Sub-$1000 3D scanner on Kickstarter

Cory Doctorow 4:48 pm Wed Jul 31, 2013

A team from Oxford University has launched a $75,000 Kickstarter to go into production on a point-and-shoot 3D scanner called Fuel3D that will retail for about $1000 (though there are a limited number of $750 beta-run devices). The scanner uses a calibrated pair of cameras and some on-board software to produce 3D images suitable for post-processing, animation and 3D printing. The team started off developing this for medical imaging, and has some experience in this sort of manufacturing, but as with all Kickstarters, there are no guarantees that you'll ever get anything if you stump up for a pre-order — caveat emptor.

Fuel3D can be used by anyone who wants the ability to rapidly create 3D models. Whether you are part of the maker movement, involved in mass personalization, a game developer, animator, 3D artist or any other type of creative developer who uses 3D, Fuel3D is a tool for you.

Fuel3D particularly excels in the capture of objects and surfaces including:

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Skin e.g. faces and body parts
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Fabrics
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Organic subjects e.g. plants, leaves
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Stone, masonry, brick, wood
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Food
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Artwork, e.g. textured paintings, statues

Fuel3D: A handheld 3D scanner for less than $1000

(Thanks, Danny!)

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