Update: You can now view the Matter and Form AMA in an update on the Three campaign page.
Matter and Form’s latest 3D scanner is a “self-contained” unit funded via Kickstarter and meant to have launched this past January, but it’s missed the window three times now.
The Three is an interesting standalone scanner, much like Revopoint’s “all-in-one” Miraco 3D scanner. It requires no internet or USB connection, software installation, or cloud subscription to scan objects, Matter and Form says – all you’ll need is a web browser.
The Three can “capture and intelligently process +/-50 micron accurate scans in about 20 seconds”, storing scanning data on an internal web server and acting as its own Wi-Fi hotspot to connect to users’ networks. Once there, users connect to http://matterandform.local to use the device’s built-in software.
The Three also features a full API and is compatible with open-source projects, which means the possibilities for use cases should be expansive (Matter and Form even mentions controlling the device via a “robotic arm”).
Hardware-wise, the Three features a quad-core CPU with an integrated GPU, 4 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage, and a working distance of 200 mm to 800 mm. All told, we’re looking at a seriously impressive product – if and when the Kickstarter delivers.
But that’s the rub: the Three’s delivery was initially estimated for January 2024. Obviously, that didn’t happen. Neither did the rescheduled late February date – nor the one after that, which aimed for the end of March.
On March 8, Matter and Form said that manufacturing for the Three’s plastics and manufacturing had already begun, but the PCBs had not yet passed their EMC tests.
Last week, the OEM held a live Zoom AMA about the status of the Three, which Matter and Form said would be posted in full on the Kickstarter page after its completion. At the time of this writing, the AMA has not been posted.
Considering the Matter and Form V2 was our budget 3D scanner pick back in 2019, we know the company has what it takes to create and ship a quality product. Still, a slew of delays and a lack of clarity around the Three’s release isn’t a good look. That said, the company is providing regular updates to backers on its Kickstarter page – so at least no one has been left in the dark.
For more information, you can check out the Three’s Kickstarter campaign page or Matter and Form’s website – where the 3D scanner’s MSRP is slated at $2,999.
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