I am wondering, if it's possible, to scan a part without a CAD File and extrapolate data and measurements from the scan and export that data into a CAD File. If this is possible, how do you do that?
I am wondering, if it's possible, to scan a part without a CAD File and extrapolate data and measurements from the scan and export that data into a CAD File. If this is possible, how do you do that?
Thank you!
It certainly is, though depending on exactly what you are going to, it could be difficult.
Measuring off of the scan is easy enough. You should have an alignment prior to scanning that allows you to know where they are in space from your origin, which is all you really need to be able to measure. Anything you can do with data probed/scanned with a model, can be done with data probed/scanned without a model.
PC-DMIS can output STP/IGS files, but as the number of points goes up, the ability of another software to handle it goes down. If you are working with, on the order of, 100-1000 points, you should have no issues. As you approach 1,000,000+ points, other software (CATIA/Unix in my experience) will take so long to import, that you'll be lucky if it ever completes.
In my experience, the easiest to work with is to work in faux-2D. If you are scanning something orthogonal (ie, machined rectangular objects) like trim steels, scan it in Z+ in a top-down view and export it as a DXF. The 2D DXF points are much easier to work with in a sketch (and lots of softwares can work with it) and then can be easily thickened/extruded from there.
I am wondering, if it's possible, to scan a part without a CAD File and extrapolate data and measurements from the scan and export that data into a CAD File. If this is possible, how do you do that?
Thank you!
It certainly is, though depending on exactly what you are going to, it could be difficult.
Measuring off of the scan is easy enough. You should have an alignment prior to scanning that allows you to know where they are in space from your origin, which is all you really need to be able to measure. Anything you can do with data probed/scanned with a model, can be done with data probed/scanned without a model.
PC-DMIS can output STP/IGS files, but as the number of points goes up, the ability of another software to handle it goes down. If you are working with, on the order of, 100-1000 points, you should have no issues. As you approach 1,000,000+ points, other software (CATIA/Unix in my experience) will take so long to import, that you'll be lucky if it ever completes.
In my experience, the easiest to work with is to work in faux-2D. If you are scanning something orthogonal (ie, machined rectangular objects) like trim steels, scan it in Z+ in a top-down view and export it as a DXF. The 2D DXF points are much easier to work with in a sketch (and lots of softwares can work with it) and then can be easily thickened/extruded from there.
