Point Cloud in SW

[scottyganger]

Does anyone know how to import a set of points into solid works, like what format do the points need to be in?

 

[ShaggyPE]

thread559-183201

The data is a .txt file that is tab delimited.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Certified SolidWorks Professional
Certified COSMOSWorks Designer Specialist
Certified SolidWorks Advanced Sheet Metal Specialist

 

[zubaj]

If you're trying to create a line based on a set of points, then Insert -> Curve -> Curve through XYZ Points. The file needs to be a .txt comma separated file with x y and z coordinates in separate columns. If you're trying to import a set of points that define a surface, you'll have to use a third party software.

 

[scottyganger]

Where trying to draw a plasma cloud. We have like 10000 points in cylindrical coordinates, but we could convert them to cartesian.

 

[zubaj]

In that case, try a 3D point cloud software that lets you create surfaces from points, then export it in .dxf, then import it into SWx. I think this is the software I've used before to do this:

http://wareseeker.com/Graphic-Apps/point-cloud-1.0.zip/11523

 

[scottyganger]

Thank you guys. I'm going to play around with that, see what I can do. Ya'll the best

 

[scottyganger]

Wow, that import worked like a dream. Thanks. Wait, is there anyway to loft it. It comes in as either a set of points, a set of points, each connected by a line, or a set of points with a spline?

Thanks in advance!

 

[zubaj]

You have to loft the sketches in SWx. I didn't see a way to do it in 3D point cloud.

 

[scottyganger]

Okay thanks. Is there any way to extrude around a spline? like, to make a spline look like a tube?

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Yes ... select the spline, select the Extrude tool, select Thin Feature, set sizes, click the tick.

 

[williedawg]

I was trying to do something with only Points sometime ago, and eventualy, through someone's help (can't remember who to thank), found a site that had the 3D point macro program.

http://solidworks.cad.de/mm_24.htm

Gen3DPointCloud.swp will import 3D points which can then be used to make Surface-Planer, or a myriad of other uses, I would guess.
Although creating Planes and Inserting Surfaces for my application was a bit tedious, it worked better than I thought.

(If someone knows how to Insert these Surfaces automatically, let me know)

Excel generates the points which are then selected as X,Y,Z values only and pasted into a *.txt file
The Macro is Run, the *.txt file selected and then the points appear in your model.

At first I couldn't figure out how to get the Macro installed on my computer.... look at the upper-right hand corner of the web-page and use the tiny little 'download zip' button.

Place this in the MACRO folder of SW. Dont forget to Un-zip if your system doesnt automatically do this.

In order to use it, you have to click on Tools>Macros>Run, then select Gen3DPointCloud.swp
A window will pop up and you fill in the blanks as stated above.

(Even tho' the file may be listed under previous Runs, I found that it won't execute if selected in that manner.)

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

scottyganger ... did you mean use the spline as the centreline for a tube? If so you need to create a profile (inner and outer diameters of the tube) at one end of the spline, and then use the Sweep tool with the spline as the path.