3D scan data to CAD data

Question 1

What are the 3 main stages of turning a real world object to CAD data?

Answer 1

Scanning process - prepare object, scan, save scan data

Scan data preparation - point cloud or slice data, wrap, clean up, re orientation, decimation, export

Scan data to CAD data - import, orientate, decimate/smooth, surface patch generation, surface data, solid data, export

Question 2

What is point cloud data?

Answer 2

Vertices (points) in space

defined by X,Y and Z coordinates

Question 3

What is topology? Why is important?

Answer 3

A construction consisting of faces, edges and vertices
3D scan data does not have optimised topology
Each facet is a separate surface
Is extremely data heavy
Not parametric

Question 4

What are 2 general tips for scan data to cad data?

Answer 4

Symmetry - look for symmetry within the component/scan data. Section up the scan data rather than doing the entire thing at once

Features - Isolate planar faces, look for standard modelling features (revolves, fillets, chamfers, extrudes, geometric shapes)