MakerBot Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner Launches #3DThursday #3DPrinting
We’ve seen glimpses of what this tool might be like from its humble beginnings as an open source laser line scanner experiment Spinscan created by Thingiverse superstar Tony Buser to the work-in-progress project from the inner sanctum of MakerBot’s secret research lab unveiled at SXSW 2013 (somewhere between Spinscan and the Digitizer released today, though thankfully still with the tbuser‘s iconic garden gnome statue).
So now we are excited to see that the final version of the project has finally launched. We are looking forward to seeing how this desktop 3D scanner works — and how it faces up against the dozen other 3D scanning projects also launching this year! (Matterform and Fuel3D, to name just two.)
Scanning with the MakerBot Digitizer is a fast and easy way for anyone to create 3D models. It’s optimized for MakerBot Replicator® Desktop 3D Printers and MakerBot Thingiverse, so it’s simple to print out and share your 3D models with the world. Here’s what you can expect:
The MakerBot Digitizer runs on our simple, yet sophisticated software that creates clean, watertight 3D models with just two clicks
Turn physical objects into 3D digital design files in approximately 12 minutes
You don’t need any design skills, 3D modeling, or CAD expertise to get started
The output is a standard 3D model file format (STL) and can be modified and improved in third-party 3D modeling programs, like Autodesk’s free software MeshMixer
MakerBot Digitizer works seamlessly with MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printers to let you make your freshly scanned models
Every Thursday is #3dthursday here at Adafruit! The DIY 3D printing community has passion and dedication for making solid objects from digital models. Recently, we have noticed electronics projects integrated with 3D printed enclosures, brackets, and sculptures, so each Thursday we celebrate and highlight these bold pioneers!
Have you considered building a 3D project around an Arduino or other microcontroller? How about printing a bracket to mount your Raspberry Pi to the back of your HD monitor? And don’t forget the countless LED projects that are possible when you are modeling your projects in 3D!
The Adafruit Learning System has dozens of great tools to get you well on your way to creating incredible works of engineering, interactive art, and design with your 3D printer! If you’ve made a cool project that combines 3D printing and electronics, be sure to let us know, and we’ll feature it here!
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Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.