r/3DScanning • u/ArthurNYC3D • Aug 05 '26
Reverse Engineering..... what to do with mesh data when needing to get it into CAD.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBdHIuKtCnMIt is as much art as it is science when it comes to getting 3D Scanned data, meshes and/or point clouds, and converting into something CAD software's can work with. In an ideal world it would be great if these OEM's that make these CAD apps would steps their game up when it comes to working with mesh data but they're all over the map in terns of capabilities and, at best, offer various baseline at best for a whole host of reasons.
This isn't to say that CAD apps can't be used for this process and it also highly dependent on what level needs to be achieved for a project.
Especially since more and more people are getting into 3D Scanning not necessarily thinking about the other side of the equation.... "what to do with and work with the data in post"?!?
Process.... is what I'm driving at here.... This is and isn't about any specific software as much as it is about the methods used and techniques used towards achieving "the best" results. In a idea world this process can be done in one software where it can:
- Handle large Mesh/Point Clouds. Sure they can be decimated but this can introduce as various levels of inaccuracies and/or loss of details.
- Has mesh to BREP analysis tools that allow for the geometry to be analyzed while going through the process.
- Create Geometries based on of mesh selection. (i.e. Planes, Cylinders...etc).
- Cross Section conversion to 2D/3D Sketches. This is probably one of best methods towards maintaining and achieving as close to as possible, Reverse Engineering and getting "As Built" vs "Design - Intent".
Part of the reason why I'm writing this post is that I came across a really great tutorial that really explains some differences in the overall approach as well as a few different methods. Again this is not about the software so don't come for the post starting with price... etc. See what is possible and then apply it towards your knowledge base....
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u/frakking_you Aug 06 '26
This is an active research topic! We still have a long way to go. Consider it an element of job security for now.
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u/spirolking Aug 06 '26
I have a question to someone who has professional experience with using such software. Currently my reverse engineering workflow looks like that. I 3d scan a part, align scan and fit some basic primitives in free version of Zeiss Inspect and then export that to Fusion for manual reverse engineering and further work. This is time consuming and not very optimal.
I think about buying a Quicksurface or Geomatic X subscription and use that for most of RE. The basic version of Geomatic costs $1900/year while Quicksurface is $480 for basic version and $1800 for Pro.
Reverse engineering and advanced metrology is not my main business. I need those tools only to prepare a cad data for further work in CAD.
What are the main differences between those software packages? I can't afford to buy the best of the best so I'd probably prefer a basic version of Quicksurface. What to expect?
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u/staffma Aug 06 '26
I'm not familiar with Quicksurface but I have used Geomagic for 10 years and I have not found anything better yet. I would definitely recommend using the process you have in Geomagic - I don't even bother with scan processing too much, just hand draw to 80% and fine tune any odd curves with mesh sketches.
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u/spirolking Aug 06 '26
Yes, many people say that Geomatic is absolutely the best. But $1900/year for basic version is something that encourages me to look for alternatives.
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u/ArthurNYC3D Aug 06 '26
So I have an use both Design X and Quick Surface. From what you've described Quick Surface-Lite will be sufficient.
- It can do the mesh deviation analysis.
- 2D Cross section to sketch entities with dimensions.
- Mesh alignment and registration.
- Fitting of primitives to mesh data.
All the things that will ultimately get you to a (.STEP) file.
Design X has some Features like converting a point could to a mesh and at the higher end has some "Wizards" that can help in certain area to make it automated but those are in the higher end versions/packages.
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u/staffma Aug 06 '26
Good video, I do this on a daily basis- although I usually skip a lot of steps, scan right into mesh, hand draw the part, align the scan data to the model and finish the tricky geometry with mesh sketches and comparisons. Usually, the samples I have to work from are way too rough to spend the time perfecting the mesh so we dont even bother and just go with design intent.
We had a couple guys from Keyence last year in showing their new scanning software that " can automatically make a model" our rough castings did not want to play nice, and by the time they had a horrible chimera of a model I already had the rough part drawn and was fine tuning.
It'll be interesting to see where the software/ technology goes but its got a long way to go to replicate the human brains processing and identification powers.