VXinspect CAD Import. (Image Courtesy of Creaform.)
Creaform has announced a number of new updates for two of its post-processing, scan-to-CAD pieces of software, VXmodel and VXinspect.
When it comes to VXmodel, Creaform’s engineers have added a powerful new algorithm that can combine mesh files created using either the Go!SCAN 20 or Go!SCAN 50 handheld scanners regardless of whether the files contain textures or if they were generated at different resolutions. In addition to its new algorithm, VXmodel now features a button that will transfer scan data directly to Autodesk Inventor, making it easier to design from or with 3D mesh data.
Moving on to VXinspect, Creaform has added several new features to make its quality control and inspection software much more capable. To begin, a new STL-to-STL comparison option allows two STL files to be aligned and compared for geometric accuracy. Additionally, VXinspect workflows have been improved with the addition of native visibility options, alignment tools, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) functions and numerically defined nominal values. Finally, VXinspect users will be able to create geometric entities using 2D section planes.
“These new enhancements to both VXmodel and VXinspect will provide users with a wide [range of] new options to improve their overall manufacturing, reverse engineering and quality control workflows,” explained Simon Côté, product manager at Creaform. “Both of these software modules truly set the pace in the industry, thanks to their high-performance measurement capabilities, versatility, intuitiveness and integration with both Creaform 3D scanners and third-party CAD solutions. Such a powerful 3D measurement ecosystem cannot be found anywhere else.”
Having used 3D scanners and post-processing software on reverse engineering projects and for ergonomic designs, I can attest that any enhancements that will make 3D scanning easier are much appreciated. Though 3D scanning can be a valuable design tool, it’s also a delicate and fussy one that requires a good deal of patience, and an almost masterful expertise using the scanner itself and the post-production software.