cnc scaning?

[EddyCurrent]

Anything here any use ? http://usa.autodesk.com/autodesk-123d/
watch the video about '123D Catch' for a start.

[charlieuk]

looks interesting I wonder how accurate it would be? the app doesn't seam to get great review but will look into it more

[EddyCurrent]

We've been there before in this thread; http://www.mycncuk.com/threads/7842-...1215#post61215

[Boyan Silyavski]

Now if you have made them, you should know all by heart. So it would not be difficult to design them with some Cad. I believe this is the preferable option.

Ok, you can scan them but the out put will be STL. So google now "how to convert STL to solid" , you see, not so simple and much time consuming.

Plus you will surely design new in the future. So the experience in drawing is needed. In short if i was you , i would draw them from scratch in some good parametric design capable CAD. The more you draw the faster you do it. And you will need the skill, for the first client that comes and wants something complicated.

[charlieuk]

Drawing them is fine and I have a cad program for that there is even a add on program you can get specifically for scanning so it is just the hardware that I need to sort.

It is possible to do it manually but its taking the measurements that is the problem and its not just my own boards I want to scan, I also like to keep details of as may boards as I can that I have used and break down the designs to compare and it can take literally hundreds of measurements just to start with.

I have used a disto fixed to my gantry and moved it at increments and taken measurements but it is very slow and hard to get accuracy around tight curves.
It appears that most are using some sort of photoelectric sensor to take measurements but that is about all I can figure. The pro tools link looks to be in the right area but would like to know how much more there is to it as it looks like a photoelectric sensor too and you can get one from 50-200 pounds not 1500

edit: from my research apparently the camera style systems do not work well on objects that are relatively smooth surfaces as they find it hard to fix recognize the different point between scans

[phill05]

Have you seen this http://structure.io/ you need an Ipad to use it but it works well.

Phill

[Boyan Silyavski]

If you have an answer to what minimum scanning precision is acceptable, then its no brainer to find the proper scanner.