Recreating everything from a famous B.C. mountain to a CTV news crew, a Vancouver company is using 3D printing in some incredible new ways.
Corbel 3D can replicate just about anything, by using 96 high resolution photos taken in a split second. The final pose is then stitched together digitally and sent to a 3D printer to create a realistic-looking figurine.
Brianna and Barrett Andreychuk are siblings who wanted a unique Christmas present for their grandparents.
"I think it's way better than the average picture frame, or some Christmas gift that doesn't really mean anything,” said Brianna. “It has a lot of personality.”
The company has made wedding cake toppers of the real bride, re-enactments of events like the ALS ice bucket challenge and has even printed an exact replica of the B.C. Helijet chopper pilot seat.
Nothing is too small or too big. Corbel 3D has even replicated the iconic Squamish Chief mountain.
"We captured this in 3D by taking a helicopter tour around it. We captured over a thousand pictures of this thing," said Patrick Wirt, Corbel 3D marketing director.
The guys at Corbel 3D moved from Edmonton to Vancouver, hoping to cash in on the movie and gaming industries, by making props and set pieces with their unique 3D printing machines.
"We're constantly pushing the limits of what we can 3D print, from 3D printing mountains to 3D printing people, to even the moon," said Wirt.
Even consumer reporter Lynda Steele and cameraman Jim Fong posed for a couple of high definition photos. Five hours later, the figurine was pulled from a pile of powder in the 3D printer, given a good dusting with an air gun and a coating of glue that brings out the true colour.
The figurines start at $249 for a 5-inch version, the six inch mini-me’s cost $339 a piece. And if you want to look skinner or maybe add a fancy six pack, digital “plastic surgery” on your figurine will cost an extra $30.
