Those softwares are very very different !
I know PC-DMIS only for cmms, and Plolyworks only with a tracker (T-probe and t-scan), and for calculation with cloud points. I work with pc-dmis for about 15 years, only for 2 years on Polyworks.
Pc- DMIS is a great software for tool boxes, constructions, loops (...) . Polyworks is very nice for scanning, but I think it's a little hard to finf good parameters for a kind of part to another. There are some tool boxes which seems to be nice, but I don't know how to use them !!!!! (I hadn't enough classes on this software !).
It seems that Polyworks 2014 can scan and create the mesh at the same time.
Thank JEFFMAN,
I'm also same like you, only know PC-Dmis for CMM, and 3 days training on Polyworks (t-probe and t-scan), i'm totally lost. Do you have any idea how alignment in polyworks work?
I'm not at the tracker, so I don't remember exactly the way...
You can do it like "3-2-1" in PC-DMIS, but it depends on the order. You can do it like plane -line -point, or point, plane line.... In each case, check on the graphic window if it's what you are looking for.
I will try to say you a little more tomorow.
I believe you can do alignment in IM edit or IM inspect only. In Edit, you can do it in Tools/align.
In Inspect, the way is in Align/Feature based.
You have to create all the features before starting alignment.
Align in IM align is a tool which helps to do a best fit between scans, not to do a alignment like PC-DMIS.
There's a forum polyworks, maybe you will find more info than here... http://www.pointcloud.us/ Good luck !
You can Align going to menu alignment, and select datum features, previously you had to be created te datum A,B, C like a features (planes, circle, cilynder)
you select the order and click on ok or apply.
other way its plane,line,point, select the corresponding features or datum measured for each caracteristics
Hi Drewk, I saw your post reply and I am also a PCDMIS user who is looking into using Polyworks with a laser arm. In your opinion is the programming time with the Polyworks comparable to PCDMIS offline and with CAD models? We are trying to decrease the time measuring flat pattern sheet metal parts by using a laser arm versus an older contact probe CMM, thanks
http://www.pointcloud.us/
