The Robocular - 3D Scanner for Everyone - on Kickstarter

[Eddie]

Just saw this kickstarter project this morning:

An affordable, high-resolution, full color and texture 3D Scanner that can automatically create 3D models of every day objects.

Bringing high quality 3D scanning to everyone

We created the Robocular 3D scanner for people who, like us, were not satisfied with the existing solutions available for 3D scanning. Today, you can either buy a high-quality, but very expensive machine for several thousands of dollars, or you can buy a low-cost scanner but with low-mid accuracy components. Many high-resolution scanners don't even support color, let alone texture. In 2012, we decided to build a device that just worked, and had the precision of the very high end scanners, at the cost of a few hundred dollars and would be so simple it could be used by everyone. After ten different prototypes, we are now ready to share this scanner with you.
What is it?

Our product is a high quality 3D Scanner that just works. You open it, put an object in it then hit scan, and it will automatically create a 3D model of that object for you on your computer. It's that simple. The model will be of high-resolution and in full color and texture. Here is a picture:
Step 1: Put the object into the scanner. Step 2: Close the scanner and hit scan. The 3D model will automatically be generated - rendering shown here.
Here is a one minute video to give you an idea of the scanning quality you can expect from the Robocular (sculpture used with permission by DMA (C) - please see bottom for credits):

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How does it work?

In a nutshell, it shines a high accuracy line laser onto an object from various angles and various directions, turns the object around and reconstructs the 3D model based on what it sees on its HD camera. This is the principle behind most 3D scanners - we take it several steps further though.
The scanner uses lasers to reconstruct the geometry of the target object (note that in reality the box would be closed)
The object is placed on a high-precision turntable which rotates at about 4,000 steps per revolution. That means it has a comparable amount of information to taking 4,000 pictures of the object from various angles. On average this also means a single model will have about 2-3 million points for every pass. The whole thing is in an enclosure so that external light doesn't interfere and so that you don't have lasers swinging around your room. The laser is a green, low-divergence laser which can capture raw details at up to 150 microns (that's sub-millimeter accuracy - see models below) - after mesh reconstruction that error will usually go down significantly and the scan will be even more accurate than most 3D printers can output. The scan volumes range from 7" diameter x 7" height (mini version) to 9" diameter x 9" height (standard version).
In the standard version, the laser and camera can move up and down and the laser can be swept left to right. This means the device can take scans of the objects from multiple angles/locations and recombine to create a more confident version, improving error even further. In the mini version, there are two fixed lasers.
Once the geometry is acquired, a white light allows for crystal clear color acquisition, generating a fully colored and textured 3D model. All the technical specs and models are below so read on!
The Robocular 3D Scanner in action

We played around with the scanner to make you a video that showcases its main components and what it is capable of doing. Please turn on the sound as the music is synced to the scanner.

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What can I do with it?

Here are just a few of the many applications of 3D scanning:
1- 3D scans can simply be modified and re-printed using a 3D printer. This means you can make a physical copy of any object in your house that you scan. Example:
Scanning an object will get you a 3D model of it, which you can then modify and re-use (in this case we added a hat, scaled it down, and used a 3D printer to print it)
The model scanned with Robocular, was 3D printed professionally at the highest resolution available. Some details were lost since the scanner was much more accurate than the printer.
2- 3D scans are a great way to store a digital copy of physical objects you care about - for example, a rare sculpture or a work of art that you have. You can scan them and save the digital files to disk, then use them at any later time if you need to recover your objects. Collectors, archaelogists, arts & crafts people, art fans and engineers all can find creative uses for quality 3D scanning. You can of course import those files into your favorite 3D editing software.
3- 3D scans allow you to bring objects from the real world into the virtual world. If you are a gamer or game developer for example, you can use 3D scanning to quickly acquire objects at a high resolution and use them within games that support them. The Robocular software can export to OBJ, PLY, STL, XYZ with full textures and color, and those formats are supported by many games. We will consider other format requests as well. Check the "software" section below for more information.
4- 3D visuals can be used by online retailers and sellers. When presenting an object for sale on the internet, buyers will be able see its 3D scan from all angles and get a real feel for what it is they are buying.
5- If an object of yours is damaged, you can 3D scan it, complement it to find the missing piece, then get that 3D printed so you can plug it.
6- Engineers/Architects/Designers - you can scan objects and import the design into your favorite CAD software as solid objects. This allows you to save a significant amount of design time. Here is an example.
1. Measuring a real stepper motor's width with a caliper (42.22mm). 2. Scanning the motor. 3. Measuring the width through software (42.25mm)
7-You can use the software to make a mold of the scanned object with just a single click. If the mold is re-printed using a food-safe material, you can even use it in the kitchen. That allows you to make chocolate versions of any object you can find.
The two steps to get a mold: (1) Scan the object and (2) Convert the scanned model into a mold. Optionally you can just reprint the mold (please use FDA approved food safe plastics)


More at: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...ently_launched

Anyone backing it?

[NJ_Lifer]

This is up to $56,000. I'm starting to have my doubts if this will be funded or not. I'm a backer so I hope it does. I think this scanner is better than the Makerbot Digitizer.

[DerekPeterson]

I think the main issue for them getting funding is that people know already how reliable the Digitizer is, and how respected MakerBot is. If you are going to spend close to $1000 on a scanner, why not just get one that has already proven itself and is supported by thousands of professionals around the world?