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LET'S TALK ABOUT 3D SCANNING

Reverse Engineering with 3D Scanners

2/2/2023

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Are you still using calipers? Have you tried reverse engineering using 3D scanners? It's a new tool for an old task.

Merriam-Webster defines reverse engineering as "the process of disassembling and examining a product or device to discover the concepts involved in its manufacture, usually with the goal of producing something similar."

As the design process is beoming digitized, reverse engineering today is more commonly associated with the process of converting a physical object’s geometry into a digital 3D model and replicating the original design or further improving for new manufacturing processes such as additive manufacturing. More engineers are moving away from using calipers and adopting 3D scanners to take measurements, especially of complex parts.
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Reverse Engineering Model, Courtesy of Shining 3D

3D scanners allows you to digitally capture the geometry of even the most complex parts in an extraordinarily quick and precise manner. A large docking pump was recently captured in just 20 minutes for example, with the help of laser 3D scanning. This technology has enabled the use of reverse engineering in situations beyond simple benchmarking and part reproduction, as we explore in the next section.

Main Applications for 3D Scanning & Reverse Engineering

Reverse engineering with 3D scanning offers many possibilities for product development and manufacturing. Overall, the different uses of reverse engineering can be divided into three major applications: (1) to replicate parts,  (2) to create variations of existing parts, or (3) to develop entirely new parts based on an existing environment or object. Let's look at each application in a bit more detail.

1. Recreate & Replicate Parts

One of the most popular uses for 3D scanners is recreating damaged or worn-out parts that are unavailable from the original supplier or lack proper documentation. This is a common problem when working with old machinery or vintage vehicles, and it’s always challenging to do with manual reverse engineering tools like calipers. However, with a good 3D scanner and the proper software, it can become a straightforward task.

Katsuya Tanabiki, for example, shared his process of reverse engineering a shield notch on an old motorcycle helmet. The helmet featured two shield notches, but one was broken, and it was too difficult to obtain a replacement notch. This tiny part was 3D scanned with an EinScan Pro 2X in Fixed Mode, and later 3D printed.
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Photo: Courtesy of Shining 3D
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Photo: Courtesy of Shining 3D
Sometimes the actual fabrication of the part is not the end goal. In aerospace and automotive industries reverse engineering is adopted to digitize components and create digital inventories of legacy parts. These digitized components are known as “digital twins”.

In generating a "digital twin', 3D scanning is indispensable to capture the intricate details of the parts with strict dimensional requirements to meet the required standards. Take for example, 
this small turbine reverse-engineered by Print3DD. The distinguishing geometry of its blades would be impossible to reproduce accurately without 3D scanning.
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Small Turbine Photo: Courtesy of Shining 3D
2.  Improve The Design of Existing Parts
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Another goal of reverse engineering is to use digitized parts to create new and improved variants instead of merely reproducing them. This method can significantly reduce the time and costs of creating parts from scratch and also ensures a perfect fit for components belonging to larger assemblies.

Taiwanese company Kiden Design has illustrated the reverse engineering process of optimizing a pipe using 3D scanning, CAD, and 3D printing. The EinScan Pro HD 3D scanner, used in Handheld mode, captured the irregular geometry of the pipe on two opposite sides that were stitched together later in software.  Thanks to the accurate 3D model obtained, the geometry could be easily optimized in CAD.
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Optimizing the Pipe Design Photo: Courtesy of Shining 3D
Another good example of reverse engineering being used to create new versions of a physical objects is the customization of furniture parts with 3D scanning and CNC wood carving by Voxel 3D. In this project, the carved ornaments of one piece of furniture were digitized with 3D scanning and integrated into different parts.
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3.  Create & Design Entirely New Parts

Another application for reverse engineering is where a part is digitized as a reference to create entirely new parts. This procedure is usually employed when a tight fit is required on an existing part that is too complex or has an irregular interface.
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Kick Panel Design Process, Courtesy of Shining 3D
To illustrate this, let’s look at a use case from the Fuller Moto automotive customization shop. Bryan Fuller and his team used the EinScan Pro 2X Plus to 3D scan the entire footwell of a 1967 Lincoln Continental. The digitized region was used as a reference to design a new kick panel, and the precise 3D model of the footwell made it possible for the new part to fit flawlessly in the customized car.

