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Cheap digitzer

2/24/17       
Pat Gilbert

I rarely have to do this.

Does anybody have any ideas on how to get an organic shape off of a template into CAD, without spending big bucks?

The only thing I can think of is graphing it with a grid.

TIA

2/24/17       #2: Cheap digitzer ...
Jared

Use your CNC to make a big grid. Photograph the template straight down sitting on the grid, and use the most expensive camera you can find to minimize optical distortion. Import the pic into your cad program and use the grid lines to stretch the picture back into square if needed, and also to get the scale right. Then it's simply a matter of tracing the part in cad.

2/24/17       #3: Cheap digitzer ...
Pat Gilbert

Thanks Jared

2/24/17       #4: Cheap digitzer ...
B.H. Davis Member

Mount a laser pointer on your CNC Z-axis pointing down towards the table. Any cheap Walmart pointer will work.

Move the Z-axis head and laser pointer to a start point on your template. Name that point X0,Y0.

Then move the laser along the curve and record the co-ordinates about every 3" to 6". Either write down the co-ordinates or speak them into a recorder.

Next go to AutoCAD and draw a spline using the co-ordinates. Set the spline tolerance to match the sharpness of the original template line.

We use this method when a template is so large it become inconvenient to do on our 44" x 60" digitizing board. We don't have to record the points though as WinCNC has a digitizing tool that records the individual points for us in a .dxf file.

BH Davis

2/24/17       #5: Cheap digitzer ...
Pat Gilbert

Thanks Bernie, good idea

2/27/17       #6: Cheap digitzer ...
Alan F.

Well this wasn't cheap but it templates about anything.
A-

3D laser template system

2/27/17       #7: Cheap digitzer ...
Pat Gilbert

IIRC that is about 30k

Ok so the break even on this item would be what 100 years? for me.

if you did counter tops it might make sense. The other limiting factor is the distance it will work in.

2/27/17       #8: Cheap digitzer ...
Alan F.

I think we paid about 15k with training at the show last year, we just did a very large platform with building benches at the top of a set of stairs and shot all the panels before install, saved a ton of field work and fitting.

For casework we are going to start shop cutting all cutouts.

We didn't have for the set of stirs in the pictures, it was tough to measure and fit

Click the link below to download the file included with this post.

20160624_132051_2.pdf



Click the link below to download the file included with this post.

20160830_125232_2.pdf

2/27/17       #9: Cheap digitzer ...
Pat Gilbert

For you that makes sense.

FWIW I have done similar handrail type jobs and found 3d drawings to be useful.

2/28/17       #11: Cheap digitzer ...
Mark

I do exactly what BH Davis does for some large templates.
We also have a scanner that takes in 36 inch wide by any length scans. I have done up to 96 by 36 inches, even scanned two and stiched them together using spot points. The scan can then be brought into Alphacam, or Rhino or Autocad, pick any program, and then traced over manually. This also works well for small items like moldings that can be traced onto a piece of letter size paper and scanned in with my printer.
Usually for larger curves I take the measurements directly from the jobsite using triangulation from the endpoints of an arbitrary common line.
Of course you could by a Proliner....expensive but worth it if you do enough of it.

2/28/17       #12: Cheap digitzer ...
Alan F.

Pat,
I just realized I have a Xerox 6204 Scanner / printer that we just took out of service at the end of the year, we were going to list it on Craigslist for $2,250.00
That's what the last few sold for on ebay

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=Xerox+6204&_in_kw=1&_ex_kw=&am
p;_sacat=0&LH_Sold=1&_udlo=&_udhi=&_samilow=&_samihi=&_sa
dis=15&_stpos=95357-0844&_sargn=-1%26saslc%3D1&_salic=1&_sop=12&a
mp;_dmd=1&_ipg=200&LH_Complete=1

If you are interested let me know
a-

3/1/17       #13: Cheap digitzer ...
Pat Gilbert

Thanks Alan, but this is something I rarely do, Bernie's & Mark's idea seems like the best solution for me.

3/14/17       #14: Cheap digitzer ...
Tom Jewell Member

Call NEMI in MN and find someone in your area with one of their 6' X 12' Machines. We do it here in VA for a couple of different shops.

3/15/17       #15: Cheap digitzer ...
Pat Gilbert

That is a good idea, thanks Tom


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