3D Scanning? Maybe for Donald Trump.

[luke1201]

I've got some parts that I would *like* to have 3D scanned. They are all tubular parts, some semi-complex, others VERY simple. The goal is to get these prototpye physical parts into a 3D CAD file that I can send out to get quotes on getting them reproduced. I would like to have them in a SolidWorks file of course.

I just talked to the first of many places and got pricing from $350 to $1200 PER PART! I've got 18 parts. Thats $6000-$42000. Good grief. I want to get this stuff reproduced so I don't have to build them all by hand, from scratch, every time. But sheesh, I can pay for lots of labor for that price.

So, my question is:
Isn't there any software that can take the output from these 3D scanning devices and *poof* translate that into a 3D solid model? If not, there definitely should be. I just think that is rediculous pricing for something that *should* be practically a point-n-click affair. The guy told me he had Catia. I'm sure those 3D scanners are expensive, but holy cow.

Is there a better way? I'm very much a SW newb. There's no way I can index this stuff and get it anywhere close to accurate, not to mention the time it would take me personally. The parts have bends at all different angles and directions. What I need is a way to get this into some kind of CAD file, probably an IGES (but I really have no idea, this is all new to me), from what I've been told, so I can get quotes on having it reproduced.

Please tell me there is a cheaper, similarly accurate, way to get the end result I need.

 

[ctopher]

does this thread help?
thread559-121641


Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP2.0 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site
FAQ371-376
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-1091
FAQ559-716

 

[TheTick]

I know there are some low-end faro-arm type devices that most small shops could afford. If you're going to spend the money digitizing... Not suitable for QC, but more than enough for most reverse-engineering.

If I remember where to find them, I'll post. Meanwhile, try Google.

 

[SBaugh]

Check out the SW Partner site at

http://www.solidworks.com

and look up reverse engineering.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376
faq559-716 - SW Fora Users

 

[aamoroso]

Reverse engineering!

Best methods (expensive) Lasers or Xrays.

Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. And scratch where it itches.

 

[vikdayal]

There are quite a few softwares that will do the conversion of the output from a CMM (which is basically xyz coordinates for various points, which will make a surface) to a solid. There are different kinds of CMM machines and depending on the kind of accuracy they vary in cost, and why I mention that is because there are some not so expensive ones out there which means there might even be a small company which gives services for CMM.

 

[afb66t9]

For that price you can go out and by 3D Scanner/Printer. Roland have a 3D printer that mills and scans. Plugs into your computer like a normal printer.

http://www.rolanddg.com.au/

MDX-20 and MDX-15

 

[pkdavidson]

I have one of the Roland 3D scanners, the MDX-20.

Well, it will do a 3d scan, from a top surface, but depending on the resolution of the scan, the software then takes forever to load the image files and to export to a file.

I have made an STL file from the scan and imported that into solidworks and then asked solidworks to create a 3d model. there were over 800 entries in the stl file and solidworks appeared to hang while trying to create the model.

If you want to try it, I can probably scan your part for a lot less. I'd try with your simplest part.

If you can send me a pic of the part and a rough idea of the size, I can see what it might run. I warn you though that this can be a very slow process depending on your scan resolution. I just scanned a part that was pretty simple, about 1.5" x 2.25" and 1/4" thick (bottom surface was just flat so only need scan from top). At highest resolution, (about .002" per point) it took about 28 hours.

 

[rfus]

Solidworks is not really meant for importing stl models. If your are able to make a watertight triangulated model from delauney triangulation and veronio diagram methods then look further into how to create a singular surface to represent this triangulated point cloud. A mesh of parametric curves enclosed by a manifold curve network is what you want to create. Also known as NURBS, Non-Uniform Rational B Splines, where B stands for Bezier. These are the types of surfaces to import into Solidworks. The two best packages to do this are RapidForm and Raindrop Geomagic. 30K. The best scanner I have seen for the cost is the Konica Minolta Digitizer. 60K for the newest vivid. It uses photogrametry and laser point returns. Stl's, obj's, vrml's, etc.. are great for RP's and Delcam's Powermill is pretty good at using them for toolpaths. They can be used for Ref Geometry in SW design but not much more.

 

[pkdavidson]

Will Rapidform import STL (or IGES or VRML or ...) and output NURBS ?

Otherwise, input the wire frame and then extrude, revolve or whatever using the wire frame as the guide ?

 

[rfus]

Rapid Form will import any type of triangulated format and any type of point cloud. It is best to start with raw scan data and then triangulates it and then use tools to surface it. There are many tools to clean the scan data, triangulate, fill holes, decimate the polygons, and prepare your polygon model for surfacing. But if you already have triangles RF is great too.

There is an auto surface tool, but there is no magic bullet. Curve networks need to be created using the boundaries and these curve networks are then used to create a NURBS patch. Multiple patches can be created all over the polygon surface and they all form with G1 continuity. You can get reports on the accuracy of the polygon fit. There are so many tools it is really amazing. RF has a clipboard to automatically copy and paste the surfaces you generate into SW or you can save them as IGES, Step, Parasolid.

Many people think because they can directly translate a triangulated file such a .dxf or .stl into another format such as .igs then they are making something solidworks can handle. But really this is making every triangle a bilinear nurbs patch. Triangles are not for solidworks. It is very heavy on the package. SW will not import more than 100,000 triangles and the program is basically non operational. So sure, you can import a file with 800 triangles and use it for reference geometry, or you can turn the vertices into points and import the points using a point import from floating point solutions, but if you really want to do your scan data justice and turn it into an actual cad model you need a package like RapidForm. Now I'm not plugin this one, but I have tried them all and I think it is the best, but its pricy.

Go check out the site and see some demos. They are a solutions partner to SW because there is a direct interface the programs have with each other.

Take it easy,

Ryan Foss
Mechanical Design Engineer

 

[3dcorp]

I recognize I am biased but you might look at

http://www.vxtechnologies.com.

StarCam scanners sell for less than $20000 including software (depending on your needs). You could buy a system for the price you pay for the services.

 

[bme0319]

These guys gave me a fairly reasonable quote for a project I was going to work on. I ended-up not doing the job, so I never had the work done. I'm not sure how their quality is, but the guy seemed very knowledgable and his price was lower than most. They can scan and give you back a SW model.

Hope this helps. Here's the info below:

Berding 3D Scanning
513 831-6620
741 Main Street
Milford, Ohio 45150

http://www.b3dscan.com