Scan data to CAD

[[To...]]

I should know this but what does anyone think of the best way to scan a surface to collect points and convert the data into something that ProE, or any CAD system for that matter, can convert to a CAD surface in a model.

[[La...]]

Do you specifically mean with a CMM? If you use the Comet, you can convert the point cloud to STL which is easily importable into Solidworks as a Solid or Surface body.

[[Ch...]]

What is this comet? My quick google research didn't pull up much.

[[To...]]

Yes, using a CMM, with Curves.

[[Ow...]]

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Laura, Is there a special add-in in solidworks for loading in STL files?
I'm no expert with STL's and laser scanners but, I've never been able to get solidworks to load the STL files the few times I've used them.

[[La...]]

Chad - here is a document about the Comet.

Owen - I believe there is an actual plug-in in Solidworks that handles STL import if that's what you're doing everyday. I could be wrong, I only load simple STL files for 3D printing.. What I do is go File > Open, change the file type to STL and then an Options button shows up. It asks which coordinate system you want to use when opening the file, if you want it imported as a Solid body or a surface body and some other options.

I did have issues loading in a scan from the Comet that had 4,000,000 triangles and I had to reduce the number of facets using MeshLab (i think that's what its called) and I decimated it a bit so that Solidworks could handle it. I needed ± 1-2mm so it was no big deal to do that but probably not the case for most.

Sorry Tom that this is off-track from your original question. I've never loaded a Curve into a 3D modelling software.

EN_Brochure_COMET_L3D2.pdf