Project Snapshot: Scanning a Monumental Historic Sculpture

Direct Dimensions' digital modelers scan the 18 foot tall monumental sculpture, The Genius of Connecticut.

See more of the incredible projects we've worked on in our 3D scanning and imaging portfolio.

3D Imaging and Manufacturing Exhibited for Congressional Subcommittee

In the State of the Union Address President Obama singled out new technologies, specifically 3D imaging and 3D printing, as the future of American manufacturing. He highlighted the new Manufacturing Innovation Institute in Youngstown, Ohio and even called for 14 additional advanced manufacturing hubs as part of a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation.

National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute in Youngstown, OH

Direct Dimensions (along with RMI of Maryland and Towson University's Objet Lab) has had a busy couple of weeks demonstrating these important new tools to both state and federal lawmakers.

Why is Rapid Manufacturing important to our nation's leaders? One word: JOBS!

With the continued loss of manufacturing jobs in the United States, the introduction of rapid technologies, such as 3D imaging and printing, offer a beacon of hope for manufacturers and job seekers. The strength of these technologies lies in their ability to create and manufacture specifically designed parts on demand, often in very small batches. This is the opposite of the mass manufacturing jobs that are being sent off-shore.

With a focus on customizable on-demand manufacturing, 3D imaging, design and printing are set to revolutionize the aerospace, medical and consumer products industries. The value of the 3D printing industry is estimated to reach $5.2 billion by 2020. Obviously our policy makers would love to see that value stay in the United States.

And that is where Direct Dimensions comes into the picture. With over 17 years experience using 3D scanning, imaging, and design in the aerospace, automotive, and consumer products industries (among others) we are in a unique position to explain these amazing rapid manufacturing technologies.

First we traveled to Annapolis, where over 250 elected officials and state staffers attended an all day educational event about 3D scanning, imaging and printing technologies. We also demonstrated our ShapeShot face scanning system, capturing almost 200 faces.

Staffers and Officials at MD Statehouse line up for their ShapeShots

Then we were invited by Congressman John Sarbanes to demonstrate these technologies to the House Energy and Commerce Sub-committee at a "Manufacturing Showcase".

Congressman Sarbanes gets his ShapeShot

 The attendees were excited to see these much discussed technologies in action. We were honored to be asked to demonstrate them.

Time Magazine Showcases ShapeShot

Time Magazine writer Salim Essaid visited 3DEA to learn all about 3D printing and scanning. He talks to our very own Dominic Albanese starting at the 1 min 35 second mark.

You can read the full article here.

If you are interested in having a ShapeShot or full body scan, please contact us @ 410-998-0880.

Go Ravens! Replicating Ray Lewis

Like the rest of Maryland, we currently have Raven Fever. With our team heading to Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans we are full of hometown pride!

Linebacker Ray Lewis, drafted in the Ravens inaugural year of 1996, will be retiring this year, playing his last game this weekend in New Orleans. A previous Super Bowl MVP, two-time defensive player of the year and thirteen time Pro-bowler, we Baltimoreans would love to be able to replicate Ray.

While we can't replicate him on the field, a few years ago Direct Dimensions did have the chance to create a digital double of Mr. Lewis.

Why did we scan Ray Lewis? We helped create a marble bust as an auction item for his annual charity auction event.

We used the Konica Minolta scanner to create this incredibly life-like sculpture of Ray, using 3D laser scanning to capture his exact shape.

 
The raw 3D data was modeled into a file that was suitable for 3D printing which was used to fabricate a plastic mold.

We then reverse molded this in marble, polished it, and mounted on a wood base. The bust was a hit at the auction and raised $7,000.00 for charity.

Project Snapshot: Scanning a Stradivarius

Direct Dimensions' modeler Michelle Craft uses a Faro Scan Arm to digitally document a Stradivarius Violin. Stay tuned for more on this exciting project.

Call for Papers: CMSC

The CMS Announces Their “Call for Papers" for the 2013 CMSC in San Diego, CA

Abstract Submission Deadline:  March 15, 2013

CMSC is holding its 29th annual technical conference and exhibition in San Diego in July 2013. This technical conference focusing on portable 3D coordinate measurement metrology, provides a professional venue where ideas, concepts and theory flow freely among participants from around the world. Unlike a typical trade show, the focus at CMSC is on education through various technical presentations and workshops. The educational atmosphere encourages attendees to network and learn about the latest innovations in the field of portable 3D industrial measurement technologies and is a great opportunity to share your expertise with your colleagues.

Direct Dimensions' President, Michael Raphael, is serving in his 4th year as a member of the elected fully-volunteer Executive Committee of the CMSC. His primary duty for this year's conference is the overall organization of the CMSC Technical Presentations and Workshops.

From the CMS:
"The organization welcomes abstracts for presentations and technical papers submitted by metrology professionals from leading manufacturers, science laboratories, and academia. Suggested topics include industry best practices, scientific research and developments, and successful applications of 3D coordinate measurement systems. The CMSC is the only North American conference dedicated solely to users of portable, high-precision measurement technology used to inspect manufactured and assembled components on the factory floor." 

Please consider submitting an abstract for this excellent conference!

