3D Scanning to Rapid Prototype

[3DRevEng]

Hi Everyone.

We just bought a Fortus 400MC printer here as 3D Reverse Engineering!

The only one in Western Canada so if you are in Vancouver or Alberta and need 3d prints we are ready to go!
We can now print ABS and Polycarbonate materials!
Build size is 16" x 14" x 16"!!!

So now if you have a Scanned item we can 3D print it! no need to convert the STL scan data to Nurbs surfaces for CNC machineing!

3D Reverse Engineering : 3D Laser Scanning Service : Rapid Prototypes : Vancouver BC Canada
We also provide Laser scanning services for reverse engineering and laser inspection, long range scanning, sculpture scanning and more! Check out our website

[awerby]

[QUOTE=3DRevEng;1022624]Hi Everyone.

We just bought a Fortus 400MC printer here as 3D Reverse Engineering!

[To actually reverse-engineer a functional part, you need to get back to the design intent. So if the original part called for a 1/2" hole, for example, the RE software would produce a CAD model with a 1/2" hole, not the malformed hole that would be the result of scanning a part that probably wasn't perfect in the first place. Rapidform XOR is the best software I know of that does this, but there are others.]

So now if you have a Scanned item we can 3D print it! no need to convert the STL scan data to Nurbs surfaces for CNC machineing!

[There's no need to convert to NURBS before CNC machining. Most modern CAM programs can handle STL meshes just fine. NURBS conversion will smooth out your surfaces, but detail is lost when you do that.]

Andrew Werby
ComputerSculpture.com — Home Page for Discount Hardware & Software

[3DRevEng]

You are correct and we do use Rapidform XOR3 and Geomagic for that purpose when its required. It is all dependent on the part you have and what the requirements are. It may not be design intent but an actual replica!

You are also correct you can Machine from STL but using a RP machine is dependent on the part you want and will never replace CNC machineing it is another tool!

Rapid prototyping can also print parts that are otherwise impossible to machine with complex hollow or honeycomb geometry,

The only limitation is materials, you can not print in Aluminum or Steel just plastics!

[awerby]

There are several manufacturers with RP machines that build in metals. Titanium is quite popular, due to its biocompatibility and use in implantation. EOS also does some really nice jewelry work using its EOSINT device:

EOS Jewellery

And another company, ProMetals, sinters steel powder to form a solid but porous structure, then infiltrates it with bronze at high temperatures to make solid objects. My friend and fellow-sculptor Bathsheba Grossman has used this process to good advantage in producing her mathematically-based sculptures:

Welcome to ProMetal, An Ex One Company

Andrew Werby
ComputerSculpture.com — Home Page for Discount Hardware & Software