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Importing a 3D scan
GWS50
Member Posts: 381 PRO
Is it possible to import a 3D scan into Onshape? I have tried .ply .stl .dxf .3ds but keep getting a blank page.
I use scans quite a lot in my line of work to build mechanical devices in and around and it is quite an important ability for my workflow.
I use scans quite a lot in my line of work to build mechanical devices in and around and it is quite an important ability for my workflow.
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OptionsGWS50
Member Posts: 381 PRO
I am finding that as technology developes I'm using 3d scans quite often, sometimes organic and sometimes geometric. It is a bridge between CAD and the real world. Onshape is looking like it's becoming pretty powerful and I expect to switch to it in the future as my main CAD program but I think that the links that being able to import 3d scans, photographs etc and the ability to produce production drawings are essential. Until that time it is not something I can use professionally. I am looking forward to the future upgrades!1
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The problem is that scans point clouds are generally turned into STL or other faceted models. Onshape is only working with precise models right now (e.g. Solid models either from its own Parasolid kernel or from IGES, STEP, etc.)
I need to work from a 3D scan of a body and without this feature is almost impossible to get the shape right.
In the meantime, is there a viable workflow (using a free or affordable app) to solidify 3D point clouds into parasolid or a similar MCAD format?
The only option then, (once it is imported) is to add thickness to the faces of the surfaces with "thicken" tool and "merge with all" selected (to create one part), this works if you go one by one, for some reason when you add some faces, thickness can not be added and onshape gives and error in the operation. Not sure why or where is the problem with this surfaces.
The other ways to make a solid (in Onshape) is to use the surface to cut a solid then remove one side or the other. You can also do a replace face. However, if you have a lot of surfaces this is going to be very tedious work.
The problem would not (it seems to me) be insoluble, but require a sort of boolean union, 'on the fly', to cope with the self-intersection.
Would anyone who knows what the hell they're talking about care to comment on either or both propositions?
but here is the thing, anyone who has ever used a mesh based system or voxel based system knows that shelling and thickening, generally, just works. Some high end apps out there mix and match meshes with nurbs.
In a similar manner, I have had long conversations with developers who were looking to build CAD apps that used multiple kernels (like IronCAD). The idea being if a shell didn't work in one, it would automatically try it in another kernel.
But a more practical solution is often to have tools that do what they can then highlight the areas they fail. SolidWorks shell tool does this, true, most results from this are rough but often good enough for a 3D print or as the basis for a surface rebuild.
My own ideal would be a system that switches between mesh and nurbs on the fly. Meshes for all those freeform, highly detail surface forms, and transitions, and shells, nurbs for the rest. Such systems do exist, in one form or another, but they are £££££
If you have an STL file, you can import it into FreeCAD, then convert Mesh to Solid via the "Part" menu, then export it to a STEP or IGES file, which you can then load to OnShape.
Beware that some meshes don't readily convert into solids.
I'm a Featurescript developer (NOT Onshape employee though). I would like to help with this-- I'm starting to look at some of these types of problems.
If you could give me a couple of example files ( nothing too huge please ) of what you'd like to import, I can have a look.
I can certainly import a point cloud, if you scanned using a device that puts those out. but having example formats would be very helpful.
I can also look into interpolating/approximating surfaces. This is a _really_ hard problem, and honestly as @frank_van_der_hulst
pointed out, importing scans is primarily of value to guide the construction of 'real' geometry-- not as a part of the ultimately created object.
Anyway, I'd be happy to try to help.
To produce scans I Use Artec studio. It can export in OBJ, PLY, WRL, STL, AOP, ASCII, Disney PTEX, E57 and XYZRGB, as it mentioned on software's webpage. Can I use Onshape with one of the file formats? Or maybe convert the scans with Solidworks?