Meet Blacksmith Genesis - the world's first all-in-one rotary compact 3D printer that has the capability to scan objects into digitized models.
The brainchild of Nanyang Technological University's (NTU Singapore) start-up Blacksmith Group, the all-in-one Blacksmith Genesis printer not only perseveres to make the technology accessible to regular consumers, but also simplify 3D printing.
Users who have no knowledge of 3D software to scan objects will be able to deploy the device easily and effectively. Once the object has been scanned, users can edit the digitized model of the item on their PC and print it in 3D. It's that simple!
The all-in-one 3D Blacksmith Genesis printer's production was initially funded via a campaign on crowdsourcing site Indiegogo in August 2014. The month-long campaign raised over $80,000 surpassing its $75,000 goal with ease.
The company took the wraps off the user-friendly Blacksmith Genesis printer at the American Association Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting that was held in San Jose, California.
"We designed Blacksmith Genesis with the average hobbyist in mind. Most 3D printers sold on the market now are not really user-friendly as their 3D models and blueprints usually have to be designed from scratch on the computer," revealed CEO Fang Kok Boon.
Weighing 6kgs, the Blacksmith Genesis sports a 2-inch LCD screen. It is Wi-Fi compatible and also has a USB connection and in-built SD Card reader to aid immediate printing needs. The all-in-one 3D printer is housed in a black aluminum case and unlike traditional 3D printers, it deploys a novel rotary platform for scanning and printing purposes.
This revolving platform essentially enables 360-degree scanning and is able to print objects that are up to 6,650 cubic cm. This is double the capability when compared to other 3D printers of a similar size.
Moreover, the resolution of 50 micrometers ensures that the recreated items will have two times more detailing in comparison to rival 3D printers that are compact.
Another feature that's a plus is that the printer takes only 6 minutes to scan objects via its 5-megapixel camera. This is double the speed when compared to competing 3D scanners that are currently available.
The Blacksmith Genesis also notches up brownie points for being the first to feature the remote live monitoring feature, as well as automatic error detection courtesy its built-in camera. Thanks to this feature, users will have the option of controlling the printing via their smartphones irrespective of where they are in the world as long as they have an Internet connection at their disposal.
Consumers in the U.S. will be able to lay their hands on the Blacksmith Genesis by March this year. The 3D printer is priced at $2,200. The device can also be pre-ordered at the company's website.
