MakerBot announced Friday (March 8) at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive event that its Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner will allow objects to be scanned, digitized and then printed in 3D.
As the only company to ever announce a physical hardware product at SXSW Interactive, MakerBot showed off a prototype model of its Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner. Further development and extensive testing will be done on the product before it's officially released.
"We are super excited to announce at SXSW Interactive that we are developing the MakerBot Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner. It's a natural progression for us to create a product that makes 3D printing even easier. With the MakerBot Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner, now everyone will be able to scan a physical item, digitize it, and print it in 3D — with little or no design experience," said Bre Pettis, CEO of MakerBot.
The scanner is an addition to MakerBot's lineup of products and is a companion to its Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer. Last fall, its fourth generation 3D printer was released along with the MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D printer. In January, CES 2013 saw the introduction of the MakerBot Replicator 2X Experimental 3D Printer.
"This is something you would envision being science fiction, but in fact, it is real — and it is so cool.The MakerBot Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner is a great tool for archiving, prototyping, replicating, and digitizing prototypes, models, parts, artifacts, artwork, sculptures, clay figures, jewelry, etc. If something gets broken, you can just scan it and print it again," said Pettis.
It's been four years since the company announced the Cupcake CNC Desktop 3D printer at SXSW, its first-generation 3D printer. As it moves forward, the company expects to see the MakerBot Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner used in homes, businesses and schools.
