Many industries have recognized the potential of 3D printing for efficient and sustainable production. Due to the additive production, individual parts or small batches can be made relatively inexpensive, if necessary and on site, which guarantees, among other things, a finished range of spare parts. However, every 3D printed part is based on a 3D model and the process to maintain this can be bumpy and time-consuming. Fortunately, the combination of 3D printing and 3D scan offers an effective solution through reverse engineering. This approach uses 3D scan to digitally record a damaged component to reproduce or even improve the part.
While the 3D scan technology continues, the challenges in recording complex geometries and reflective surfaces as well as the scanned data remain seamlessly into CAD workflows. This creates a demand for robust hardware and software solutions that provide precision, meet the strict requirements of the high-performance industry and ensure exceptional quality results. Creaform, a Canadian company based in Lévis, accepts these challenges and works to tackle these problems.
The scan and software solutions from Creaform also guarantee precise results with complicated surfaces.
This provider of 3D measurement technology, founded in 2002, currently offers advanced 3D scanners and software solutions that were able to rationally and improve the workflow of the user. The efficient solutions for the creation, simulation and quality control of data contribute significantly to increased productivity and at a reduced time and costs. In fact, Creaform products are specially designed in such a way that these goals are met and the requirements of a variety of industries meet, including automobiles, aerospace and production.
Reverse engineering for additive production with high -performance scanners
The provision of practical reverse engineering solutions for additive manufacturing is of central importance for the mission of CREAFORM. The innovation serves as a driving force for this progress. Creaform's hardware and software is aimed at industries in which precision in terms of design, production and quality control is the key. The portable scan devices from Creaform (e.g. the Handyscan 3D range) are flexible and user-friendly, characterized by their high resolution and detailed scan results, even if they are complex surfaces. The Handyscan 3D scanner are also equipped with dynamic reference, which ensures consistent accuracy even in unstable environments.
The portable mobile phone scan series from CREAFORM is easy to use and enables great flexibility.
The performance of the portable scanners is demonstrated by numerous applications by companies that have put their confidence in the technology of CREAFORM. For example, the Polyaéro® Center of Excellence, a competence center for innovative aviation in southern France, used various Creaform scaning solutions to scan the interior and outdoor area of an aircraft. The data was then analyzed to propose measures to electrify the aircraft. The scanners of camef shapes impressed their flexibility and accuracy and illustrate the potential for CREAFORM products in aviation.
Software optimizes the scan-to-CAD process
However, the collection of data is only the first half of the job in reverse engineering. The data recorded must then be integrated into the digital workflow so that a CAD model that is required for the following pressure can be created. The next stumbling block is at this interface between data acquisition and transmission. The scan-to-CAD process usually consists of several intermediate steps and is therefore labor-intensive and time-consuming, which means that the entire production process comes to a standstill.
The steps of the scan-to-CAD workflow: mesh processing (1) orientation (2)-extraction (3) transmission to CAD (4).
This is another area in which Creaform has found a means and offers users opportunities to simplify these steps. The VXModel Post processing software, part of the Vxelement Suite, integrates into important CAD platforms to optimize and accelerate the scan-to-CAD process. It also offers functions such as machine optimization, surface extraction and precise focus on CAD models. The faster conversion of data from physical parts into CAD-capable models leads to numerous advantages for users. For example, iterations can be completed faster and optimized process management accelerates time to market, which ultimately leads to considerable cost savings.
The combination of precise measurement data for highly complex components and quick conversion to CAD files meets the requirements of a variety of industries. Sectors like Aerospace benefit, as we have seen. Manufacturers can quickly reproduce legacy parts or develop new designs based on the data recorded. To learn more about Creaform's solutions HERE.
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*All photo loans: Creaf form