[Editor's Note] Creaform and e4ds Make will be hosting the "Creaform Contest" starting November 1st. Participants will tackle four reverse engineering-related quests, providing educational opportunities to deepen their understanding of reverse engineering. The winner will also be appointed as a Peel Ambassador and receive permanent ownership of a Peel 3D scanner worth 20 million won. Accordingly, our magazine arranged an opportunity to meet with Kim Geon-a, the head of Creaform's business division who is hosting this Creaform Contest, to learn more about the Creaform Contest.


■ Please explain the significance of holding the Creaform Contest and the overall contest.

The Creaform Contest is an event for users who are currently using or will use the device. Through this contest, Creaform aims to discover and engage influencers who will join us.

This Creaform Contest is an event where each quest is given a mission, and the final successful candidate who passes that mission becomes our ambassador.

■ Quest 1 is to submit a scanning & reverse engineering design concept proposal. I'm curious about the judging criteria.

As I explained at the beginning, we're not looking for developers or design engineers, but rather influencers who will join us. The most important aspect of this first quest is ensuring that the technical skills are sufficient to use our scanner and share it with a wide audience.

The second point is also important: whether you have the ability to be active on social media as an influencer and be able to do marketing activities.

The first quest, in short, is to submit a proposal that demonstrates both technical and marketing capabilities, which will be the criteria for passing the application.

I understand that training is provided during the quest period. I'm curious about the content and the benefits I can receive from it.

Although we initially planned to recruit influencers, we believe that those who participate in this event should also gain something from it. That's why Creaform and 3D Systems are now jointly hosting this event. We met with our heads and engineers from both companies and discussed the results. As a result, we've incorporated their training into a certification-based educational content that we offer to our customers in the field. Only those who have completed the training and been evaluated based on the results will receive a certificate from us.

Creaform training now includes training on two reverse engineering support editing tools and measurement software called VXModel and VXInspect, and Creaform Search for them.

3D Systems provides training on its reverse engineering tool, Geomagic software, and upon passing the quest, you will receive a Geomagic license, which provides a degree of credibility.

Quest 4 involves a 3D inspection of the final model and an evaluation of the final product's completeness. I'm curious about the evaluation criteria.

Typically, each mission is designed so that the final result is somewhat complete as the quest progresses. By Quest 4, the final result is almost complete. Two models are completed: the scanned shape at the beginning of the quest and a CAD model completed by users as the quest progresses. While these two models can be printed with a 3D printer, it is important to check the consistency between the actual design and the original shape to ensure proper placement.

In the end, the two completed results are matched and the participant who creates the design closest to his or her original intention is selected.

Of course, it is not just about accuracy, but it is also about evaluating how well the designed part is reflected and can be reflected in the remaining next development through reverse engineering, so it can be seen that practical results can be achieved through this evaluation.

■ One final winner will permanently own a Peel 3D scanner. Please explain the special features of the Peel 3D scanner.

The peel 3D scanner was Creaform's flagship scanner just two years ago. We generally call it the entry-level market. This scanner uses a fluorescent backlight and white light, and its features not only enhance image quality but also enhance color. We call it text-based, and at the time, it was a sensational product, selling well from seven to five years ago.

In the past, it was used a lot for reverse engineering from measurement, but now that scanner performance has improved so much, it can be seen as a scanner closer to reverse engineering than design measurement.

This type of product is extremely necessary for startups or those who are designing prototypes for the first time.

It can be seen as suitable for those who are building solutions that move the current world into virtual reality, such as digital twins that are being moved into virtual reality such as VR and AR.

■ Finally, please say a word to our readers.

The Korean 3D scanner market, as I saw it, wasn't yet mature. However, its size is rapidly growing, and the 3D scanning market in North America, Europe, and even Japan has seen significant development over the past 10 years, up to just 3 years ago. The market is already quite mature. Korea is still weak in that area, and 3D scanners are different from 3D printers in that they are more related to design and the front end than manufacturing. This area has become more necessary due to COVID-19, and we have also decided that Korea has become a more mature market where it can change its business model to suit the next era.

I hope that this contest will be helpful in the future 3D scanner market, opening the market quickly and allowing many people to use it.