Scanner to Cad?

[Cold Fusion]

I have a ton of flat metal pieces I want converted to Cad but don't have the time (or skills yet) to do them all. Could anyone point me to a good scanner to Cad program?

[ger21]

Are you looking for Cad files to create g-code from? I don't think their really is a good one. Especially for less than several thousand $$$, and even those probably won't do what you're looking for.

Gerry

[High Seas]

I'll hitch on ger21 here - if you're looking to get to G code then how about Scan2CNC? I think its a trial version - at least you might get some parts to G code but won't be able to CAD'em.
Jim
url if that helps:
http://www.gocadcam.info/software.html#scan2cnc

[ToyMaker]

But, if you are just looking to CAD your parts and/or drawings...
a really inexpensive route is an old (V8, V9, V10) Corel Draw off ebay. It has a raster-to-vector conversion that doesn't take too much cleanup (there are other, possibly better, R2V converters).
You can then export them as dxf.

robotic regards,

Tom

<edit: spell check>

[Carver]

How large are your parts? If they are under 60" or so it can be digitized very quickly. Otherwise simply drawing 2-d work is very quick.

If you can scan them on a regular desktop scanner, the program at the link below looks interesting.

http://www.graphconllc.com/

If you can get copy of Rhino and a microscribe digitizer, it is a slam dunk. The digitizer would be the real cost. Ed Kuhn at Remtek does about as good a deal on digitizers as I've found and is very quick to give a small shop a hand.
The URL is www.remtek.com

We are in Dallas and do this ( and 3-d) as a normal part of our business if you decide to send them out.

Best of luck,

Phill Pittman
digicarve@verizon.net
www.masterwerkes.com

[Cold Fusion]

The parts are aroud 4"x4".

[Carver]

I saw your parts on the other thread and would suggest the graphconllc conversion software, but this will still only get you the 2-d file.

The parts would be very easy to draw manually as well.

The g-code can be quickly generated by any of the near free programs described in the other thread.

Do you have any original paper drawings for reference and dimension? ( not for scanning )

Generating g-code is easy, but you will need to post process it for the controller for your machine.

All of this appears daunting but once you do it once, it gets simpler and is really worth the effort.

Take care,
Phill Pittman
digicarve@verizon.net
www.masterwerkes.com

[dang]

Will BobArt Pro X work for this application?

[ger21]

I don't believe so, but I haven't used it so I may be wrong.