3D-printed jewelry firm, Hot Pop Factory, has expanded its repertoire of 3D-printed goods, made up of gridded plastic earrings and necklaces, and is now in the business of doppelgangers. With their MakerBot Replicator, a Microsoft Kinect, and a couple bits of software, Hop Pop Factory has created miniature heads.
Upon request to create holiday gifts for a client’s 32 employees, Hop Pop artists, Matt Compeau and Bi-Ying Miao decided to copy the employees’ heads. Under the guise of a “mysterious ‘research’ project”, the employees were each individually scanned using a Kinect in conjunction withReconstructMesoftware, transforming each person into a digital, 3D model. The models were then cleaned up a bit using the free online software,MeshMixer, and printed on their MakerBot Replicator.
The next step is a bit gory so, if you’re made squeamish by details of Pez dispenser disassembly, you may wish to skip this paragraph. Reminiscent of that horrible scene fromReturn to Ozthat gave me so many nightmares as a child, the heads were removed from 32 princess Pez dispensers.
Finally, the new plastic replicas were fixed to their Pez dispenser bodies and given out at the big holiday party. Hop Pop Factory has since used this technique to create a 3D Printing Kissing Booth where lovers can lock lips forever in printed plastic. The booth will be premieredthis coming February 12th and 13th in Toronto, if you happen to be in the area and wish to see your love simulacreated before your eyes.