​This particular technique is also commonly practiced by medical professionals since body parts are unique and challenging to accurately replicate using manual methods. Here, 3D scanning once again has proven to be an efficient tool for digitizing human parts and surfaces.

Earmolds, for example, are patient-specific parts that help conduct sound from the hearing aids to the ear canal. Servicing or creating new earmolds from scratch can take several weeks during which patients experience hearing problems without them. However, thanks to reverse engineering methods with 3D scanning and 3D printing, the Hearing Beyond Audiology Clinic in Toronto can produce temporary earmolds in just one day. The temporary accessory allows patients to keep their hearing while waiting for the earmolds to be produced or serviced in other facilities.  Similar reverse engineering methods with 3D scanning are also utilized for producing facial prosthetics and custom orthotics.
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Earmolds Photo: Courtesy of Shining 3D

Quality Data Capture Is Key for Successful Reverse Engineeing

​The use cases above clearly demonstrate the central role of 3D scanning in reverse engineering. It comes as no surprise that the effectiveness and accuracy of data captured by 3D scanning are crucial for a successful reverse engineering process. Yet, the software tools used for processing the data and working with the 3D models are also essential for achieving the desired results in reverse engineering. To understand the importance of good data and adequate software, let’s go over the main steps of reverse engineering with 3D scanning.
Step 1. Data acquisition

The very first step in any reverse engineering process is data acquisition. Regardless of the method, proper planning and preparation can make the difference between good and poor data. With 3D scanning, this involves selecting the correct device for the job, including the proper configuration (handheld or stationary) and accessories such as turntables, fixtures, and calibration panels. Correct calibration of the device is also vital to acquire quality data.

The regions or parts to be digitized usually demand some kind of preparation. Besides a good cleaning, some 3D scanning devices also require the use of markers or even special coatings on reflective surfaces. One should also consider the ambient conditions before starting the digitization process. A controlled environment (e.g. indoors, without direct sunlight, a cleared tabletop, …) is always preferred to reduce noise in the data, but that’s not always possible. All the factors mentioned will contribute to proper data collection, which will in turn determine how quickly and easily the data can be processed next.

Step 2.  Post-Processing

The next step in a reverse engineering process is post-processing the acquired data, or the  “point cloud”. Here, the point cloud is processed by software tools – like EinScan software – resulting in a 3D mesh representation of the digitized object.
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Point Cloud Image

In any case, the 3D model in this initial stage usually requires some refinement like removing unwanted captured data, repairing surfaces, and filling gaps per below.
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3D mesh data editing, Courtesy of Shining 3D

​The better the data quality acquired, the less post-processing and repairing will be needed. The post-processing step is also when reference entities are assigned to the 3D model, a procedure that should expedite the next stage of the reverse engineering process.

Step 3. CAD Model Generation

The final step in a reverse engineering process is to convert the mesh representation of the physical object captured by the 3D scanner into a solid 3D model.
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CAD Model from 3D Scan Photo: Courtesy of Shining 3D

As accurate as the mesh model can be, it is inadequate for most reverse engineering applications that require additional handling like fixing any physical damage, creating variations, or designing new parts altogether. In this stage, the refined mesh model from the previous step works as an exact reference model for recreating the model using parametric CAD tools.

Although in theory any general-purpose CAD program could handle this, specially purposed software geared towards reverse engineering can make the process much easier and yield much better results too.
An appropriate CAD software for reverse engineering can also compare the digitized model to the parametric one, allowing users to check for geometrical and dimensional differences.

