ShapeShot at ECAN Cancer Dancer Gala

Feel like seeing yourself in 3D, dancing the night away and being charitable? Then we have good news for you: this evening you can have your ShapeShot taken at the Esophageal Cancer Action Network's Cancer Dancer Gala.

This annual event will feature dinner, dancing, a silent auction (in which you can bid on a ShapeShot sitting and ShapeShot product), and the chance to be immortalized in 3D! Gala attendees can have their ShapeShot taken and view their 3D selves by logging into our (private and password protected) 3D viewing gallery.

The ShapeShot system quickly captures your image in 3D - just like a snapshot.

 Once logged into their individual accounts attendees can also visit our ShapeShot Marketplace where they can order various products personalized with their own faces. We've even created an ECAN specific product, partial proceeds of which will be donated to the Esophageal Cancer Action Network.

Your mug on a mug: the ShapeShot face mug is just one of the items that can be bid on or purchased in our ShapeShot Marketplace

 This is a great event and we are very excited to be a part of it.

If you aren't attending the Cancer Dancer Gala but are interested in having your ShapeShot taken, please contact us, info@shapeshot.com

3D Printing Continues to Grow 3D Scanning

3D Printing Continues to Grow 3D Scanning (or is it the other way around?) 

In this month's LiDAR news, Direct Dimensions' President Michael Raphael discusses the big news and changes in our industry:

The new year is starting out rather interesting as it relates to news and change in our 3D scanning industry.  We’re not even half way into March and it would not surprise me if we had more news about 3D scanning already this year than all of last year – which was already significantly more than the year prior.  What gives?  Why is 3D scanning making the headlines more often?  Certainly this is a good thing – more news means more interest and hopefully more business activity, which is what we all want for our 3D scanning world.  Let’s take a look at some of the more significant news items so far in this young year and see what is in common.

See this month's LiDAR news to read the rest of column. 

Scanning Snapshot: Surphaser Class Portrait

At Direct Dimensions we believe strongly in spreading the word about 3D scanning and imaging. For us this often takes the form of education. We often hold classes and demonstrations for college and high school students,  professional organizations, and sometimes even interested groups from the community.

The picture below is a "class picture" of a group of Towson University students taken with the Surphaser HSX Spherical Laser Scanner.

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"