Re: [rp-ml] .stl translation question

Direct Dimensions http://www.directdimensions.com/ provides such services
with a wide variety of software including those correctly listed by John below
for reverse engineering. We also provide 3D laser scanning services and
products.

We have created an excellent "primer" outline of reverse engineering levels
starting from the laser scanned point cloud -> a watertight STL -> rapid Nurbs
iges surfaces -> what we call a "hybrid" model with geometric features ->
through a highly engineered cad-like reverse engineered model.

We also have sample models for each level on our ftp site for download. I
would be glad to send this primer and our ftp access info to those interested.
Again visit our new site at http://www.directdimensions.com/ to learn more
about RE tools, processes, equipment, methods, and applications.

Michael Raphael
Direct Dimensions, Inc.
rapid solutions to 3D problems...
info@dirdim.com
www.dirdim.com

In a message dated 12/15/2004 6:15:01 PM Eastern Standard Time,
jevoltin@agile-technology.com writes:
There are several tools available to do this, but all of them are relatively
expensive and I have yet to see an easy method for doing this. You need a
tool that can fit larger surfaces to groups of triangles. In addition to the STL
file, you may want to request the scan data in a point cloud format as well.
Some tools work better with point clouds as opposed to STL files.

Paraform, Raindrop GeoMagic, and Surfacer (now owned by EDS) are used for
this purpose. Additionally, Icemsurf (spelling?) may be useful, although I am
not that familiar with Icemsurf's capabilities.

Unless you know someone with the tools and experience necessary to do this, I
would suggest talking with a service bureau that processes scan data.

 - John

John Eric Voltin
Mechanical Engineer
Agile Technology
512-633-0394
----- Original Message -----
From: Good, Jim
To: rp-ml@rapid.lpt.fi
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2004 3:18 PM
Subject: [rp-ml] .stl translation question

Can anyone tell me if there is an easy way (or even a hard way!) to convert a
.stl file back to an IGES file format or another CAD format?
 
I’m having some parts laser scanned and I need the baseline file in an IGES
format to post-process my scanned data.
 
Thank you in advance.
 
Jim Good
 
Muniz Engineering
In Situ Fabrication and Repair (ISFR)
256-726-1199
 
jim.good@tbe.com
 
 
Received on Sat Dec 18 23:16:13 2004