Blacksmith Group Unveils World's First 3D Printer Cum Scanner

Recently when HP launched the HP Sprout - The Future Of Desktop Computing Is Already Here, they said that they wish to integrate their 3D scanner with a 3D printer to make their device more appealing and productive. Little did they know that meanwhile they were working on HP Sprout, a start-up from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore called Blacksmith Group were developing a compact 3D printer cum 3D scanner. The product named Blacksmith Genesis is ready and was exhibited in the annual meeting of American Association Advancement of Science (AAAS) in San Jose, California.

Using Blacksmith Genesis, it is possible to scan any object in 3 dimension, edit the scanned digitised model and then to print the edited item out in 3D. Separate 3D printers and 3D scanners are not a news anymore. They have been around for quite some time, but the problem with them is they are not user-friendly especially for those who do not understand the intricacies of the technology. However, it is the first time that a 3D printer and a 3D scanner have been combined in a user-friendly all-in-one device.


Blacksmith Genesis uses an original rotary platform for the purpose of printing and scanning. Blacksmith Group have applied for a patent on this method of printing, the result of which is awaited. The rotary platform method allows them to scan the item from all sides i.e.it can perform a complete 360 degree scanning. Not only that, it can scan the objects under six minutes thanks to the 5 MP camera used for scanning. It has got a great resolution of 50 micrometres and can print twice as much better objects than its counterparts. Additionally, it can print artifacts upto the size of 6650 cubic cm which is bigger than similar-sized printers present in the market.

The device weighs around 6 Kg and has an LCD display which is 2 inches wide. If you have the item already scanned with you, you can connect to the printer directly using either a USB or a SD card. The device also has the ability to connect to Wi-Fi. One other distinguished feature of Genesis is that it has the capability of remote live monitoring and automatic error detection courtesy its in-built camera. This means that the users can monitor the device from anywhere in the world via internet and can start or stop printing at any time.

Naturally, it would be wrong to expect that the device will be economical. The device will cost around $2,200 (1, 36,000 INR approx.). The capital for making the device was obtained via crowd sourcing in Singapore and the product will reach the US markets as early as March. Its availability and pricing in other parts of the world is yet unknown.

Meanwhile, check the following videos where the Blacksmith Team's Ajie walks you through the 3D scanning function of the Blacksmith Genesis and then there story in their own words -



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