Family photo albums might have met their match. A new kind of preservation is making its way onto the scene, freezing family memories and bringing cherished moments to life. Except, these memories fit into the palm of a hand. One Kansas City business is doing this very well.
It all started in 2017 when Nick Nikkhah, owner of 3DHQ KC, stumbled across 3-D scanning technology that was taking the medical field by storm.
At the time, the cutting-edge technology was being used for prosthetics, but Nikkhah had a vision. Once he discovered the technology could be utilized outside the health industry, he saw his opportunity.
Using this technology, he set out to capture timeless memories in Kansas City, where family is woven into the fabric of the city.
"I just knew I had to be a part of it. That's what led me to bring this tech to Kansas City,” said Nikkhah. “We're freezing a moment in time and capturing a special moment, whether it's graduation, wedding cake toppers or before and after a pregnancy, we create products and merchandise that capture a particular moment."
At 3DHQ, customers are given the platform to let their imaginations run wild. Anyone can bring pictures or sketches to Nikkhah’s team which are then scanned, digitized and transformed into 3D print life-like miniature statues.
The technology allows 3DHQ to capture important details from facial expressions, wrinkles, and clothing that go into developing tiny replicas, making every creation a unique one.
From ornaments, furry friends, and pictures of loved ones who are no longer alive, 3DHQ does it all and gives customers the ability to hold that special memory in the palm of their hands.
Nikkhah says demand for his services continues to grow and stems from the pent-up desire people have to recreate experiences that come once in a lifetime.
“This is just part of our DNA. Our entire lives are built on history and experiences, that's how we learn,” explained Nikkhah. “Some of these key moments are moments people like to relive over again and just look back on certain things or certain people, where those memories are no longer there.”
A variety of organizations have also turned to 3DHQ to make their dreams a reality while using the visuals to spread a message. Over the years, Nikkhah has collaborated with KC’s Parade of Hearts and done rapid prototyping for companies across the globe, but Nikkhah has also used this technology to pay it forward. He says the push to expand his services came during the height of COVID-19. Due to stay-at-home orders, Nikkhah and his team shifted gears and began creating mementos for medical staff and first responders, thanking them for their services.
"Our motto? We 3-D print you and your imagination. It's not just a tagline; it's what we live by,” said Nikkhah. "Whether it's helping someone turn a sketch into a tangible prototype, recreating a part for a vintage car, or taking an appliance apart that is no longer made and redesigning it and recreating it, the possibilities are endless.”
"We're freezing a moment in time. We create products that capture a particular moment."