Conclusion

​
Reverse engineering has come a long way and 3D scanning technologies have broadened the range of industrial applications for reverse engineering, benefiting both businesses and consumers. 

The quality of the captured data is crucial to obtain good results in reverse engineering. The choice of the 3D scanning device, as well as its capabilities and functions, play a central role in the success of the entire process.  Read further about how to make sure you choose the right model for your project here.
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Though often overlooked or underestimated, the software used in the later stages of reverse engineering also bears great importance. Specific built-in tools for the job can make a big difference in a well-executed reverse engineering process.

​​Growshapes the official U.S. distributor of Shining 3D EinScan 3D scanners. We now carry the eviXscan 3D scanner from Evatronix as well!

​See the innovators on Growshapes’ social media channels to get the latest expert news on innovation in 3D digitization, then share your thoughts and join the conversation about 3D digital innovation with #digitize3D
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Download the latest software for EinScan H -EXScan H V1.1.0.1

10/21/2022

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You know what's great about EinScan 3D Scanners?  The software that comes with the 3D scanner is a perpetual license which means no additional fees for software upgrades and Shining3D keeps improving its software as it develops new features!

This time, the new software update is for EinScan H.  Let dive right into some of the updates:
  • Changed the scan mode names to “white light scan mode” and “IR scan mode” for clarity
  • Added scanning setting functions: working distance adjustment and data quality indicator function are now integrated
  • Added new selecting tools for editing, like line, rectangular box
  • Made “cloud points optimization“ available as option
  • Added more meshing parameter settings
  • Added rich post-processing function
  • Added project information display
  • Modified the calibration prompt information
  • Improved the style of file explorer
  • Provided online user manual
  • Added Shining 3D User Account

Before we get into the details of these updates, please note that the projects saved by previous versions are not compatible to this new released version. Please make sure you have finished all your projects in previous versions and then update to this new version!

Now onto the key improvements in more detail!
IR Mode Data Quality Improvment
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IR Mode (Infrared Ray Mode) uses an invisible light source thus suited for scanning people and slightly reflective objects. Data quality and accuracy are lower that in white light mode but with the new update of V1.1.0.1, captured data quality has significantly improved in IR mode.
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Look more closely and you'll see massive improvement.
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Data Quality Indicator Function

The updated HV1.1.0.1 has a new data quality indicator tool to help you get better data. The red color represents the insufficient data amount, the yellow color represents the imcomplete data amount, and the green color represents the adequate data amount so easy to see if you have captured sufficent data while you are scanning.  This is implemented in the Einstar too.
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​Mesh Select Tool:Select Through / Visible
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A new functional selection tool has been added to the post processing session. You can now select either a through or a visible point cloud.
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Select Through
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Select Visible

​ More Mesh Parameters

Compared to previous versions of the software, this update provides significant improvements to the mesh parameters, offering a wide range of options to choose from.
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Free to Select Point Cloud Optimization
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This update allows users to freely choose whether to perform point cloud optimization or not. Take the sample part on the figure as an example, generating the point cloud directly takes about 50%* less time than generating the point cloud after optimization. You can choose whether you want to generate the point cloud after optimization according to your needs.
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【Note】The measured results show that the direct point cloud generation time is 129 seconds and the optimized point cloud generation time is 276 seconds, which is a 53.2% reduction in point cloud generation time.

​Online user manual

​You can visit our online user manual for more instructions on how to use the product. Click on the image below to download the manual.
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​Shining Account Integration
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This update adds a new Shining account login page where you can register your account and jump to our cloud-based platform where you can make software updates, download product manuals, learn about Shining 3D products, and more. In addition, with this update you will be able to activate the software online and offline.
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​These are all the updates and below is the link!

Download the EXScan H v1.1.0.1 HERE

​Growshapes the official U.S. distributor of Shining 3D EinScan 3D scanners. We now carry the eviXscan 3D scanner from Evatronix as well!

