While attending the Consumer Electronics Show this year, I was blown away with the advances in 3D printing. In previous years, it seemed to have potential, but maybe some years away yet.  I was so wrong. In just 12 months from last year’s show, the technology has exploded and is now touching every industry group.

Architects have been working with 3D modeling on computers for years, but are now actually creating building materials on 3D machines. Fashion designers are creating unbelievable dresses, shoes and jewelry in 3D. Even bakers can get in on the act, creating edible treats that defy imagination from sugar.

Shapify Me

My first live experience with the technology came when I met Leonid Volkov of Artec 3D. They manufacture both handheld scanners (called EVA) and Shapify Booths (for full body scans in just seconds.)

Eva was the first 3D scanner ever used to create an official bust of a sitting president.  Volkov explains that President Obama was delighted to have this technology used in place of the former plaster masks which had been used for all previous presidents. Formerly, presidents had to breathe through two straws placed in their nostrils, while the plaster mold formed around their face. With Eva hand scanners, Obama only needed to sit still for a few minutes.

For some Hollywood effects made possible using Eva, check this article.

Not only presidents can have busts made of themselves, now it’s possible for anyone to have a full-figure statue made of their likeness. Artec had their Shapify Me booth up and operating for the entire show, with lines of people waiting to try it.

You merely stepped inside and the lights spun around you for a full, 360° scan in just 15-20 seconds. The biggest problem most people had was deciding what kind of pose they wanted.  For me, checking the back of my camera to see my last picture seemed appropriate.

Within minutes you could see your initial, low-resolution scan appear on a monitor mounted close by. If so inclined, you could wait for a higher res version and then order a miniature figurine that would be as accurate as anything you could imagine.

When I got mine, I really couldn’t believe how good every detail was preserved. If you were here looking at this in real life, you’d even see the Ohio State embroidered logo over my shirt pocket. Each shirt button is individually discernible, every fold in my cargo pants defined, it really is amazing – and I just posed for under 20 seconds. The Smithsonian hasn’t called looking for it yet, but I’m treasuring it in the meantime.

I wanted to know more

After the show, I wanted to know more about how people are actually using the technology, so I set out to find some ordinary folk using 3D.  I know the astronauts have found ways to create replacement parts while in space, and doctors are creating prosthetics, but are we getting to the point of having a 3D printer in your home?  From the people I found this past week, it’s already here for some and getting closer for others.

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