Call for Speakers: RAPID 2013

Application Deadline: December 17, 2012

From SME:

"Additive Manufacturing is in the Spot Light"

"3D printing is gaining greater attention! The recently created National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII) will underscore the importance of this technology. Trade and business publications have picked up on it and have run numerous articles about how additive manufacturing (AM) is revolutionizing manufacturing. This has spurred an international interest in AM, 3D printing and 3D imaging in manufacturing and other industries. There’s no better time than now to share your innovative research, case study or application with an audience razor focused on AM. Become a RAPID 2013 Speaker"

MakerBot Photo Booth Powered by ShapeShot

If you are interested in 3D printing or 3D face and figure scanning then make sure to watch the below video to see the MakerBot Photo Booth (powered by our ShapeShot technology) in action.



If you look carefully you can see Direct Dimension's own Michael Raphael and Mike Agronin!

LiDAR News: Additive Manufacturing Brings Layers of Opportunity to 3D Scanning

3D Printing is everywhere these days: on the news, on the cover of Wired, and even in its own dedicated retail space.

But how does the new popularity of 3D printing affect our field of 3D scanning and imaging? Direct Dimensions president (and frequent LiDAR News contributor) Michael Raphael tackled this topic in one of his recent columns.  

Additive Manufacturing Brings Layers of Opportunity to 3D Scanning  

There is no question that 3D scanning is coming into its own as an industry and a profession. We are seeing news about 3D scanning grow nearly every day from not only within our own industry sources such as LiDAR News, but also in more mainstream publications such as The Wall Street Journal and The Telegraph. I did a quick Google search on “3D scanning” (which admittedly I do pretty often to keep up) and as usual found a whole bunch of interesting links, news, and stories. 

But if you think the news in our world is growing, you should Google “3D printing” and see what’s happening over in this sister field to us, also called “Additive Manufacturing,” or just “AM.” I say “sister field” because to me, our world of 3D scanning is all about digitizing things in our physical world INTO digital forms in the computer - where AM is all about taking 3D data OUT OF the digital world of the computer and bringing it into our physical world. 

 Right now the AM industry is undergoing an amazing explosion of interest, growth, news, and especially attention. Those of us involved in anything related to 3D scanning should be paying at least some attention to this news and watching at least some of what’s happening over there. I say this because I believe that growth in AM can and will affect growth in our world of 3D scanning. Why you say?

Click here to read the full article at LiDAR News.

Direct Dimensions Announces ShapeShot Public Launch in New York City

Fully Automated “3D Photo Booth” Ready for 3D Printing Installed at MakerBot Retail Store

Direct Dimensions, a world leader in 3D imaging, proudly announces the launch of ShapeShot – the world’s first end-to-end fully automated 3D photo booth experience in a retail store. Located in the recently opened MakerBot Store in New York City, ShapeShot brings the experience of a traditional photo booth snapshot into 3D and the amazing world of making personalized things with 3D printing, powered by MakerBot.

The launch of ShapeShot in this first retail location follows several years of development by Direct Dimensions for automating the 3D portrait process complete to 3D printing and other 3D apps. Previously only available for short periods at trade events such as SME’s RAPID Conference, people can now visit the MakerBot Store, the first 3D Printer MakerBot Store in the United States, take their ShapeShot 3D snapshot, and purchase 3D prints with their own face made on the amazing MakerBot® ReplicatorTM2 Desktop 3D Printer. ShapeShots can then be seen online at ShapeShot.com, or on the Android and Blackberry mobile apps (iOS coming soon!), or at MakerBot’s Thingiverse website

Makerbot Printed 3D Face

“Launching ShapeShot in the MakerBot Store in Manhattan is a perfect mash-up. Now for the first time,
customers can use affordable 3D printing to make something really personal – themselves! And designers and entrepreneurs can leverage these two super-hot technologies: 3D imaging and 3D printing - to create and offer personalized collectibles and other apps to consumers around the world. We are building a whole new digital ecosystem, based on 3D imaging, for creative makers,” said Michael Raphael, CEO and founder of Direct Dimensions, and creator of ShapeShot. “This is the first 3D app platform like this.”

ShapeShot 3D Face Gallery

In addition to the face-based 3D printed items available from MakerBot at the MakerBot Store featuring
ShapeShot, customers also get access to their digital 3D face data online at both the Thingiverse file sharing
community created by MakerBot, as well as the newly launched ShapeShot Market Place website. At ShapeShot.com customers can log in to view themselves in high-def color and purchase a variety of 3D face-based physical products and virtual apps. Initial products include amazing personalized jewelry such as a bracelet bead with your face, your mug on a mug, a 4-inch bronze bust, and a statue of you as revolutionary hero, among other things with many more apps coming soon.

ShapeShot is featured at the MakerBot Retail Store with Location and Hours:
The MakerBot Store
298 Mulberry St.
New York, NY 10012
347-457-5758
store@makerbot.com, makerbot.com/retail
Open: Mon-Sat 12 PM-7 PM; Sun 12 PM-6 PM

Founded in 1995, Direct Dimensions, Inc. has steadily grown to become a world leader in the application of 3D imaging across the widest range of applications and industries including aerospace, automotive, architecture, art/museum, medical, entertainment VFX, and historic preservation. Direct Dimensions provides uniquely specialized 3D imaging services and products for accurately capturing and modeling the reality of anything from jewelry to people to vehicles to buildings into various 3D digital formats.

MakerBot is a global leader in 3D printing technology.

Please visit our Direct Dimensions focused sites for additional information and complete contact information
at www.directdimensions.com, our YouTube Channel, our DDI Blog, our IMDb page, and our Twitter feed.
And please visit our ShapeShot website for more on 3D snapshots of your face in 3D!