Two methods are commonly used for 3D scanners. Which are used due to portability, cost-effectiveness and efficiency.
۱- Contact 3D scanners: For example, CMM is portable and optical with a contact probe.
- Non-contact 3D scanners: For example, lasers and optical 3D scanners.
What are contact scanners and how do they work:
Commercial CMM were first invented in the 1960s. Which operators used in stable controlled environments. With the invention of portable CMMs in the 1980s, people could. Easier to obtain different sizes of objects and devices. This was done very quickly and easily, and these CMM were named point-based. Because this device gives you all the coordinates by placing the sensor on one point of the piece.
The process of scanning to modeling in a contact scanner:
When reverse engineering is done with a portable CMM. The design process is done at the same time. Portable CMM to modeling software such as CAD / CAM and reverse engineering software such as Geomagic , Design X SOLIDWORKS, CATIA are connected. Depending on the software used, an interface plugin may also be required. Which helps to connect the scanner and the software directly. Simultaneously with the contact sensor data collection, the information is quickly transferred to the software. And you can perform the required operations for different parts of the modeling before the end of data collection. Non-contact scanners: How non-contact 3D scanners work: Non-contact 3D scanners are still a new and modern technology compared to contact sensors. 3D scanners are more understandable equipment than non-contact scanners. Using it for reverse engineering requires more intelligence to determine the origin of the part. This is while a contact scanner scans the surface of the object point by point. If the non-contact scanner takes a picture of the object, it should do so. A structured optical scanner can detect millions of starting points in three dimensions on an object in one second. Without being in contact with the body for a moment. Scanning process to contact scanner modeling: Reverse engineering using this method is a sequential process. First it is necessary to take all the necessary 3D images of the piece. The data is then formatted to create the model. And a copy of them is kept for comparison with the final model. Like the portable CMM device, this method requires plugins to model the 3D model. Like the Geomagic plugin for SOLIDWORKS software. It can help engineers in reverse engineering. But in Katia software, reverse engineering works can be done without the need for a plugin.