14 DAY TRIAL // Priceless artifacts from ancient times, like the bust of Nefertiti or the masks of pharaohs, are among the things that you'll never be allowed to touch during a museum visit. Fortunately, 3D printing is now here to save us from the disappointment.
For close-up views of fragile objects, you would normally have to buy a photo or two of whatever exhibit interests you. Many of them even have pictures posted nearby, with lecterns containing information sheets.
Nothing really beats being allowed to pick up and handle the things though. That's why a team of researchers from Lancaster University in the UK have started to reproduce items from the Kendal Museum using 3D printing technology.
Their method is pretty simple too. First, they take some photos from every angle, using a normal digital SLR camera. Then they use regular software (AgiSoft’s PhotoScan Pro and Netfabb’s Studio Pro 4) to combined the images into a 3D model.
After that, the university's SLS 3D printer reproduces the clay head figurine of a warrior, pottery and whatever else.
The first batch was printed from white nylon 12 polyamide, which didn't yield very high detail but was a simple process. Further refinement and experimentation will yield greater fidelity in time. Then, the technique could help digitally repair broken antiques.