point clouds

I am looking for help importing, working with and then exporting point
cloud data. I have a .dat file containing hit points from a CMM. I am
going to import it into a cad file and overlay it onto the cad model of
the part being measured. Any input on how to deal with this type of
information would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Tim Struemke

 

Don't know what it does (never used point clouds), but I saw this macro at
http://solidworks.cad.de/mm_index.htm . Look for 3D Punktwolke einlesen
which translates to "Read in 3D point cloud". There is a macro to download,
but like I said, I know nothing about it. So you are on-your-own to figure
it out.

 

Search for Geomagic on Google.

 

Search for Geomagic on Google.

Not real sure, but think the goal is just to read a point set into a file
so it can be registered with and compared to a part model?

 

That is correct, however in addition to that I would like to be able to
export the overlayed points along with the solid component in some
flavor. I am trying to stay with standard SW tools (perhaps a macro)
if possible.

Tim Struemke

 

Tim,

Do you want to analyze the relative differences between the as scanned data
and the solid model ?? They do this allot with aircraft parts, but they
don't use a point "cloud", they use specific key points. These points would
be part of the CAD database from the begining. Then these points would be
probed, and compared with the CAD data.

The reason I ask is because SW can't do much with raw points. There may be
third party programs that can. You can, however, use the method described
above. You just have to plan for it.

Regards

Mark

 

There was a macro out there for free called 'SketchFile' that handled 3D
points if you had a text file adn it works really slick! Not sure if it is
still out there but if now and you want it I can send it to you. Do a google
on 'Sketchfile solidworks' and see what comes up

Ben

 

Ben,
I am in fact using the sketchfile macro to import the data. This is a
GREAT macro. What I am looking for is some way to now export the data
once it is brought into the original cad file. What I am experiencing
is that SW will not export points.

Tim

 

Ok, got it, now how free form is the shape? Can you model a solid using the
points with lines and such, or one thing I have done in the past for
'organic or free form shapes is to take a plane offset from the point cloud
and draw a outline (slightly larger than the point cloud, otherwise this
will not work) exit the sketch, and then on the surface toolbar select the
"filled surface" icon, select the sketch you just have drawn and then select
in the constraint curves box below the patch boundry box (the one that now
has your selected sketch in it) and select the point cloud. The surface
will deform to the points (not the best but maybe good enough for you to
use... You can also uncheck the "optimize sureface block and then have some
control over the resolution of the surface made....

If you have problems following this I will send you a model that you can
disect to see what I mean.

This is kinda fun and has helped in some things I have designed in the past,
sort of a workaround on a quazi-nurbs surface....

Ben