Scanning or Digitizing?

[Gregory Paolini]

I’m not sure what to call it, but here’s what I need to do:

I have a bunch of handmade templates, furniture components, and patterns, which I need to convert to a drawing so that I can get my Cobra to cut the parts

A buddy of mine has a probe he sticks into his ******* to do this, and I assume that’s the process of “digitizing “

Is scanning the same? Just with a different tool/device ?

Would it be cost effective for me to do, or should I outsource?

Thanks for entertaining the newbie here!

[bmilam]

You can get a touch probe that you put in the spindle and it does basically that, makes a series of touches that will give you the shape to use in a file. They aren't always very accurate and can take a really long time to run depending on the part and amount of detail you are wanting.

To me, scanning is using something like a camera that creates a 3d file.

Is this something similar to what you need to accomplish? https://youtu.be/53gfCc9sskw

[Gregory Paolini]

Thanks!

That would do exactly what we need to do!

[Jim Becker]

Keep in mind that in some or even many cases, depending on the templates, it may be faster to actually draw them once you're comfortable with the software. Digitizing/scanning can be an "interesting" process and you'll be doing cleanup on the output anyway.

For 3D scans...Brady is da man.

[james mcgrew]

Insert Brady Watson Here : Digitizing by Probe works, if you like the ssssssssllllllllloooowwwweeeeessssttttt method possible.

If what you are doing has rel value you will save money and time outsourcing the scan.

We played around for months trying to self scan these players in 6" tall plastic players. sent them off a week later we were machining..

[browndawg]

Brady Watson is such a pro! Great gear that most don't have or know about
and all the expertise to make it happen. You'll be way ahead of the game.
I just had Brady do some scanning and help me out with the 3d tool path.
It moved my work months ahead from where I was. Well worth the time and $.
Give him a shout.

[mike.davison]

The cellphone camera in your pocket might be the answer

If the goal is to digitally copy typical furniture/cabinet-making patterns you can take a photo of the pattern then use VCP/Aspire to trace the pattern (Create vector from bitmap). Include a ruler in the photo to ensure the scale is correct. Use a monochrome background (white is usually good) and bump the contract up when processing the image. Works well for patterns and other flat objects and is faster than a physical probe scanner. Does not work for 3d objects. For that, go talk to Brady.

[BradyWatson]

Hey fellas - Good advice given & thanks for the kudos. I'd say any way that is working successfully for you, is the 'right' way :) Truth be told, if you're a digitizing/scanning nut like me, you'll try every way possible to be able to replicate your parts.

As with anything 'digitized', there is always some cleanup, remastering or retopology involved to get things spot on - so keep that in mind.

I thought you guys might appreciate having a look at a scan I did this weekend. Overall it is 63" long, 60 inches tall and about 18" wide. Such a gorgeous piece - now digitally preserved.

What you are seeing is real geometry that can be used for 3D printing or CNC routing/milling at any scale...Of course you would need slice it up to make it fit on your machine...

[james mcgrew]

Owning both CNC and a 3d printer that is some good work,

[PaytonRomero]

Hey there, guys. I think the time has come to update this thread. I need your advice on a scanning service. Our scanner has broken recently, so we have lots of docs that must be sent asap. Help us, please!

[Jim Becker]

Payton, the scanning being discussed here is not relative to documents. This forum is about 3D scanning of objects so they can be reproduced by a CNC router.

[keithrhyde]

Do people not read the posts before they write? No one is talking about document scanning on here so please read before you type. FWIW

[Jim Becker]

Do people not read the posts before they write? No one is talking about document scanning on here so please read before you type. FWIW

It was a spammer.