Cadalyst - May 2008 - (Page 37)

cadalystlabsreview Figure 2. When you scan an object, you are bound to capture things you don’t want. You can begin cleaning up your scans even while the scanner is still scanning. the overlaps as you scan, but you’ll get better results by waiting to eliminate the overlaps until the end. As you might expect, there is always going to be some amount of misalignment. The software is ready for that. It will give the scans a virtual wiggle to get a better fit. Once everything is matched, the extraneous, repeated, overlapping points are eliminated and everything is fused together (figure 4). For those who want to bring their scans directly into SolidWorks, NextEngine offers RapidWorks. This software works a lot like Geomagic. It is basically a licensed version of RapidForm ($20,000) that saves to SolidWorks — hence the name. You take the scan and find its edges or make cross-sections of its volume. You go through each portion of the model and create sketches from which you can extrude or cut things. What you end up with are actual parametric features. Conclusion I really like The NextEngine 3D scanner. I think it will probably have a great effect in the engineering, education, and art markets. Think about it: An archeologist could scan a relic and make it available on the Internet for all to see. And artists who are constantly pumping out one-of-a-kind pieces of art could use the NextEngine scanner not only to show off their work but to reproduce it for sales as well. (So much for the starving artist.) The basic unit goes for $2,495 and comes with the core software that lets you output to STL, OBJ, VRML, U3D, and other formats. The Pro software ($995) creates non-uniform rational Bspline (NURBS) and spline output for import into most CAD programs. The RapidWorks program ($2,495) generates actual parametric SolidWorks models (or saves to IGES, STEP, or mesh). For more information or to contact NextEngine, visit the company’s Web site at www.nextengine.com. (There is a great little YouTube video that takes you through the whole scanning process there. Check it out!) Highly Recommended. Mike Hudspeth, IDSA, is an industrial designer, artist, and author based in St. Louis, Missouri. 37 Figure 3. When you align your scans, all you need to do is mark three points in adjacent views that represent the same thing in each view. The software uses this information to knit the scans into one. really want is one unified object. NextEngine has got you covered. You can align the scans and sew them all together. You can let NextEngine’s software try to align them automatically, but you can also go manual! It works much Figure 4. Fusing puts all your scans together and eliminates the like the good old overlaps. You even get the writing on the surface of the object. light table. You ure 2). It’s that simple. It’s nice that you overlay what you want to see and align don’t have to wait until the unit is done everything until it matches what you want. Then you identify three points scanning to work on previous scans. (with cute little virtual push pins) in two When the scanning is done, you views and the software can do the rest are left with several 3D scans that have (figure 3). You could try to eliminate major overlapping areas. What you May 2008 cadalyst www.cadalyst.com http://www.nextengine.com http://www.cadalyst.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Cadalyst - May 2008

Cadalyst - May 2008 Contents Editor's Window Cad Central A Solid Job in AutoCAD Today’s Power — Quad-Core Workstations Performance — Tomorrow’s Possibilities Reverse Engineering an Antique Italian Treasure Trends in Reverse Engineering NextEngine 3D Scanner — Reverse-Engineering Tool Setting CAD Standards Fight for Your Hardware Rights The Jack and Jill of Ergonomics Technology for Civil Infrastructure Cad Cartoon Issue Indexes Shortcuts and Solutions

Cadalyst - May 2008

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