Probing/Digitizing into BCC?

[keen]

Hi All - I have jumped across into this forum to see if anyone can give me the latest info on V21's ability to receive files ex Probing/Digitizing. specifically I have a Tormach mill which is controlled by Mach3 - and I use BCC v21.

I would like to buy a (hopefully not too expensive) digitizing probe and learn how to reverse eng 3D parts - Tormach and Mach 3 seems to be well set up to do this? - But my main question is: Once the part has been digitised and the 'point cloud' file is made - can it be imported into V21 in some form so it can be converted into a solid or surface (and then modified, repaired etc) - or is this too big an ask for V21? - is anyone out there doing this?

Thanks for any help!

Still keen

[smurph]

This is typically done in specialized "meshing" software. It takes the point cloud information and user input to transform the point cloud into something more palatable for the CAD/CAM software.

To this end, one of the Mach digitizing plug-in guys is also working on a meshing program.

Steve

[keen]

Thanks Steve

Do you or does anyone know of a good affordable 'meshing software' package out there - i will google it but any info welcome!

still Keen

[smurph]

Yeah, google on this search "point cloud meshing". The first three are about the most affordable. The first two, Point Cloud and Points-to-Polys have a demo that you can try out. I have loaded both of these. The third, VRMesh, I don't know if the have a demo. But it looks to be quite capable. It's also more expensive.

I'd wait until you actually have a point cloud to try out before installing any of them.

Steve

[ger21]

Originally Posted by keen Thanks Steve Do you or does anyone know of a good affordable 'meshing software' package out there - i will google it but any info welcome! still Keen

Try MachCloud. It's free.
http://www.machsupport.com/artsoft/d.../downloads.htm

[keen]

Thanks Gerry - looking now!

[keen]

OK - so i downloaded and unzipped machcloud, found a sample "hand" point cloud file - found the tool to flesh it out - and found it could only be saved as STL. BCC does not import STL. But on googling STL coversion software - seems i have many options!

Any comments welcome!

Still Keen

[racefast]

if you need i can provide you a point cloud i have a centroid equipped mill with full digitizing capabilities I am running v22 and i would be interested in doing the same thing you are wanting to do so if you could give me some feedback on your findings i would be happy to give you a point cloud file but it is in a dig file format

[The One]

Keen,

BobCAD will import STL files, and I suggest the Binary format. If you look at the STL created by MachCloud in Notepad you will see that it is ASCII format.

Regards

[tjones]

There is an easy way to do this. Bobcad does open the binary STL files but Machcloud only exports ascii.

So use another program to cleanup and convert to a stl format Bobcad likes.

http://meshlab.sourceforge.net/


It's free source so have fun.

[keen]

Originally Posted by racefast if you need i can provide you a point cloud i have a centroid equipped mill with full digitizing capabilities I am running v22 and i would be interested in doing the same thing you are wanting to do so if you could give me some feedback on your findings i would be happy to give you a point cloud file but it is in a dig file format

Thanks - I will get back to you if i need that - cheers

[keen]

Originally Posted by The One Keen, BobCAD will import STL files, and I suggest the Binary format. If you look at the STL created by MachCloud in Notepad you will see that it is ASCII format. Regards

Thanks - tell me - where in V21 is the opening files in STL? If i look in the drop down from 'files of type' - i don't see STL - or any mention of STL in my V21 manual. Does it go also by another name? keen.