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Bengaluru-based startup CloneMe uses 3D printing to create miniaturized replicas of humans, objects.

The ubiquitous selfies have now moved to the next level of three dimension. Imagine holding in your palm a miniaturised figurine of yourself. That is now possible in Bengaluru, thanks to a startup, CloneMe. 

The process involves creating a 3D-printed replica from a scanned image of a human being or an object.

For starters, 3D printing is a manufacturing process, wherein an object is created from a digital image by laying a material, layer upon layer, in the required shape.

The driving force behind CloneMe is Siddharth Rathod, a Bengaluru-born 24-year-old graduate in Electronics and Communications from M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bengaluru. who also has a Masters in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from The University of Manchester, UK.

The other co-founder is Mr Rathod's uncle Dr Kamlesh Kothari, a maxillofacial surgeon, who has undergone training in many universities in Germany, the UK, Sweden and Switzerland. As a surgeon, he has been making use of 3D printing for dental operations.

Bengaluru-based CloneMe, which became operational in August last year, has opened a store at the Mantri Mall in the city, which is attracting a reasonable crowd -- most of whom just curious about the process, while some go ahead to order little replicas of themselves.

The process

The customer gets his or her body scanned by standing on a turntable. It’s like a photography studio, explains Dr. Kamlesh Kothari. Just as camera is to 2D photograph, scanner is to 3D-printed figurine. The process is safe, and others can see what is visible during the scan, so privacy issues are taken care of. And all it takes is about 30 seconds.

The image is then transmitted to CloneMe’s production unit at Gandhinagar, where the statuettes are manufactured. The product is delivered to the customer in about four to seven days. The cost depends on the size of the figurine you order.

Changing nature of gifts

The novelty of the process and the product is triggering a lot of enquiries, says Dr Kothari, who is currently aiming the huge personal and corporate gifting market. He said they have got an order from a company in Peenya where the employees want to gift a miniaturized replica of their flagship product to their senior manager who is retiring.

“Gifts are now more emotional. People want something different from the usual ones like names or images embossed on cups etc. A child might like a replica of himself in Superman costume; or, at a wedding the couple might want to give it as a return gift. There are a lot of possibilities,” he says.

Dr Kothari said they are looking at an online platform where customers can upload good quality 2D photos from which we can create a 3D object.When that comes, people won’t have to come here to the booth to the get the statuettes.

Architecture, dentistry

He said the company is talking to architectural firms wherein 3D printed replicas can be used to explain better architectural patterns and interior designs.

He said they would gradually move into the medical field where Dr Kothari has the expertise. 3D printing has huge applications in that area, where surgeons can cut down on time and money by creating 3D replicas of body parts where they need to do a surgery. For example, in dentistry, there are 3D printed crowns that fit exactly the requirement of the patients.