Inside Smithsonian’s 3D Digitization Lab | National Geographic

3d scanning tools is is one tool in our

3d scanning tools is is one tool in our toolbox to investigate an object in a

toolbox to investigate an object in a

toolbox to investigate an object in a more specific way we don’t really make

more specific way we don’t really make

more specific way we don’t really make copies of objects we’re essentially to

copies of objects we’re essentially to

copies of objects we’re essentially to put it dryly collecting lots and lots of

put it dryly collecting lots and lots of

put it dryly collecting lots and lots of measurements of an object we take

measurements of an object we take

measurements of an object we take millions and millions of XYZ coordinates

millions and millions of XYZ coordinates

millions and millions of XYZ coordinates along the surface of an object and then

along the surface of an object and then

along the surface of an object and then from there we can make an extremely

from there we can make an extremely

from there we can make an extremely accurate likeness I started off working

accurate likeness I started off working

accurate likeness I started off working at the Smithsonian working as a sculptor

at the Smithsonian working as a sculptor

at the Smithsonian working as a sculptor in the model shop so I was using very

in the model shop so I was using very

in the model shop so I was using very traditional methods and often be making

traditional methods and often be making

traditional methods and often be making replicas of objects and the problem is

replicas of objects and the problem is

replicas of objects and the problem is that that involves pouring plaster or

that that involves pouring plaster or

that that involves pouring plaster or rubber on a Smithsonian artifact exposes

rubber on a Smithsonian artifact exposes

rubber on a Smithsonian artifact exposes risk to the object and anytime you do

risk to the object and anytime you do

risk to the object and anytime you do that that you know the conservators you

that that you know the conservators you

that that you know the conservators you know rule that out completely about six

know rule that out completely about six

know rule that out completely about six years ago we wrote a grant for a laser

years ago we wrote a grant for a laser

years ago we wrote a grant for a laser scanner and a 3d printer thinking this

scanner and a 3d printer thinking this

scanner and a 3d printer thinking this could be a better process so we could

could be a better process so we could

could be a better process so we could scan these objects using the laser

scan these objects using the laser

scan these objects using the laser scanner and that would be a non-contact

scanner and that would be a non-contact

scanner and that would be a non-contact method so minimal risk to the object and

method so minimal risk to the object and

method so minimal risk to the object and then once we have that data we could

then once we have that data we could

then once we have that data we could bring it back into the real world

bring it back into the real world

bring it back into the real world through 3d printing we still do a lot of

through 3d printing we still do a lot of

through 3d printing we still do a lot of scanning for exhibits production but

scanning for exhibits production but

scanning for exhibits production but then we can also deliver that object

then we can also deliver that object

then we can also deliver that object very easily digitally across the world

very easily digitally across the world

very easily digitally across the world and disseminate it for research there

and disseminate it for research there

and disseminate it for research there are a lot of exciting implications of

are a lot of exciting implications of

are a lot of exciting implications of giving access to those 3d surrogates of

giving access to those 3d surrogates of

giving access to those 3d surrogates of the objects to the world for education

the objects to the world for education

the objects to the world for education or just people who are enthusiastic

or just people who are enthusiastic

or just people who are enthusiastic about the collections at the Smithsonian

about the collections at the Smithsonian

about the collections at the Smithsonian just give them a chance to investigate

just give them a chance to investigate

just give them a chance to investigate our world in depth in a way that was

our world in depth in a way that was

our world in depth in a way that was never before possible