Reverse Engineering versus Auto Surfacing

[ArmoredSpecialtyCars]

Hello,

I recently got a some parts scanned using a handy Handyscan700. I am now chosing which level of post processing is best for my purposes but am having difficulty. They provided two samples, one is done with reverse engineering and one is done with auto surfacing. I am having trouble deciphering which one is more accurate and cost effective.

I imagine the reverse engineering is more time consuming because it is more manual work using best fit lines. It looks much cleaner than the auto surface but if it is less accurate and more expensive, why would I ever choose it over the auto surface?

My needs are to be able to make fixtures, jigs, and steel plates that follow the curves. Accuracy to +/- 1mm is ideal.

I attached a photo with both samples inserted, reverse engineering on the left and auto surfacing on the right.

What do you think?

Thank you

 

[TheeCircle]

No idea although it looks like the reverse engineering is a better surface.

Is Reverse Engineering an Add on? Auto surfacing as well?

Thanks

John

 

[ArmoredSpecialtyCars]

They are services provided by the company that did the scanning. Very expensive work billed by the hour, don't think they use your everday CAD software like Solidworks, NX, etc...

 

[Toost]

If I guess, the reverse engineered is at least 2x the price of the auto surfaced thing.
The auto surfaced thing consists of "loads" of small faces. Each face "can" contain a bump, and there is no human eye which tries to make it not happen.
If i was to mill this model, i would go reverse engineered. I have seen these auto surfaced models in the toy industry where "bumpiness" doesn't matter that much. Kids don't bother, or nobody is prepared to pay for toys without the bumps
But you are not to cut that model, only create the fixtures / toolings ? Then the price might be more relevant.-> Auto surf.
The large number of faces will have a negative effect on performance. Drawing updates will take longer time.
If you create very complex toolings and need to find parting lines / split bodies to create dies etc, the number of faces and the relative inaccuracy will be negative.
- The "cleaner" model the simpler to create molds etc for.


Regards,
Tomas