Flordia-based Engineering and Manufacturing Services, Inc. (EMS) has developed a system of forensic facial reconstruction that eliminates the need to use the skull. EMS assisted the Hillsborough County (Florida) Coroner’s Office in the identification of a person whose remains had been discovered. With a Z Scanner Z800, they created a 3D scan of the skull. The scan was given to SensAble Technologies (now part of Geomagic), which simulated the real-life building up of clay on the surface of the skull that happens with traditional forensic facial reconstruction, to create a likeness of the individual and then EMS created a life-size, 3D printed replica. The process eliminated the need to use the actual skull in the process, thereby avoiding the risk of damaging sometimes fragile material and potential evidence. Read more in the full article: http://3dprint.com/20664/3d-printing...l-reconstruct/

Below is an image of a skull scan in progress: