英闻天下——152 3D Printing in Beijing

 　　An employee carefully scans¹ a man standing² 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 detailed³, 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 applied⁴ in many areas such as the aerial⁵ industry, home appliances, automobiles⁶, 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. Currently⁷, 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 domestic⁸ 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.

1 scans   

n.浏览( scan的名词复数 )；审视；（雷达）（屏面上的）光点v.扫描( scan的第三人称单数 )；细看；细查；（雷达）对…进行扫描

参考例句：

• This apparatus scans patients' brains for tumours. 这台仪器扫描检查病人的脑瘤。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Brain scans have confirmed that the disease is in remission. 脑部扫描已经证实疾病得到了控制。 来自辞典例句

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

4 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

5 aerial   

adj.飞机（航空）的，空中的；n.天线

参考例句：

• An aerial photograph of the field shows clearly where the buildings were.这一场地的空中照片清晰地显示出这些建筑物的位置。
• Aerial pollution is a problem that should be solved quickly.空气污染是一个亟待解决的问题。

6 automobiles   

n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• When automobiles become popular,the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车普及后，就不再使用马和马车了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Automobiles speed in an endless stream along the boulevard. 宽阔的林荫道上，汽车川流不息。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 currently   

adv.通常地，普遍地，当前

参考例句：

• Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
• Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。

8 domestic   

adj.家里的，国内的，本国的；n.家仆，佣人

参考例句：

• This is domestic news.这是国内新闻。
• She does the domestic affairs every day.她每天都忙家务。