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Fuel3D Start-Up Promises Affordable Point-and-Shoot 3D Scanner

Posted by samzenpus on from the building-on-the-go dept.

MojoKid writes "Fuel3D Inc. is a new start-up that recently arrived to Kickstarter, promising an 'affordable point-and-shoot 3D scanner' that will allow anyone to easily take 3D images for rendering and ultimately production on standard 3D printing platforms. The Fuel3D is a fully 3D surface scanner that samples a large number of physical and color measurements including geometric stereo and photometric stereo data, which it then combines to create the image. The kicker is that the device—which kind of resembles a Roomba--costs under $1,000, and it works just like a point-and-shoot camera. You simply attach a tag called a target to the person or object you want to scan and snap the picture. Then, you can work with the image and export it in a variety of formats."

8 of 38 comments (clear)

  1. Know what I want? by GoodNewsJimDotCom · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I want a program where I can take a video camera(aka smart phone), and walk around inside a building, aiming the camera around the walls and all over. And the end result would be a 3d model of the building I was in. This would be great for making video games. And attach it to the Google Car: And we could play Need for Speed: Cannon Ball run.

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    God spoke to me
    1. Re:Know what I want? by AHuxley · · Score: 2

      Thinking about http://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/07/3d-printed-aston-martin/
      I wonder how small the 3d scanning tech could go?
      Could a fake bulky dslr battery pack fit a 3d scanner under a camera?
      Bring a tethered laptop and a friend for the day at the show and scan away?

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      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    2. Re:Know what I want? by Trepidity · · Score: 2

      There's also an open-source project also aiming at something like PhotoSynth, Insight3d. I haven't tried it myself, though.

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      10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
    3. Re:Know what I want? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      I know this will probably get lost in the comments but, when my mom isn't home I like to go into her garden, cover myself in dirt, and pretend I'm a carrot.

  2. Point and Shoot? by Culture20 · · Score: 2

    3D? That's terrorist talk!

    1. Re:Point and Shoot? by Trepidity · · Score: 4, Funny

      With all these terrorist accusations it's like a pressure cooker in the comments section lately.

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      10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
    2. Re:Point and Shoot? by gmack · · Score: 2

      Only Score:4? I think your pressure cooker joke kind of bombed.

  3. Re:Yes, better than a Kinect by Wingman+5 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    There is a good image example on their page comparing the two. The left image is their scanner, the right is the kinnect.