3D Printing Coming to a Supermarket Near You!

[Anonymous]

3D Printing Coming to a Supermarket Near You!
Asda is first UK store to create detailed miniature versions of you and your family

*Service is being trialled at Asda in York before being rolled out nationwide
*Anything can be scanned, including people, then a digital model is created
*This detailed design is sent away to be printed in 3D ceramic
*Scanner picks up individual colours and works out proportions exactly
Models can be scaled to whatever size the customer wants and start at £40

By Victoria Woollaston

Next time you're doing your weekly shop you could soon pick up a detailed 3D-printed miniature version of yourself as well as your groceries.

Asda has become the first supermarket in the UK to offer 3D printing services, with prices starting at £40 – more than 60 per cent cheaper than other retailers, it claims.  

Anything can be scanned, including people and even cars, to produce detailed digital models. These designs are then sent to a 3D printing factory that creates lifelike figures made of high-quality ceramic

The software can identify up to six million different colours.

It measures a person, or item's, proportions exactly. Models can then be scaled to whatever size the customers wants.

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In a statement, Asda said: 'Evolving well beyond simply filling frames with photographs of friends and family, 3D printed ‘mini me’ figures will add a whole new dimension to shoppers’ mantelpieces.

'The lifelike models are also expected to be popular as personalised wedding cake toppers, and you could even have a model of your family pet.'

[Asda's 3D printing scanner is portable and plugs into a regular socket.]

Asda's 3D printing scanner, pictured, is portable and plugs into a regular socket. To start the process, an Asda employee moves the flashing scanner around the subject, pictured, which picks up individual pixels. This connects directly to software that captures the image

[In order to create the 3D model, scanner cameras are moved around the subject covering the entire surface are.]

The digital design is sent to a 3D printing factory where the shape is recreated by spraying ceramic fluid in thin layers to build up a solid object, pictured. Excess ceramic is brushed off and recycled

[Figures can be made in colour, white or covered in a bronze-style coating, pictured]

Figures can be made in colour, white or covered in a bronze-style coating, pictured

In order to create the 3D print, scanner cameras are moved around the subject covering the entire surface area. This takes around two minutes.

The shape is then recreated in 3D form by spraying ceramic fluid in thin layers to build up a solid object.

Figures are then printed and ready to pick up as part of shoppers’ next weekly shop.

They can be made in colour, white or covered in a bronze-style coating.

Asda is trialling the service in its York store from 15 October before planning to roll out the service nationwide.

In related news, a group from Texas-based Systems and Materials Research Corporation has created a 3D-printed pizza made with dough, ketchup and cream cheese.

The printer is still being developed, yet the video shows the printer laying down a layer of dough, a layer of ketchup and then cheese.

It is then baked on a heated surface.

3D Printing Coming to a Supermarket Near You!
Asda is first UK store to create detailed miniature versions of you and your family

*Service is being trialled at Asda in York before being rolled out nationwide
*Anything can be scanned, including people, then a digital model is created
*This detailed design is sent away to be printed in 3D ceramic
*Scanner picks up individual colours and works out proportions exactly
Models can be scaled to whatever size the customer wants and start at £40

By Victoria Woollaston

Next time you're doing your weekly shop you could soon pick up a detailed 3D-printed miniature version of yourself as well as your groceries.

Asda has become the first supermarket in the UK to offer 3D printing services, with prices starting at £40 – more than 60 per cent cheaper than other retailers, it claims.  

Anything can be scanned, including people and even cars, to produce detailed digital models. These designs are then sent to a 3D printing factory that creates lifelike figures made of high-quality ceramic

The software can identify up to six million different colours.

It measures a person, or item's, proportions exactly. Models can then be scaled to whatever size the customers wants.

Artificial hands, space probes and figurines: The Science Museum reveals some of the 600 3D printed objects set to go on display
Samsung launches a CURVED phone that sits in the palm of your hand – but experts slam the device for being 'gimmicky'

In a statement, Asda said: 'Evolving well beyond simply filling frames with photographs of friends and family, 3D printed ‘mini me’ figures will add a whole new dimension to shoppers’ mantelpieces.

'The lifelike models are also expected to be popular as personalised wedding cake toppers, and you could even have a model of your family pet.'

[Asda's 3D printing scanner is portable and plugs into a regular socket.]

Asda's 3D printing scanner, pictured, is portable and plugs into a regular socket. To start the process, an Asda employee moves the flashing scanner around the subject, pictured, which picks up individual pixels. This connects directly to software that captures the image

[In order to create the 3D model, scanner cameras are moved around the subject covering the entire surface are.]

The digital design is sent to a 3D printing factory where the shape is recreated by spraying ceramic fluid in thin layers to build up a solid object, pictured. Excess ceramic is brushed off and recycled

[Figures can be made in colour, white or covered in a bronze-style coating, pictured]

Figures can be made in colour, white or covered in a bronze-style coating, pictured

In order to create the 3D print, scanner cameras are moved around the subject covering the entire surface area. This takes around two minutes.

The shape is then recreated in 3D form by spraying ceramic fluid in thin layers to build up a solid object.

Figures are then printed and ready to pick up as part of shoppers’ next weekly shop.

They can be made in colour, white or covered in a bronze-style coating.

Asda is trialling the service in its York store from 15 October before planning to roll out the service nationwide.

In related news, a group from Texas-based Systems and Materials Research Corporation has created a 3D-printed pizza made with dough, ketchup and cream cheese.

The printer is still being developed, yet the video shows the printer laying down a layer of dough, a layer of ketchup and then cheese.

It is then baked on a heated surface.

[Author]

October 10, 2013 at 12:24 PM