A 3D scanning and 3D printing booth opened at a crowded mall in northern Mexico. Using a variety of 3D technologies, including the Sense handheld 3D scanner by 3D Systems, Skanect software, and a Makerbot Replicator 2 3D Printer, the booth operators were able to create replicas right on site.

10 cm figurines were sold for 175 pesos, or about $13.50.

Related: 3D Systems Launches $399 Consumer 3D Scanner

Ideaz3D, the first 3D printing shop in Mexico, hosted the booth and operated the equipment, attracting large crowds at the Galerias Mall in the border state of Sonora.

Here is a video produced by Ideaz3D that shows the excitement people had when they saw 3D printing in action. Also be sure to check out their Facebook page.

Avi Reichental is CEO of the $5 billion 3D printing market leader 3D Systems. After delivering an inspiring keynote at  at the Inside 3D Printing conference in San Jose, Mr. Reichental gave On 3D Printing an exclusive interview, where we discussed the future of materials for 3D printing, materials safety, unintended consequences and risks, and of course, M&A.

Watch the video below to see the full interview.

Related stories:

• 3D Systems Continues Acquisition Trail with 3D Printing Startup The Sugar Lab
• 3D Systems: Will the 3D Printing Giant Continue to Thrive?
• 3D Systems Acquires UK-Based Rapid Prototyping Firm CRDM
• 3D Systems CEO Predicts Moore’s Law Will Hit 3D Printing Technology – Inside 3D Printing Chicago
• 3D Systems Issues New Common Stock; Watch Out for M&A
• 3D Systems: Geomagic Design to Advance CAD and 3D Printing

We are having a great time at the Inside 3D Printing conference in San Jose. To share with you, our readers, what we’re seeing here, we asked the top exhibitors at the conference to give us a quick demo of their products.

Here we showcase the exhibits at Inside 3D Printing conference and expo in San Jose 2013, featuring 3D Systems, Stratasys, Afinia, Sculpteo, Leonar3Do, FATHOM, Mcor, Made In Space, Solid Concepts, Zip-Bit, Sixense, NRI, and more.

Earlier this year, CGTrader and 3DPRINTUK hosted a 3D printing design competition. Sam Abbott won the competition with a portfolio of 3D printed designs, and in turn won an Ultimaker 3D printer.

Soon after, Sam took a more ambitious project, designing and producing the world’s first 3D printed twin tip skateboard.

“There were published more than 250 3D models prepared for 3D printing from the May through June 2013,” CGTrader said in an interview with On 3D Printing. “Sam’s models are various and easy printable. From phone covers, jewelery to statues and other objects. Sam was the winner of 3D Printable Portfolio – that means he had to upload more models than others and the quality very important. He met these two requirements and won his Ultimaker.”

3D Printing a Skateboard

Sam’s next project was a 3D printed skateboard. Here’s a video of his 3D printing and assembly process.

We also caught up with the designer himself, Sam Abbott, in an exclusive interview.

On 3D Printing: How did you come up with the idea for a 3D printed skateboard?

Sam Abbott: I created the Skateboard design out of curiosity after designing many small items for 3d printing things like phone covers, jewelery, light shades etc. I was interested in print costs, print time functionality of the materials for a large design in 3d printing. Also I always loved to skate and so it was just an obvious choice to me to do a skateboard file. The form and aesthetics of the design were inspired from my memories of graffiti and street art from a recent visit to Gent, Belgium. Its 3D Geometry constructed in a way to add grip for grabs and less surface contact for grinds/slides.

On 3D Printing: Tell us about your experience of entering, and winning, the CGTrader competition?

Sam Abbott: Entering any competition is exciting as its a great way to see what others are doing and producing! It has the excitement of a lottery especially when the prizes are as awesome as what was awarded in this one. It has been an unbelievable experience to win the competition held by CGTrader. The competition the members of staff the platform to sell my files from has just been awesome and extremely helpful!

On 3D Printing: What do you plan to do with your Ultimaker 3D printer?

Sam Abbott: I am trained in SLS printing that is my expertise and so there is lots of learning, experiments and fine tuning to be done with the Ultimaker, as it build’s a 3d file in a different method requiring a different design approach. However I have successfully printed many of my rings, a phone cover, some vases, some technical parts for the printer itself and a mini version of my skateboard the size of a usb stick. I am currently working on a design to say thank you to everyone at CGTrader!

We can’t wait to see the next design from Sam.

MakerBot’s Desktop 3D Scanner Now Available for Sale

MakerBot, the New York-based desktop 3D printer startup that was recently acquired by Stratasys for $403 million, now officially has a new product line: desktop 3D scanners.

Their first product is called the MakerBot Digitizer, and is now available for sale. The price tag: $1400, plus an optional $150 for a MakerCare Service Plan. We covered the features of the 3D scanner last week, and here are more details.

“It’s a powerful and elegant tool for turning physical objects into digital designs,” said MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis.”You put something on the turntable, and it turns. Lasers shoot at it,” Pettis explained. “It’s a powerful tool that’s going to give you a whole new way of looking at things.”

Benefits of the MakerBot Digitizer

Professionals can create 3D models without having to start from scratch. Home users can explore the frontier of 3D scanning and then print them on a 3D printer or share on Thingiverse.

You can order the MakerBot Digitizer here.

Here’s a video from CEO Bre Pettis announcing the MakerBot Digitizer.

MakerCare Service Plan

In addition to purchasing the 3D scanner, MakerBot is offering a service option, called the MakerCare Service Plan for $150. MakerCare is designed to make your MakerBot Digitizer ownership experience as smooth as possible. The plan lasts a full year from the order ship date of your MakerBot Digitizer. If anything goes wrong with your MakerBot Digitizer during that time, you can contact the MakerBot Support team to identify the source of the trouble. The Support team will provide any replacement parts necessary, or arrange for you to ship your MakerBot Digitizer back to the company for repair.