MakerBot Digitizer

I hope it is insanely accurate for that amount of money. The matterform gadget is supposed to be available for preorder in a couple of weeks and it is apparently more like $500.

Not a MakerBot product of course, and many months away from availability, but @ $1099 http://fabtotum.com/ offers more for the money in their "Multipurpose Open Source Low Cost Personal Fabricator." "Scan, 3D Print, Cut/Mill. A seamless interaction between the digital and physical world."

I'm in the first batch of indiegogo materform kickstart...
I will do a review as soon as i receive my unit... in september

http://www.matterform.net/

You're the first person I've heard with that opinion. Especially since someone over in the Makerbot Operators Google Group estimated it to be about $300 in hardware. But hey, maybe you like that kind of mark-up. Courtesy of the same thread, here is the direct comparison against the Matterform scanner:

scan size                8" dia x 8" H      7.5" dia x 9.5" H
accuracy                +/- 2mm          +/- 0.2mm
resolution                0.5mm          0.43mm                     
triangles                ~200K            200K up, user selectable
steps/rotation            800                  720?
file types                STL                  STL, OBJ, PLY
camera                1.3 Mp          "high definition"
weight on table            6.6lb                  ?
package                awkward             folds neatly
color                    no                  yes
shoots lasers            yes                  yes                         
threaded bed center    no?                  yes
z-axis motion        no                  yes
price                    $1400/$1500      $599/ ?

Makerbot is running a business. R&D cost more than $300 and they are not here to give away cheap stuff.  They are basically the Apple of 3D printing right now.  Ill bet they sell 10 Digitizers for every 1 Matterform

Also, have you looked at the software for the digitizer?  They are on the right path here...

So, we'll find out how popular matterform is if their online store crashes as soon as they announce it is open for business :-).

I can not wait because I go into the 1st batch and just want to see what kind of things I can scan for a start.

Bob

I see the matterform site has been edited. Now instead of $599, the price is listed as $579 (though you still can't actually order one yet - it now says "a few days" instead of "the first week in September").