One of the most exciting applications of 3D printing, to me, is the ability to deliver goods digitally across the web to have them 3D printed locally. We’ve seen how this sort of workflow has resulted in the birth of amazing projects, such as the now heavily proliferated Robohand project, which wouldn’t have been possible if Richard Van As and Ivan Owen weren’t able to trade CAD designs between the US and South Africa to be 3D printed and tinkered on by each Maker in their respective locations. With the complementary technology of 3D scanning, distributing digital objects can have significant educational impacts, as well, with people like artist Cosmo Wenman scanning famous works of art for people around the world to 3D print in their own homes, universities, and community centers.
MyMiniFactory, the online community from 3D printing retailer iMakr, has recently started a project that seeks to expand the efforts of people like Wenman by enlisting the help of the public. The company hopes to establish an online library of artwork, sculptures, and landmarks from around the world that anyone will be able to access. That way, no matter where you are, you’ll be able to download and 3D print famous works locally.
The project is titled Scan the World and, while the MyMiniFactory team will be scanning iconic landmarks in their own neighborhood, the site is asking members from their community to do the same in their own locations. In order to do so, all you need is something like a smartphone camera with which to take photos of the object of your choice from every angle you can think of. The footage will then be sent over to MyMiniFactory, where they have the software to stick the photos together, in order to create a 3D model. 
The printables community already has a number of scans from which to peruse and, if done right, this project could have some important implications on education. For instance, the above Marwari Horse Head Sculpture at Marble Arch (scanned, printed, and painted), tells an interesting tale, according to its MyMiniFactory description:
The 6 tonne Marwari horse head at Marble Arch is a stunning public art sculpture that is definitely worth to be 3D printed. In adddition, the Marwari horse of today are descended from the splendid war horses that have served the ruling families and warriors of feudal India. These magnificent looking horses have unusual twisted ears which are perfect for avoiding the desert winds and sands.
If every entry into the Scan the World library goes on to describe the piece in museum-like detail, the site could establish a free, online museum for the world’s public art that will shed light on the tracks of art and history along humanity’s long and complex timeline.
Exact instructions on how to scan these sculptures properly will be released shortly, but if you’re interested in the project, feel free to email [email protected] to get involved. The project will also be hosting a meetup at the London iMakr store on July 17, if you happen to be in the area and want to learn more about scanning the world. The company makes a good point in their newsletter on the topic, “the more scanners the better”. Though they may mean for their own Scan the World endeavor, this could be true regardless of what 3D printables community you’re a part of. As the objects being scanned are usually located in public spaces, there’s no reason for all of us not to go out and start scanning public artwork to distribute globally to inform everyone everywhere about these famous sculptures in our local communities.
