Intro to Scanning
Welcome to the world of 3D Peel Scanner technology! As the automotive industry has grown, the demand for off-the-shelf part integration has also increased. For example, usage of mass production brake assemblies, CV joints, and car seats in CAD design has become commonplace in the industry. But, how do you integrate these parts into your CAD assembly?
At Convergence, we use 3D Peel Scanner technology to generate 3D CAD models of these parts and many others. This technology is revolutionizing the way designs are produced, as it allows us to quickly and efficiently generate models. With 3D Peel Scanner, we can quickly and accurately create detailed 3D models of off-the-shelf parts.
The technology works by using a 3D scanner to scan the parts and generate a 3D model of them. The 3D model can then be used to create a 3D CAD model. This allows us to quickly and accurately produce the parts with a high level of precision. In addition, the use of 3D Peel Scanner technology can also help reduce production costs, as the parts can be produced more quickly and efficiently.
3D Scanning Process and Tips
3D scanning is a powerful tool for capturing the geometry of an object and creating digital models. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced user, it's important to follow the right steps to get the best results. Below is a list of guidelines to help you get started with scanning, including tips on room setup, powder spray coverage, using targets, and exporting entities. By following these guidelines, you'll be able to scan objects with accuracy and produce high-quality digital models.
Calibrating your scanner: To get the most out of your scanner tool, it's important to follow the calibration steps. This will help you get familiar with the tool and how it works.
Room setup: To get the best scan results, it's recommended to close the blinds and turn off the lights in the room.
Powder spray coverage: If you're scanning a surface that's shiny, it may need powder spray coverage for the scanner to capture the surface accurately.
Scanning dark surfaces: If you're scanning a dark or black surface, you may need to adjust the scanner's shutter speed to a higher setting (5-8 ms).
Using "turtle backs" and targets: For some 3D scans, you may need to place "turtle backs" and targets before scanning.
Placing targets: The targets should be placed densely (for the Peel 2-S scanner) and randomly, not in a grid or array. The number of targets you use will depend on the size and geometry of the object you're scanning.
Installing targets: Remember to install the targets after spraying.
Cleaning the surface: To make sure the targets stick, you can use a "q-tip" and rubbing alcohol to clean the surface where you'll attach the targets.
Exporting entities: To export planes, cylinders, points, lines, etc. from your scan data, including NURB surfaces, you'll need to install the Peel 2 CAD (P2C) Dongle.
Example of a sprayed part with targets ready for a symmetric scan
Preparing Scan Data for Downstream CAD Workflow
After obtaining your scan or scan set, the following step is to get it ready for your subsequent process. In some cases, you may just wish to convert the points into a mesh, fill any gaps, and export the data as an OBJ or STL. To achieve this, available tools can assist you in smoothing surfaces, removing any unwanted elements, and filling any holes for a reliable export.
Additionally, you may want to create analytical surfaces based on your point/mesh data for reference in a CAD system or for constructing a comprehensive model. The Peel 3D software aims to assist you in building reference surfaces that match the point and mesh data, but not to produce a solid model. You can then import these reference surfaces into a more sophisticated 3D design system to finalize your work with the information gathered from the scan.
The process may seem complicated, but it's typically easy to add surfaces (such as cylinders, spheres, planes, etc.) to more prismatic parts. After that, the surfaces and points can be imported into your CAD system, which will necessitate two export operations - the mesh file as an STL or OBJ, and the surfaces as a STEP or IGES file. As a result, you will have two types of geometry that can be used to assemble the model as required.
Example of Can-am steering rack scanning
Example post processed scan in 3D Peel Software
Further Information on the Topic
Peel 3D Peel 2 CAD-S Review
Peel 3D™ Scan Module Training Video
Conclusion
At Convergence, we are committed to providing our customers with the highest quality parts. By using 3D Peel Scanner technology, we can quickly and accurately produce high-precision parts and reduce production costs. We are proud to be able to offer our customers a product that is second to none.
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