Scan to CAD involves scanning a physical object and then inputting the data into CAD software. Scan data serves as a guide for engineers for sketching CAD drawings. 3D scanners capture all details related to the geometry of products, eliminating guesswork from the scanning process. There are several benefits of CAD scanning. It reduces product development costs and also speeds up product design and development.
If a part is no longer in production and you do not have the original CAD drawings for it, scan to CAD is the quickest and most effective way to create a 3D CAD model (especially if it's a complicated part).
No, a 3D scanner cannot directly create a 3D CAD model because 3D scanners generate point clouds or mesh data that cannot be automatically converted to CAD surfaces. Simply put, the 3D scanning software cannot understand what a scan represents.
3D scanning projects, especially projects that involve scanning larger objects, can be very complicated. Regardless of how minor it may seem; a 3D scanning mistake can lead to inaccurate results and erroneous conclusions.
Creating a CAD model when you do not have a ready reference can be an overwhelming project. It may take several attempts to create a model you’re happy with. Instead of starting with a blank canvas, why not leverage data captured by a 3D scanner? Scan-to-CAD is more efficient than designing from scratch and can save businesses time and money. Using the process, you can get an accurate representation of parts. Also, scan-to-CAD generates invaluable insights that you can use when designing products. A 3D scanner simplifies the reverse engineering process.
After data is captured, it should be cleaned. CAD scanning services use advanced software to decontaminate raw scan data. The process may involve removing errant points from the cloud, resampling, and filling in any holes. In the second step, 3D CAD scanning services convert individual points to a mesh, with each point representing a vertex of a triangle
Once the CAD model is sanitized and meshed, you can directly import it into CAD software. If no further modifications are required to be modeled, you can directly export meshes for slicing and 3D printing.
The mesh is then cut using a polyline generation tool. This is the most complex step in the process. Because no tool can create primitive-based solids or spline directly from a mesh, the process must be supervised by humans. If the model is relatively simple and consists of basic primitives, the solid can be manually created using the mesh as a reference.
For objects with complex surfaces and compound curves, engineers use the mesh as a reference and cross-sections as templates to create spline contours of the solid model. When used correctly, both these techniques can help ensure the accuracy of solid models.
It's challenging to scan features such as holes, deep grooves, and gaps, as the only part of the inner wall that will be scanned is just around the top. Before scanning holes, plug them and leave some part of the plug exposed to simplify the scanning process. In the case of deep grooves, keep the scanner’s line of elements parallel to them to capture more data.
NelPreTech specializes in CAD scanning. Our ability to tailor 3D scanning solutions to our customers’ unique needs sets us apart. To make an appointment, call 708-726-8463.
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