​See the innovators on Growshapes’ social media channels to get the latest expert news on innovation in 3D digitization, then share your thoughts and join the conversation about 3D digital innovation with #digitize3D

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Einstar by Shining 3D

10/6/2022

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Shining 3D has come out with an affordable 3D scanner to enable 3D scanners to be used by more people to digitize our world in full color!  Best suited for VR/AR applications and digital content designers for sure.

​It's pretty good for a low cost 3D scanner, but ofcourse if you want more accuracy you do need to step up a notch for the higher end models.

Check out the video we created below.
Also beware you do require a good GPU and lots of memory to run this 3D scanner. 

Einstar

$959.00
Add to Cart

Generates high-quality 3D data in full color at an affordable price and easy to use software. Perpetual license with no ongoing subscription fees.


Approx. 0.3mm accuracy.

PC Requirement: Win 10/11 |32GB RAM | NVIDIA GTX or RTX with over 1,000 CUDA cores | Intel CPU i7 or i9


​Growshapes the official U.S. distributor of Shining 3D EinScan 3D scanners. We now carry the eviXscan 3D scanner from Evatronix as well!

​See the innovators on Growshapes’ social media channels to get the latest expert news on innovation in 3D digitization, then share your thoughts and join the conversation about 3D digital innovation with #digitize3D
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3D Scanning 101 - Resolution

9/6/2022

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In 3D scanning, accuracy is a key metric in choosing which model to use for your project. 

How accurately do you need to replicate the physical model? In other words, how authentic do you want the 3D digital model of the real object to be?

High end 3D scanners like eviXscan Quadro+ can achieve up to 0.007mm (7 microns) accuracy, while lower end 3D scanners like EinScan SP can still achieve an accuracy up to 0.05mm (50 microns). Accuracy of a 3D scanner depends on the quality of the camera, projector lights as well as the software.

Meanwhile there is another important metric, resolution.  Resolution is about defining the point distance the 3D scanner can capture to generate the point cloud which is then converted into a mesh.  If you 3D scan your object in high resolution, the point distance is small thus details will be more visible, while if you 3D scan your object in low resolution,  the point distance is bigger.
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​With EinScan 3D scanners, you can set the resolution you want to 3D scan at depending on your target object. Some key things to remember when selecting the correct resolution are below:
  • Capturing in "High Detail" means that it takes more time to scan and will consume more video card memory
  • When scanning large objects, capturing with "Low Detail" is recommended as the file size will be too large to handle
  • When importing a project then continuing the scan process, the scan resolution and alignment mode setting will not be changed
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Below is a guideline of resolution settings that is optimal depending on the type of objects you are 3D scanning. Basically the recommendation is the smaller the object, use high detail (higher resolution) and the larger the object, use low detail (lower resolution) settting.
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The Einscan Pro HD and EinScan 2X 2020 provde super high resolution with HD scan mode and setting the resolution to "High Detail".  This kind of high detail captures is useful for objects with that has a lot of details like the object below.  On the other hand, large engineering parts may not require such detail but higher accuracy.
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Basically the tip is to think about what you are going to do about your 3D scan file and choose the right resolution setting depending on the object you are 3D scanning.

​Growshapes the official U.S. distributor of Shining 3D EinScan 3D scanners. We now carry the eviXscan 3D scanner from Evatronix as well!

​See the innovators on Growshapes’ social media channels to get the latest expert news on innovation in 3D digitization, then share your thoughts and join the conversation about 3D digital innovation with #digitize3D
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3D Scanning 101 - Alignment

9/1/2022

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Alignment is an important step for 3D scanning to ensure the 360 degree digital surface model generated by the 3D scanner accuractly replicates the physical object.

With Shining 3D scanners, there are several alignment methods that can be deployed, depending on the shape of the target object.  Let's go through them one by one.
1. Coded Target Alignment

This method uses the coded target on the turntable when used with the EinScan SE, EinScan SP, EinScan Pro 2X & Einscan Pro HD.

