CAD Conversion & Reverse Engineering
One of the prevailing applications of high resolution 3D scanning is the accurate digital reconstruction of an already existing part.
There are many reasons why a part my need to be reverse engineered:
- Manufacture a replica replacement part when it can no longer be bought
- Modify the design of the part
- Create a CAD design where the originals are not available.
- Design an aftermarket product around another existing part.
- Computational analytics
- Digitize handmade prototypes
- Digital storage of CAD part for later use
Using 3D scanning to measure parts for reverse engineering rather than the more traditional measuring methods has the advantage not only of being significantly faster, but can also accurately capture curves and complex shapes which may otherwise be impossible to measure.
AccuScan's portable 3D scanners use the latest cutting edge blue light technology to capture every tiny detail, at 0.05mm accuracy. Objects are scanned down to a fine resolution of 0.1mm, precisely capturing its physical shape from every angle. Our reverse engineering from 3D scan service can save your team days, even weeks of manual design time.
Scan to CAD conversion
3D scanned models are fused into what is know as high polygon triangulated meshes.
These models can contain a huge amount of detail depending on how dense the mesh, and can be used in 3D modelling programs such as 3DS Max, Maya, zBrush, Blender, etc.
Polygon models are the 3D file types used in computer graphics for film and gaming, and for 3D printing.
For reverse engineering purposes it is usually necessary to have the high poly mesh converted into a CAD surface or solid model format so it can used in a 3D CAD software such as Solidworks or Creo. This is because these program don’t usually have away to modify, or even open polygon meshes.
The process of converting a polygon mesh into a NURBS surface model is quite a manual procedure, requiring specialised software to ensure true accuracy to the original scan data. Clean geometric shapes and surfaces are created from the poly-mesh surfaces, and imported into a 3D cad packed to be trimmed and modified into a parasurce or solid model, ready to import into your 3D CAD package. Deviation analysis tools are used to verify and illustrate that new solid model is accurate to the original scan within an acceptable tolerance.
Finished files are manufacture ready, and can be used to produce technical drawing or for 3D printing. Files can be exported as STEP, IGES, DWG, and more.
