logo
NOTICE:  This is the new PunchCAD forum. You should have received an email with your new password around August 27, 2014. If you did not, or would like it reset, simply use the Lost Password feature, and enter Answer as the security answer.
Welcome Guest! To enable all features please Login or Register.

Notification

Icon
Error
reverse engineering
Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
Previous Topic Next Topic
jonwatts  
#1 Posted : Monday, January 19, 2015 11:53:52 PM(UTC)
jonwatts

Rank: Junior Member

Joined: 1/15/2015(UTC)
Posts: 6
Hey all,

I'm not a Viacad user yet, but I like all that I see. My composites shop will be undergoing a gradual changeover from a craftsman's based shop to a cad/cnc based one. I'm going to start by reverse engineering some composite parts I make for various projects. The parts are not terribly complex but they do contain areas that are very organic in nature and areas that are very geometric. Based on my research, I found nothing of mention regarding any retopology tools within Viacad, so based on that assumption my proposed workflow is as follows: 1) get parts scanned 2) retopo in 3D Coat 3)import sub-d recreations to Viacad , convert to nurbs, and make my final mods before getting plugs cnc'd for molds. My questions are these. Can you open any sub-d files in Viacad given it was saved in the proper format? What format would that be? Can further modifications then be made to the imported sub-d's in Viacad?

Jon
Back to top
Tim Olson  
#2 Posted : Tuesday, January 20, 2015 12:22:38 PM(UTC)
Tim Olson

Rank: Senior Member

Joined: 2/2/2007(UTC)
Posts: 5,447
United States

Was thanked: 502 time(s) in 353 post(s)
Hi Jon

//regarding any retopology tools within Viacad,
Correct, there are no retopology tools in ViaCAD or PowerPack. A scanned file without retopo is not a good candidate for subd to nurbs.

//2) retopo in 3D Coat

I've used the auto retopology tools in 3D Coat and then sent the files as OBJ to PowerPack to convert to NURBS. I was very impressed with the results. I've also tried MeshLabs but had less success then with 3D Coat.

>> Can you open any sub-d files in Viacad given it was saved in the proper format?
>>What format would that be?
Yes, OBJ quads are the best.

>>Can further modifications then be made to the imported sub-d's in Viacad?
Yes but not as powerful as a dedicated SubD modeler. We will continue to add tools to manipulate subd models in service packs and new releases.

You might want to try out the ViaCAD Pro with PowerPack beta.

Online Docs & videos
http://masterviacad.com/powerpack/powerpack.html

Beta Link
http://www.punchcadlabs.com/page7/page7.php


>>very organic in nature and areas that are very geometric.
In addition to the SubD to NURBS which is good for organic shapes, I have some work in progress for analytic shapes.

http://www.csi-concepts....deos/meshToAnalytic2.mp4

Regards


Tim

Edited by user Tuesday, January 20, 2015 12:37:20 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Tim Olson
IMSI Design/Encore
Back to top
jonwatts  
#3 Posted : Tuesday, January 20, 2015 1:00:11 PM(UTC)
jonwatts

Rank: Junior Member

Joined: 1/15/2015(UTC)
Posts: 6
Ah, from the man himself! Thanks Tim for your reply, now I'm very very excited about the possibilities with Viacad but am a bit confused as to the availability of Viacad Pro with Powerpack. If I understand correctly, it's still in beta form, right? What is the price once available? Also is it possible to build part of projects in nurbs, build the organic part in sub-d's, convert them to nurbs, then merge or blend the parts together as 1 nurbs object?

Thanks
Jon
Back to top
Tim Olson  
#4 Posted : Tuesday, January 20, 2015 1:28:25 PM(UTC)
Tim Olson

Rank: Senior Member

Joined: 2/2/2007(UTC)
Posts: 5,447
United States

Was thanked: 502 time(s) in 353 post(s)
>>understand correctly, it's still in beta form, right?

Yes.

>>What is the price once available?

There are three configurations of PowerPack (LT, Normal, Pro). PowerPack Pro MRSP is $495. For reverse engineering some tools that might interest you would be the SubD to NURBs, Mesh to Analytic, and Coordinate Compare. I use the Coordinate Compare to double check deviation between the original mesh(or point cloud) and resulting NURB (also makes sure we didn't lose critical shape as part of retopology).

There is an aggressive promotion if purchased during the beta, private email if anyone wants more information.

>>Also is it possible to build part of projects in nurbs, build the organic part in sub-d's, convert them to nurbs, then merge or blend the parts together as 1 nurbs object?
Yes, the tolerances used to create a part are suitable for solid modeling operations and export of the data to other applications. I've found you need to watch out for sliver triangles converted to NURBs, but if you retopo, that usually gets rid of that issue.

Tim

Edited by user Tuesday, January 20, 2015 2:13:02 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Tim Olson
IMSI Design/Encore
Back to top
Users browsing this topic
Guest (3)
Forum Jump  
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.

Powered by YAF.NET 2.1.2 | YAF.NET © 2003-2024, Yet Another Forum.NET