Icon vending machine dispenses personalized figurines

Since everyone else has now started installing photo booths in their homes, we've decided that to stay ahead of the curve, we need to step it up a notch. To that end, we've pre-ordered the very first Icon vending machine 3D scanner/fablab that rolls off the assembly line (ETA: 2009). Sticking only to technology that exists today, product designer Scott Klinker mocked up a concept design of a next-gen photo booth that uses a large format 3D scanner to capture a 360 degree "picture" of the user and a 3D printer to carve out a small statuette based on the image. Then you just crack off the limbs, attach some hinges, slap on a little paint, and all of a sudden your inanimate Mini-Me's got enough game to mack it to Lady Jaye, Gem, or maybe even the mighty She-Ra.

[Via Sensory Impact]

[Gil @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Let's see...

3D printer - 30000$
3D scanner - 50000$
and you need the expensive models because human scanning and modelling is no easy task.

Considering those costs halve by 2009 that's still a lot of money for such a gadget to be left around on the street.

[dreampc @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

hmm... a christmas tree with nothing but holiday ornaments of me!

Yeah, that's different!

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

OMG!! Just think...
You...
Your woman...

pr0n action fidgures....saaaweeeeeet!!!!

Gotta get me sum!

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

ohh yah, and:

THEY ARE STATUES!!! NOT DOLLS!!

[MATX @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Is this required for our passport or driving lisense?

[angus @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

#3, I dunno why, but I thought of the exact same thing.

We have to paint them now, but down the road, maybe a few years after it comes out, it might go the way of the 2D printer, it would eventually have colour, then laser colour with minute detailing.

As a photo booth, how much exactly would this cost? and how much? I can imagine that there would be alot of power to scan and "print". And where exactly does the material come from to make these models?

Still, pretty interesting concept.

How much for a 1:1 scale 3D printer to creat life-size models of the things it's scanning? "Sex Dolls 2Go!", it would eventually become replicating inanimate objects for a (low?) price.

[BRYAN @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

fat chicks will avoid this like the plague. I think it would be very cool. I don't know where they will keep the couple hundred blocks of wood or whatever to make this thing useful.

maybe it uses some sort of liquid that pours into a mold. The mold could be formed by something like the needle boards people like to stick their face up against in the store.

[TroyG @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I'm just impressed they were finally able to get Lady Jaye, Gem, AND She-Ra mentioned all in only ONE entry! I still wish I could get the Synergy hologram projector embedded in my watch!

[austinkennethlee @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I'm pretty sure it's "Jem," guys. Don't act like you didn't know.

[EgoAnt @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Now you just need six friends and two different colors of plastic (I guess you could just paint them) and you could make your own chess set!

I wonder if the booth will allow you to print multiple copies. You could do your own zombies for the Zombies (http://www.twilightcreationsinc.com/zombies/) board game!

[Jason Anderson @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Call me when they start injecting colored paint onto the figures.

[Adam @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

How big would the statuettes be?

[tele @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Friends,

Colour 3D printers already exist! No need for paint as the pigment is applied to the powder right before being hardened.

There would, of course, be software allowing for 'body mods'... hell it could put your head on a runway model's body if you wanted (though that would take the fun out of it).

I'd like my model to come out like those little green soldiers with a big plastic surface connecting my feet together. I'd make myself two armies and pit them against each other!