For this method there are 2 things to remember: 
  • The camera needs to see most of the target
  • The scanner needs to be set at 45 degrees angle against the turntable.​​​
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The 3D scanner will capture the coded targets on the automated turntable
2. Feature Alignment
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The 3D scanner aligns with the features of the object.
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This method uses the features of the target object to align, thus most suitable for organic shapes or objects with a lot of features.

This alignment method does not work with objects that have planar surfaces or objects that are symmetric, i.e. mechanical parts.

3. Markers Alignment


​This alignment method is used to achieve the best resolution and significantly reduces the chance of misalignment, which could easily happen with 3D scanners. A minimum of 4 markers need to be visible for each scanning frame.
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Markers need to be put on the target object randomly.
4. Texture Alignment
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Use this method for objects with rich colors.
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​This alignment method is best suited for objects without much features or geometry but with a lot of color such as this vase.
For EinScan Pro 2X and EinScan Pro HD, a color pack add-on is required

5. Hybrid Alignment

​This method is best suited for objects that have a combination of organic shape and non-organic form like this statue.
The 3D scanner will switch between the feature and the marker tracking during the scan process.  Markers are only needed with a surface that has less geometry.  The scanning speed will be slower, however.
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Also important to remember is when you are 3D scanning a large object on a tripod without a turntable, you need to ensure there is at least a 30% overlap from one scan to the next to ensure alignment.
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​So that's it.  Not as difficult as you thought, right?

​Growshapes the official U.S. distributor of Shining 3D EinScan 3D scanners. We now carry the eviXscan 3D scanner from Evatronix as well!

​See the innovators on Growshapes’ social media channels to get the latest expert news on innovation in 3D digitization, then share your thoughts and join the conversation about 3D digital innovation with #digitize3D
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3D Scanning 101  - Projector Brightness Level

8/31/2022

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Structured light 3D scanners use the projector light to project structured light patterns onto your target object, while the cameras capture the change in the structured light patterns and the 3D scan software generates the 360 degree digital surface model of your target physcial object. Therefore, for any structured light 3D scanner, adjusting the 3D scanner projector brightness level is very important. This enables the 3D scanner to project the sturctured light pattern adequately to capture the surface dimensions of the target object.

See below for guidance.
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It is important to adjust your distance between the 3D scanner and the target object as well as the brightness.
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Make sure the cross is projected onto the center of the target object in fixed scan mode.
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Adjust overexposure by adjusting the brightness level with the slider bar.
Make sure you get the hang of the correct brightness as well as the distance between the object and the 3D scanner, so your 3D scanning process will proceed smoothly!

​Growshapes the official U.S. distributor of Shining 3D EinScan 3D scanners. We now carry the eviXscan 3D scanner from Evatronix as well!

​See the innovators on Growshapes’ social media channels to get the latest expert news on innovation in 3D digitization, then share your thoughts and join the conversation about 3D digital innovation with #digitize3D
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New updates for Solid Edge Shining 3D Editions 2022

5/9/2022

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Solid Edge 2021 brought us powerful performance updates to make our working flow more efficient in the areas of Reverse Engineering as well as Part Modeling, and this year, it moves further, launching the promising and practical next generation design functions, Subdivision Modeling and Convergent Modeling.
Let´s take a look at the detailed updates of Solid Edge 2022 and discover its advantages and innovations.

Please note:
  1. Users who activated Solid Edge SHINING 3D Edition Floating Version (not for dongle key) between 2021/5/9 and 2022/5/9 can update to the latest version for FREE. Download the software now.
  2. Users who activated Solid Edge SHINING 3D Edition before 2021/4/26 can obtain a FREE license in exchange for a Solid Edge/EinScan case study. (See reference@https://youtu.be/QhN5jqbbEiI) If you are interested in updating via this option, please fill in the form.
  3. For more upgrade options, please feel free to contact [email protected]

Subdivision Modeling Enhancements

Subdivision Modeling makes it easier to generate a stylized body and control its shape by using a polygonal cage. Solid Edge 2022 introduces new modification functions.
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Bridge

In the Subdivision Modeling environment, you can use the new "Bridge" command to create a loft-like feature that connects edges or faces selected on a single cage or two separate cages.
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Open bridge, with edges as input
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Two section bridge, with shape curve
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No shape curve, linear bridge
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One-sided bridge

Offset Cage Faces


Offset allows users to select faces of a cage and offset them along their normal direction. Offset allows users to select faces of a cage and offset them along their normal direction. Offset allows users to select faces of a cage and offset them along their normal direction
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​Split with Offset
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Allows adding local detail to model without having to split the entire model, use the new "Split with Offset" command to add detail to a face by offsetting the new faces inward by a user-defined amount.
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​Align to Curve
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​Use the new Align to Curve  command to fit the vertices of body cage faces to one or more existing curves or to curves you interactively sketch. You can undo and redo each curve edit until you achieve the desired shape.
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​Convergent Modeling

Solid Edge now supports mixed mesh modelling (a.k.a Hybrid Convergent modelling). Mesh and Classical faces are in one body, this is extremely helpful when you do assembly reverse engineering and 3D printing.
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The new "Show Facet Edges" command controls the display of facet edges within a model. When selected, the command displays the facets; when deselected, the facet edges are not displayed.
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​Reference Point Cloud

New capability to insert .asc point cloud scan files into Assembly. Visualize & evaluate Solid Edge models in the context of point clouds
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​With all new features, Solid Edge 2022 Shining 3D Edition allows you to do more with your scanned data.  It is the practical and efficient solution for engineers, designers and 3D enthusiasts for sure.

​Growshapes the official U.S. distributor of Shining 3D EinScan 3D scanners. We now carry the eviXscan 3D scanner from Evatronix as well!

​See the innovators on Growshapes’ social media channels to get the latest expert news on innovation in 3D digitization, then share your thoughts and join the conversation about 3D digital innovation with #digitize3D
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Reverse Engineering the 1973 Mini Cooper steering column cover parts with EinScan Pro 2X

4/21/2022

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Challenge: Finding replacement parts for a classic car
John Buffington is a classic car enthusiast. He loves restoring cars to their original glory and breathing new life into a classical design.  He recently noticed that many of the interior plastic parts of his beloved 1973 Mini Cooper was succumbing to the hot temperatures and high UV exposure of the Nevada desert. One of the critical interior pieces that required immediate replacement was the two steering column covers. The covers were dry, brittle and decaying.  They needed to be replaced as they were no longer able to be secured together. However, with a rare classic car like this 1973 Mini Cooper, finding replacement parts in the US is extremely difficult and expensive.
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The 1973 Mini Cooper
Solution: EinScan Pro 2X fills the gap
​John, also being a talented engineer and with his deep knowledge of 3D printing technology, he decided to reverse engineer these Mini Cooper steering column covers and 3D print new replacement parts. Rather than measuring the parts with a caliper and designing in CAD from scratch, John decided to 3D scan the plastic steering column covers to generate a 3D digital surface model to get accurate measurements of the parts with the EinScan Pro 2X 3D scanner​
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He used the EinScan Pro 2X 3D scanner with the Industrial Kit, which is the tripod and automated turntable accessory that enables higher accuracy scanning in fixed mode. When using the Industrial Kit, the handheld 3D scanner is placed on top of the tripod and converted into a desktop 3D scanner and used in conjunction with the automated turntable.  This set up automates the whole 3D scanning process as well and enables a more precise alignment utilizing the markers on the turntable. 

​The black steering column plastic parts were covered with AESUB spray to ensure every detail was captured.  The AESUB spray lightly coats the object with a thin layer of white powder which evaporates automatically after use without leaving any white residue, making the whole process cleaner.  The EinScan Pro 2X captured the dimensions of the object with exceptional precision and accuracy, picking up every minute details, giving John the confidence to reverse engineer the steering column covers.  The details of the screw bosses that would have been difficult to measure by calipers were captured by the 3D scanner. The EinScan Pro 3D scanner was simple to use and provided more accuracy than manual measurement. Instead of having to design from scratch, John was able to to create high quality 3D surface mesh files using the 3D scanner.
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The EinScan Pro 2X 3D scanner with the Industrial Kit enabled John to put the object on the turntable and within an hour or so, get a workable 3D mesh. Multiple scans were automatically fused together to create a watertight 360-degree digital surface mesh that was then imported into the Solid Edge Shining 3D Edition reverse engineering software. The surface mesh files were leveraged to build a solid model, make design improvements, and then be further process for 3D printing.
Results: Capturing details enabled precise CAD file creation for 3D printing 
​By using the EinScan Pro 2X, John was able to capture the surface details of the steering column covers as a mesh file (.stl format) which he then imported into the Solid Edge Shining 3D Edition CAD software in which he converted the .stl file into a  .step file with precise details of the fastening features, the alignment pins and screw bosses. 

Time-consuming, inaccurate, and inconsistent manual measurements are now a thing of the past and with 3D digital technology, reverse engineering a classic car part can be fast and accurate.
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“By using the 3D scanner, I was able to focus on creating the CAD file suitable for 3D printing without having to wrestle with measurements and generating a CAD file from scratch.”  - John Buffington.​

Also importatnt to note is to understand copyright laws in the US.  Reverse engineering is legal but if you are going to reproduce and profit, you should get in touch with a patent lawyer. With an old part like above, it's beyond the copyright

​Growshapes the official U.S. distributor of Shining 3D EinScan 3D scanners. We now carry the eviXscan 3D scanner from Evatronix as well!

​See the innovators on Growshapes’ social media channels to get the latest expert news on innovation in 3D digitization, then share your thoughts and join the conversation about 3D digital innovation with #digitize3D
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EinScan 3D Scanner File Types 101

3/15/2022

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3D scanner is a data-acquiring device that captures the surface model of a physical object in a digital polygonal model. The types of output data format that 3D scanners can generate maybe confusing. What is an ASC file? Which export formats does my CAD software import for rapid prototyping? What is the best practice for saving scans? Which file format is the best choice for 3D printing?  In this post, we will discuss all file types that involve Einscan software.

The type of file you require depends on what you are going to do after the scanning process. There are a total of 6 types of output data formats (ASC, p3, STL, PLY, OBJ, 3MF) that you can export from EinScan software during data capture and generating mesh which are polygon models. We will explain the differences among these 6 file types in this blog.

Point Cloud Data Format

When you have finished your scan and are ready to convert your raw scan data to point cloud data, you can click on the save button to save the point cloud data as an ASC file and the marker position as p3 format when markers are detected.

ASC file contains the position information of each point in the point cloud. This file type can be opened in most scan data processing software and metrology software like Meshmixer, GOM Inspect, and Geomagic Essentials.

The P3 file is for marker reuse purposes in EinScan software. For a large object scan, the user can scan all markers only first and save the marker frame as a p3 file. Later the object can be scanned part by part in a separate project using the same p3 file as a reference which improves the accuracy and will require no alignment between each project.
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With Fix scan mode number of scans will be saved as separate files, while for handheld scans the full point cloud will be saved as one file.

Meshed Data File Format

After the data is meshed, more saving options will be available. ASC file is still available while the mesh can be saved as STL, PLY, OBJ, or 3MF files.

STL file format is the most common mesh file format. It only contains the position and normal directions of all triangles in the mesh. This polygon file format can be opened by mesh editing software and many CAD software like Solid Edge or Solidworks for reverse engineering.

