3D printing: Officeworks and Keech3D partner to create mini-me models

3D printing is now open to the masses. Could miniatures of ourselves be the new selfie? And what would you do with yours?

Chris Griffith with his Mini Me made with a 3-D printer. Picture: Hollie Adams

Eat your heart out Dr Evil. I have my own Mini-Me (of Austin Powers fame) and, you know, he doesn’t have an evil laugh and he doesn’t get scared and say “Eeeeh”.

He sits silently on the shelf next to me at work and doesn’t give lip. He just does what he’s told — the perfect companion in a busy newsroom.

Mini-Mes are being produced by Bendigo 3D printer firm Keech3D who scanned me at the CeBIT Australia tech fair held in May. About 20 Mini-Mes were produced at that event.

Domestic 3D printers typically use hard plastic polymers such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) but you can use a multitude of materials, even paper.

In this case, Keech3D had access to 3D printers that use gypsum powder to create these masterpieces. The powder is similar to that used in plaster casts and is piled on layer by layer.

Keech3D business manager Doug Baird said the company produced these 3D objects as part of its business but recently had partnered with Officeworks to make them available to general consumers.

People and objects typically are scanned using a digital laser camera and the images enhanced by taking a series of photos (photogrammetry) for touching up the final product, if needed.

But at Officeworks, customers can slip into a special scanning booth that does the job. It has 144 individual cameras that are triggered at exactly the same time, Mr Baird explained. “They just walk in, they’re only there for 5 seconds.”

Mr Baird said models of this size (160mm tall) cost $199, but you can larger and smaller ones — 88mm ones cost $59, 240mm ones for $399.

Officeworks this week opened its first 3D Experience Centre at Russell Street in central Melbourne where consumers can come along, step into a scanning booth and be measured up for their own Mini-Me.

They can also bring their 3D design files in on USB and have them printed, buy pre-printed 3D models, buy 3D printers and consumables and scan their favourite object with a desktop 3D scanner.

Mr Baird said dozens of people had already done so. “One person wanted to know how they could scan their mother sitting on a horse, but we said it was a bit impractical. Someone wanted their teddybear scanned, and someone brought in their jewellery.”

He said Keech3D was operating as the back end for Officeworks’ 3D Experience Centre. At this stage the facility was available only at the one Melbourne location.

What would you do with a 3D model of yourself? Tell us in the comments section below