Feb.2, 2015 | By Alec
XYZprinting chairman Simon Shen.
While the exciting revelations of the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2015) in Las Vegas are already about a month behind us, its repercussions are still being felt. For earlier today, news surfaced from Taiwan that could lead to a combination of two of the most promising CES innovations over the coming year: XYZprinting’s 3D printer technology and Intel’s exciting RealSense 3D scanning innovations.
For according to Taiwanese media, the XYZprinting’s chairman Simon Shen revealed that they will seek to establish a partnership with Intel for its RealSense technology over 2015. They are reportedly seeing it as a solution to make 3D printing more accessible and easier than ever. ‘One of the challenges in 3D printing industry is lacking the proper figure files for downloading, users also have limited knowledge and technology to make their own 3D figure files.’ said Simon Shen. High-quality and plug-and-play 3D scanning (and subsequent 3D printing) could, he hopes, be the key to a wider audience.
While reports revealed little more than Shen’s intention to work with Intel, the very fact that he revealed this to the media already suggests that significant and positive talks have already taken place. Why else applaud another company’s latest innovations? While companies collaborate on technological innovations all the time, it’s rare to see two electronics giants like these openly flirt with one another, especially as both have just revealed their next-generation innovations only a month ago.
The 3D Food Printer in action at the CES.
XYZprinting, you might remember, is a 3D printer developer and subsidiary of one of the world’s leading electronics manufacturing conglomerate Kinpo Group. XYZprinting recently showed off its very exciting Food 3D Printer in Las Vegas, a device that can 3D print chocolate, sugar, cookie dough, icing, and similar uncooked treats. Several of these can even be combined, though the results (especially the cookies!) will need to be baked before consuming. This promising machine is scheduled to be released in late 2015.
Intel, meanwhile, unveiled its RealSense depth-sensing cameras at the same event in Las Vegas, though we’ve been fed previews for a while now. As they revealed in early January, the RealSense technology revolves around a three-lense camera (a 2D camera for photos and videos, an infrared camera, and an infrared laser projector), of which the two infrared lenses enable 3D scanning.
The first of their devices to be equipped with it is the Acer Aspire V 17 Nitro notebook PC, which is essentially equipped with a webcam/RealSense 3D scanner. The camera, which will come as a standard option, will allow a user to scan an object in 3D, create a 3D model of the object, and allow the user to send the file directly to a 3D printer to be replicated, if desired. Otherwise, the object’s 3D model file can be used for further manipulation using a 3D CAD modeling program such as Rhino, SolidWorks, Z Brush, MODO or others.
While we currently know nothing about what this potential collaboration will result in – or if it will even happen – it definitely has the potential to make 3D printing easier and more fun than ever before. A hand-held scanner would, for instance, be a very welcome addition to XYZprinting’s arsenal. I can already imagine scanning the last cookie and 3D printing a new fresh batch of them…
Posted in 3D Printing Company
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