PLY and OBJ file formats contain mesh texture information, including color information, in addition to the STL file. Users can export these data types for digital documentation and online model display.

3MF file is the 3D printing format published by the 3MF Consortium. This format includes information about materials, colors, and other information that cannot be represented in the STL format. Windows system and other CAD software packages can open this mesh format.
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Post Processing Data
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EinScan software provides basic functions for mesh editing in Post Processing and Measurement sections. Usually, users use these functions right after meshing data. However, external mesh data can also be imported into the EinScan software for editing. The EinScan software supports STL, OBJ, and PLY formats for post-processing and measurement.
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Saving Data in Project Group

The 3D scan data in the EinScan software are saved for later use in a two-layer structure. When the user starts a new scan,  a new project group is created. All the associated files in the project group will be saved as a project under a folder named by the project group.
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The project group folder contains different kinds of files. The project group directory links all projects in the group. The project directory links all data files belonging to this project and the rest are project data files. When moving the project group, the user needs to move all the folders in the project group. 

When opening the project, the user needs to locate the folder where the project group was saved and open the corresponding directory files.The project group folder contains different file formats. The project group directory links all projects in the group. The project directory links all data files belonging to this project and the rest are project data files. When moving the project group, the user needs to move all the folders in the project group. 

When opening the project, the user must locate the folder where the project group was saved and open the corresponding directory files.
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So that's it!  You have 6 output formats to choose from and all the required scans for your saved project will be in a project group folder.  Remember, the file size for each project is large, so make sure you secure a space on your PC where you can save the files.

​Growshapes the official U.S. distributor of Shining 3D EinScan 3D scanners. We now carry the eviXscan 3D scanner from Evatronix as well!

​See the innovators on Growshapes’ social media channels to get the latest expert news on innovation in 3D digitization, then share your thoughts and join the conversation about 3D digital innovation with #digitize3D
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ExScan 3.7 for EinScan Pro series released with 5 new features!

2/3/2022

1 Comment

 
The new version of the ExScan software ExScan 3.7 compatible with EinScan Pro 2X/2X Plus/2X 2020/Pro HD is now available.  It is updated enhanced digital toolkits and adds exciting new features that will enable you to speed up your scan editing & mesh optimization as well as empower you to do more things efficiently!
1.  Enhanced Point Cloud Editing

Point cloud editing now has become easier with enhanced selection of editing tools including Rectangular and polygon selection tool, the “Cutting Plane” function and the “Connected Domain” selection function. 
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2.  More Tools to Optimize Your Mesh

The Mesh Optimization function has been redesigned to create clean meshes fast and easily. The mesh optimization has now a broader range of selection tools to enable you to edit like a pro.
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​3.  New File Manager

The file manager has been redesigned to access your files more efficiently. 
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4.  Global Optimization as a separate step
Point cloud global optimization function is now a separate step. When scan data is not perfectly aligned, just click “Global optimization” to optimize the point cloud. If you are not satisfied with the result, you can click exit and head back to the previous data set to add more data to improve the alignment process alignment.
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5.  User Account Center

In order to provide users a platform for scanner management and learn about all things EinScan, the all new User Account Center has been added. By downloading ExScan V3.7, you will get a free user account to get the software started. Offline activation is accessible without contacting support person now as well.  Please make sure your device is connected for log in and activation.
Finally, please make sure your NVIDIA graphics card has the compute capability of 5.0 or above by checking your graphics card capability from here: https://developer.nvidia.com/cuda-gpus#compute

​Growshapes the official U.S. distributor of Shining 3D EinScan 3D scanners. We now carry the eviXscan 3D scanner from Evatronix as well!

​See the innovators on Growshapes’ social media channels to get the latest expert news on innovation in 3D digitization, then share your thoughts and join the conversation about 3D digital innovation with #digitize3D
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