3D Faxing from Zeus
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Albany, New York USA 09/19/2013
-- I had the opportunity to get some exclusive time with two of AIO
Robotics co-founders Jens Windau and Kai Chang yesterday. AIO is a technology upstart that was founded
by Ph.D. students at the University of Southern California and they’re developing
“
Zeus”
- the world’s first 3-dimensional multi-function product (3D MFP). It’s a table top device that can print, scan,
copy and yes –
fax in 3D. AIO is building
their business via Kickstarter; (
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/aiorobotics/zeus-the-worlds-first-all-in-one-3d-copy-machine)
who’s described as, “
the world’s largest
funding platform for creative projects.”
Zeus. Source: AIO Robotics
|
So what’s all the fuss? For
those readers that do not understand 3D printing you may be interested in
knowing that it’s really a manufacturing technology that’s part of an industry with
revenue that exceeds $2.2B annually, growing at a 17% CAGR (Source: 3D Systems Corporation).
What’s 3D printing? For
a formal definition, I turned to
3ders.org
(
www.3ders.org), who states that, “
3D printing is also known as desktop
fabrication or additive manufacturing, it is a prototyping process whereby an [sic]
real object is created from a 3D design.”
Zeus is intended to capitalize on the 3D printing industry
by offering the world’s first table top all-in-one 3D MFP. It can Print, Scan,
Copy and Fax in 3D and has a desktop device’s “look and feel” that is
appealing. The goal is to bring the benefits
of 3D printing to the masses. Industries like medicine, dentistry, fashion and jewelry
design and many others already benefit from 3D printing and Zeus changes the
paradigm by offering an appealing yet functional device targeted at downstream
markets. Retail price for a Zeus is planned to be at $1,999 (USD) -- putting it
within reach of just about any small business.
3D Faxing. So how
does a 3D MFP actually send a fax? By chatting with Windau and Chang, I learned
that the “fax” function that Zeus offers is not quite the “fax” as we know it. They
call it, “Seamless Sharing”. So, the “Fax” functionality is not really a fax
per se, but a job file that’s printed remotely on another Zeus device. There is
no fax session call, no fax modem in use, and no T.30 or T.38 fax protocols
established by the device. It’s basically a file transfer between two Zeus
devices connected via the cloud or VPN. File
encryption is an option and the MFP does not have a dedicated phone line so it
is secure from unwanted calls.
So why call it fax? According to them, admittedly, “Fax”, has
street appeal as a recognizable MFP function and, as they claim, “
People understand what fax means”. Look
for Zeus MFPs coming soon. ###
3D Fax Scenario:
A shoe designer creates a new footwear product
and builds a 3D model that she prints locally with a Zeus device. She wants to
show it off to other designers or manufacturers located in remote cities
however. By selecting the “fax” button
on her Zeus device she can transmit the necessary 3d model file and printer
commands to another Zeus device that’s connected via the cloud or a VPN for
example.
The person on the other end
doesn’t need to have any knowledge of 3D modeling software – all they need is a
connected Zeus MFP and they will have the shoe design printed locally.
Call it “file sharing combined
with remote printing", or call it 3D faxing – either way: At $1,999 retail this
is a device that’s within reach of many smaller companies who will enjoy a
future of “faxing”. Check it out at:
