Scansite3D Creates New Batting Champion Awards for Major League Baseball

SAN RAFAEL, CA--(Marketwired - Jul 20, 2016) - Scansite3D presented their contribution to Major League Baseball with the unveiling of two new batting champion trophies presented at the 87^th All-Star Game in San Diego. The awards honor Baseball Hall of Famers Tony Gwynn and Rod Carew and the players who earn the highest batting averages annually in each League, will now be known as the "Tony Gwynn National League Batting Champion" and the "Rod Carew American League Batting Champion." The new trophies were made by combining the technologies of high resolution 3D scanning and 3D printing with the craftsmanship of lost wax bronze casting.

When MLB first approached Scansite3D to create the awards, there were two potential major complications. The first was that the League was counting on using 3D scan data acquired in 2007 and 2010 and, secondly, they only had two weeks to get the project finished! Using 3D scan data made so long ago could have been a problem with how fast technology changes.

"We've been pushing the boundaries of 3D scanning and 3D printing since 1991, so we were confident that the data we made back then would be just as sharp and accurate as any we create today," says Scansite CEO, Lisa Federici.

Once the 3D data was extracted, it was scaled to trophy size and the task turned to creating the highest definition 3D printed prototypes available to use as master patterns for bronze casting. The detail on the 3D prints was completely reliant on the detail captured in the original 3D scans. There was no time in the schedule to work on either; so the 3D scan data needed to be perfect and the 3D prints needed to be crisp. To make the 3D prints, Scansite3D chose a Stratasys, Objet Eden500v machine using a Vero white material.

Rubber molds were then made over each 3D print and waxes produced. The waxes were used to create ceramic shells that were placed in a kiln where the wax melted and molten bronze was immediately poured in. After the castings cooled, the shells were broken away leaving the unfinished bronze pieces. Lastly, the pieces were welded together, sandblasted and patinas applied. The finished bronze figures were affixed to handmade, cherry wood bases and the new batting champion awards were created... in less than 2 weeks!

"We're thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with such a distinguished institution as Major League Baseball," said Scansite's Lisa Federici. "But the real reward came from the joy expressed by the Carew and Gwynn families and seeing the faces in the crowd react at the ballpark."

About Scansite3D

Scansite3D is an internationally acclaimed 3D technology company based in San Francisco. With the expertise and attention to detail necessary to cater to world-class museums or aerospace companies, Scansite 3D provides state-of-the-art services and meticulous, guaranteed results every time.