Handheld Point-And-Shoot 3D Scanner Creates a Model Out of Anything

Fuel3D is the world’s first handheld 3D scanner capable of producing extremely high-resolution fullcolor true-geometric images ― and the device costs approximately one tenth the price of its nearest competitor. So instead of painstakingly animating and scaling the 3D image you wish to 3D print, simply point Fuel3D at the desired object and press a button to scan it.

A 3D scanner is not a 3D camera
Fuel3D is not to be confused with a 3D camera, which creates a static 3D image. In contrast, Fuel3D completely resolves the physical and color measurements of a 3D surface, rendering an image that’s viewable from any direction. This resulting model can then be further manipulated or edited on-screen before being used as source material for 3D prints.

In contrast, 3D cameras produce static images made by taking images from two camera viewpoints in a technique called stereoscopic imaging. The images are then superimposed on top of one another on the stereoscopic screen to produce a static image with illusion of depth. This is not the same as a 3D model, which can be moved across all axes.

 

 These are all scans taken with the working prototype.

What’s the scanner for?
Fuel3D’s ability to rapidly capture and compile a 3D model from any object or surface with minimal effort makes for a very useful tool that’s applicable to any medium involving 3D manipulation, 3D printing or otherwise.

The tool is not exclusively for 3D printing; artists, animators, industrial designers, DIYs, and tinkers, can immensely benefit from creating a base 3D model with minimal effort. Fuel3D’s sensitivity to physical surfaces means crafting 3D meshes is as easy as scanning an object with the desired characteristic. This includes skin, faces, body parts, fabrics, plants, stone, brick, wood, food, statues, etc.

How does it work?
The technology enabling Fuel3D already exists in high-end medical applications, but has not yet found a place in affordable consumer electronics. Using Kickstarter as a crowd-funding platform, the developers strive to reduce bill of materials while maintaining current system performance. This would enable a reduction in product size and weight, a reduction of nonessential medical regulator features, and the integration of computer tethering for automatic image synchronization and export.

Fuel3D is optimized to capture high-resolution 3D color images and combines geometric and photometric stereo 3D recovery techniques. Scanning an object yields an accurately colored three dimensional representation that is converted into true 3D color geometrical data using of proprietary software included with the Fuel3D.

The base software accompanying each Fuel3D unit allows rudimentary editing such trimming of unnecessary areas and adjusting resolution for export. Pairing Fuel3D with a third-party 3D-processing software such as Maya or Meshup is the best method for achieving a full 3D solution.

Visit Fuel3D’s Kickstarter page for all the latest updates.