Point Cloud

[jabuffi]

Anyone got a small-sized point cloud file I could have? I'm wanting to experiment with some of the various opensource programs out there that can read a file (say text or Excel spreadsheet) and try my hand at generating a meshed surface from point cloud data. But, since I currently do not have access to a scanner or probe, I don't actually have any pointcloud data for a 3d surface...

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[MrBean]

I have one I made. I'll try and find it for you.

BRB

Regards Terry.

[MrBean]

Here's what I have. It's the lower portion of a 50 pence piece.
I was testing a homemade touch probe.

[jabuffi]

Thanks Bean! That gets me a long way really quick, plenty to play with!

I'm curious: What software do you use plot the point clouds with?

[MrBean]

I used Rhino. I joined either the rows or columns of points (can't remember which now), to make a series of lines, then I lofted the lines to produce the surface. Would be interesting to know how you get on with the software you are trying.

Regards Terry.

[jabuffi]

Well, unfortunatly I found this morning that the prime candidate actually requires a $250 license fee to get past the 100 point limit on the "freeware" download... Like I said, unfortunate...

I guess now what I will examine is writing a VBA macro for AutoCad that will read a text file or spreadsheet, use points along a line as input for a spline, and then loft the splines together to create a surface...

Anyone got any better suggestions? Other than buying software?

[MrBean]

Anyone got any better suggestions? Other than buying software?

Hmmm. I wonder if it would be worth asking 10bulls about CamBam?
I'm giving him my touch probe, when I get round to posting it (Sorry bulls, it's been a while).
He may be looking at building point cloud surfacing into his software.
His thread would likely be the best place to ask, or find out more info.

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14963

CamBam supports VB script and Javascript, so even if he doesn't code it into the main .exe, you can write a plugin. I'm sure most of the functions you would need, would already be coded in CamBam's CAD, Geometry and utility .dll files.

If that sounds like an alternative option, he's the man to ask.

Regards Terry...

[jabuffi]

Oooooh, I completely forgot about CamBam!!!! 10Bulls does a great job, I've been following that project a little along the way... He'd definitly be a great one to work with on it! And I know he's been really busy lately, so you're point about writing a little supplemental VB macro to get along until it could be implemented full-scale would definitly work...

You could even use CamBam to save the pointcloud file as a DXF file if you needed to go back to autocad or solidworks to do extensive manipulation (I don't think 10Bulls' current version would allow stuff like lofting splines and such, but am I absolutley correct on this? Do you know Bean?)

[MrBean]

To be honest, I'm not too sure where Bulls is in regards to 3D surfaces.
I think you're right though. Lofting may be out... For now anyway.
But it should certainly be possible to generate a dxf from the cloud. Also possibly to interpolate a polyline through the point rows or columns in the cloud and save the series of lines as a dxf.

I really would ask in bull's CamBam thread about this. I'm sure he'll help out if he can.

The sooner I send him my probe, the sooner he may get interested in adding some point cloud operations into CabBam. I'll get it posted on Monday.

In the mean time I'll give Bulls a prod. And let him know the probe is on it's way.

Regards Terry.

[ger21]

I guess now what I will examine is writing a VBA macro for AutoCad that will read a text file or spreadsheet, use points along a line as input for a spline, and then loft the splines together to create a surface...

Anyone got any better suggestions? Other than buying software?

I write AutoCAD macros, and I'd just draw 3D faces. You'll probably have to use triangles, quads would probably end up non planar. Splines may be smoother, but I guess it depends on the resolution of the scan for whether or not you'd need to smooth it.