Fuel3D Launches Handheld 3D Scanner on Kickstarter

Fuel3D announced the start of a crowd funding campaign on Kickstarter to fund the launch of its Fuel3D scanner. Fuel3D is a handheld 3D scanner that delivers high resolution shape and color capture for a range of 3D modeling applications, such as 3D printing, 3D art and 3D game development.

In a special offer only available through Kickstarter, pledgers will be able to access the first production units for less than $1,000. "The explosion of 3D printing and the continued expansion of the games market means that there is an increasing demand for 3D scanning products that capture high resolution 3D data," said Stuart Mead, CEO, Fuel3D. "With Fuel3D, our goal is to bring high quality 3D scanning to a wider market by making it available at an affordable price-point."

The scanner combines pre-calibrated stereo cameras with photometric imaging to capture and process a 3D model in seconds. Fuel3D's ability to capture color in addition to geometric shape means that the product is also particularly well suited to on-screen 3D applications, such as game development, animation and 3D art, the company says.

Kickstarter pledgers will have the opportunity to get their product bundled with Uformia's MeshUp software, a volume modeler for meshes, allowing any creator to make sure their models are always ready for 3D printing.

The technology behind Fuel3D was originally developed within Oxford University and was, at first, developed for medical imaging applications. Pre-production Fuel3D units will be available in Spring 2014, with full production following soon thereafter.

For more information, visit Fuel3D.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.