 minutes. For the industry, this is a MAJOR technological advancement and it brings the possibility of units being installed in public venues in an almost endless possibility of applications.”
Mobile Avatarium Unit
The technology has proven to be so impressive that Buchanan tells us that they have already received inquiries from almost all of the major professional sports organizations in the United States. Other entertainment businesses have also shown a very strong interest in purchasing multiple units.
The Avatarium system features a 134 camera surround system that images 670 megapixels per click. It is run by a 900MHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 CPU, providing 1GB LPDDR2 SDRAM, and is currently being offered in two different configurations. The first option is a permanent, aluminum framed configuration which is targeted toward companies interested in using the machine in one particular location. The second option is a mobile unit which can quickly be set up and then taken down for use within multiple locations. It is constructed of molded plastic.
“This optional configuration, coupled with the aesthetic appearance of the unit and the drastically reduced modeling costs, makes previously unobtainable profit margins for public/large volume scanning venue opportunities a fortunate reality,” Buchanan tells us.
The company has already secured a large booth at the upcoming Inside 3D Printing Santa Clara event, and have received numerous confirmations from around the world of organizations planning to attend with their primary focus being to check out this brand new Avatarium system.
What do you think about the potential that this machine can provide? Is this the future of 3D capturing? Discuss in the Avatarium forum thread on 3DPB.com. Check out the example scans below.
