3D printer doubles as a scanner

Believed to be the first all-in-one 3D printer, the Blacksmith Genesis is a printer and scanner in one package.

A start-up company from the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore created the printer which aims to make 3D printing more streamlined and more user friendly.

3D software will be available with purchase of the printer. For scanning, the printer-scanner uses its revolving platform to do a 360° scan of objects. This digital model can be edited in the 3D software. .

The scanner uses a 5Mpixel camera, and is intended to eliminate the need for creating something using 3D software.

The printer is able to print out objects at a resolution of 50µm( 0.05mm). It can capture fine detail to print complex shapes.

Live monitoring allows the printing process to be monitored through a smartphone. The built-in camera has an automatic error detection feature.