Baby scanner gives 3D image
One Tauranga inventor has taken baby photos to epic proportions with a little bit of number eight wire ingenuity.
Calvin Blyde has spent the last two years constructing a fully-operational baby scanner in his garage.
Metres of fibre optics coil across the frame to power 59 computers and cameras designed to take the most complete baby photograph to share with loved ones.
The total project cost thousands of dollars, and nearly as many man hours to complete.
‘‘My wife got a bit of a shock when I said I wanted to build it,’’ he said.
‘‘It looks a bit intimidating but it’s quite quick and easy to use.’’
Blyde got the idea after having his own baby, Jaiden, who then promptly became the guinea pig for the various prototypes over the two-year development period.
‘‘I used to have just four cameras which I would move around and shoot again and again and again with,’’ he said.
‘‘This machine is much better as it captures it all in one go which means the baby can’t move around during the shoot.
‘‘This machine allows me to take about 10 photos, all at once, and it only takes about 10 seconds to do.’’
After each shot the images are downloaded into modelling software and stitched together to create the high-res image.
Blyde has started a website, 3Dbabies.co.nz, to offer the service out to parents looking for something unique.
As technology improves Blyde hopes to expand the service to include 3D printing, up to life size, of children as a treasured memento.
Much of the machine was 3D printed in his own garage and Blyde says with the right equipment he could print colour models in the future.