How to get a complex tubular object into CAD?
How to get a complex tubular object into CAD?
(OP)
I have some complex pieces of tubing that I would like to get into CAD so that I can get quotes on getting it reproduced. I know there is some method or device, where they take something like a v-shaped wand, index it to a known starting point (x,y,z), then drag the v-shaped wand (straddling the tubing) down the tube and *poof* it appears in a CAD program.
What is this device/technology/service called?
Thanks.
What is this device/technology/service called?
Thanks.






RE: How to get a complex tubular object into CAD?
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This type of technology is currently employed in automated inspection.
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Heckler
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RE: How to get a complex tubular object into CAD?
Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
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RE: How to get a complex tubular object into CAD?
RE: How to get a complex tubular object into CAD?
There are CMM's that are generally servo arms, you point the arm where you want a datum point and the servos record the 3D position of the tip. The FARO Arm is a pretty good example:
http://www.faro.com/
There are also non-contact methods like the one Heckler linked to. It really seems to depend upon your desired precision and the size of the part. I've heard of some of these CMM's being used for entire aircraft fuselages.
A laser scanning device will give you a point cloud, which can then be processed into surface data. An articulated arm gives you as many points as you care to click upon - although the software will generally recognize sommon shapes (2 points for a line, 3 points for a circle or plane, etc.) It sounds like your usage would entail a CMM to describe the 3D spline curve, then you could sweep your cross-section.
Sorry for the novel-length post, I just think this stuff is really neat.
RE: How to get a complex tubular object into CAD?
I know that technology has to be out there, not sure what its called, but its few and far between and way out of my price range. Its a shame, its that way right now. When its mainstream, where Joe Common can afford it, it seems like that would create a boon of new parts/inventions because it would make the creation/reproduction of parts so easy.
RE: How to get a complex tubular object into CAD?
In the scientific world it is not uncommon to use xray technology for that sort of thing but I am not sure how or where you can find someone to do that.
Try this:
Google: "stereo lithography"
also try :"rapid prototyping"
Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. And scratch where it itches.
RE: How to get a complex tubular object into CAD?
Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP2.0 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site
FAQ371-376
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-1091
FAQ559-716
RE: How to get a complex tubular object into CAD?
Yes, technology of this type exists--try the Hollywood arena, more than the CAD arena. They do scans of this type with lasers all the time. The problem then is getting it into a standard CAD format (as opposed to non-CAD Hollywood format).
A couple of my friends developed a great laser scanner back in college, but I don't think it was ever developed all the way to market. The data is often brought into Alias|Wavefront or 3D Studio Max, or some other free-form modeling program. Think Pixar, and that sort of thing. If you need precision (as Hollywood doesn't, necessarily), you might want to stick with some of the methods listed above. This is certainly under the "reverse engineering" category.
You could also model it yourself.
Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reality is no respecter of good intentions.