CRI听力:3D Printing in Beijing

An employee carefully scans a man standing still behind two photographic lamps with a gun-like scanner in his hand.

The whole process takes approximately 10 minutes. After loading the data into the computer, the rest work is left to the 3-D printing machine.

It takes about an hour and a half or so to get a 10-centimeter color model of the man. The color is not that detailed, but his shape and expression are a good match.

It is the first 3-D photo studio in China.

Unlike traditional printing techniques, 3-D printing is a process of producing three-dimensional solid objects from a digital printer, which can be created by laying successive layers of materials. It is also known as additional manufacturing.

Shao Moyu, Chief Operating Officer of the 3-D printing company, says 3-D printing is not new and has already been widely used in various industries.

"It's applied in many areas such as the aerial industry, home appliances, automobiles, electronic products, medical and biotechnology, as long as they require new product research and development. We started to explore a customized 3-D printing product in 2012. Currently, we have products like real person 3-D printing, cartoon character printing, gifts and tailored souvenir design printing, as well as high-end artwork."

Holding a tiny model of himself, a customer enjoys trying this new way of taking photos.

"It can be a very good souvenir. It also reveals the current technology level."

The public has shown great interest in the new business. The studio has to answer dozens of calls each day to potential customers.

Shao Moyu says his company's service is not limited to just printing something that already exists, but ideas in one's imagination as well.

"It's like when you are painting, it's two-dimensional. We can use third-party software to make what you think three-dimensional and print it out. This means if you want a 3-D print of your idea, you should design it in 3-D, and we can realize your idea via this 3-D printing machine."

The price of a 3-D print of a human model costs 600 to 2,400 yuan depending on the customer's height and the size of the model.

Shao Moyu says the printing material—a kind of powdered plaster-like material, the software and the machine—are all imported. It still takes time for domestic companies to develop their own technologies. But Shao and his coworkers believe the 3-D printing market has great potential.

For CRI, I am Li Dong.