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Hop down off the copy machine for a minute cause I’ve got a treat for ya. I talked with Dan Gustafson from NextEngine. Ya know, that company that makes the comparatively inexpensive and ultra-small 3D scanner?
If you’re intersted in 3D scanning, SolidWorks Premium comes with NextEngine’s ScanTo3D utility. But NextEngines own RapidWorks utility looks like the same thing. They use the same scanner, so what’s the difference? Here’s your answers.
Should I use ‘ScanTo3D’ by upgrading to SolidWorks 2008 Office Premium or should I get ‘RapidWorks’ instead?
We recommend RapidWorks. RapidWorks is a $2,495 design intent modeling solution allowing NextEngine customers to create a parametric solid model from scanned points. RapidWorks can process very large data sets (10M+ points) and is based on Rapidform’s flagship product, XOR, which sells for $20,000. It has a very rich set of smart tools to speed the process of creating a solid model (with a full feature tree) from scan data, and the ability to import the model as a native SLDPRT file in SolidWorks 2007+. The ScanTo3D feature in Office Premium has a Mesh and Surface wizard that lets users transfer NextEngine scan data directly into SolidWorks to aid design intent.
Do these two differ in functionality, ease of use, work flow?
Yes. RapidWorks has the unique capability to create a parametric solid model (i.e. including fillets, sketches, constraints, etc.) directly from the scan data. Importantly, RapidWorks has tools that make this process easy, by automatically recognizing features in the scanned part. Both ScanTo3D and RapidWorks have mesh manipulation tools and allow you to wrap NURBS surfaces onto the scan data. Rapidform has been writing code for 3D scan data software for over ten years, which means their mesh handling and surface fitting capabilities are quite a bit more robust than those in ScanTo3D. The NextEngine solution “RapidWorks” has the same deep set of tools and “intelligent mesh recognition” as Rapidform’s XOR product. The RapidWorks learning curve is quite fast if the user has CAD experience, especially SolidWorks experience.
Is there a comparison of these two options?
I did hear of a couple comparisons at SWX World. One example included a customer who spent over 12 hours reverse engineering a fire hose handle in ScanTo3D. A Rapidform A/E reverse engineered the same fire hose handle in about 30 minutes in real time at the NextEngine / Rapidform booth at SWW.
Is each better for different types of objects?
RapidWorks has a lot of horsepower, and can handle very complex shapes. Furthermore, you do not lose any detail or resolution when converting the scan data to solid models.
Additionally…
Just to keep some perspective, I’d also like to add that, even though Dan mentions the learning curve is fast, RapidWorks takes a little bit longer to learn. That makes sense if it has more capabilities.
With RapidWorks you import a part. With ScanTo3D you bring it directly into SolidWorks. One or the other of these may be more important to you. Think of the application your using it for, the accuracy of the data you need and how you’ll be using that data.
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Hi Josh-
RE:”Think of the application your using it for, the accuracy of the data you need and how you’ll be using that data.”
I need plus/minus .005″ on loaded PCBs that are about 6″ sq. Possible?
Many people have mentioned reviews on this product, but I’ve yet to see one from a ‘real’ user.
Thanks,
Devon
One thing I’d like to add about RapidWorks that wasn’t mentioned above is that once you build the model in RapidWorks, you can transfer it into SolidWorks with a complete feature tree.
RapidWorks uses the Parasolid kernel and D-Cubed sketching engine just like SolidWorks does, and the process of building the model is very similar. So once the model is built, it transfers nicely and you can continue working on the model in SolidWorks as though you had started from scratch in SW.
– Tom
http://www.rapidform.com
Here is my 2 cents on the whole RapidWorks vs. ScanTo3D issue.
I have used ScanTo3D successfully for many projects. It is a great tool and with some learning has proven that it can get the job done. We have gone through an evaluation of RapidWorks in recent months. The biggest (but not only) difference between the two is simply TIME. ScanTo3D can get you there but it requires more time for tweaking sketches and in some cases manually creating features using the surfacing tools inside of SolidWorks.
RapidWorks has a much more advanced data set for refining mesh data and automated surface generation. The interface in RapidWorks is similar to SolidWorks in many respects and you do indeed build a feature tree much like SolidWorks. There are many great toolsets but the one that really impressed me was how you can create a blend (fillet) between two surfaces. The blend function will analyze the mesh and adjust the curvature of the blend to match the mesh as it blends surfaces together. They also carry both Tangent and Curvature conditions for many of their surface creation tools.
As soon as I get free of a few ongoing projects, we will be moving forward with purchasing RapidWorks. The time saved in reverse engineering models will allow us to be more responsive to our customers and more competitive in our jobs.
These comments are in no way meant to diminish the efforts that SolidWorks has put into ScanTo3D. Both are very capable packages but I think we are really talking about two different types of software here. For the occasional user where time to model isn’t as much of a factor, ScanTo3D is great since it is a native SolidWorks application and those who have Premium already have it. For those that do Reverse Engineering often or even as a common business offering, RapidWorks seems to me to be a better fit.
Best Regards,
Ricky Jordan
http://www.rickyjordan.com
Josh,
Do you know of any large scale (fit around a car) scanner. I might have a need for it in the future and since you brought up this topic thought to ask here.
Kyle although it does not have rapidworks you should look at the David-Laserscanner.com scanner for car panels
Ben
Devon, I hear ya man. And as I was hoping, this post brought some users experiences out. Ricky’s comment is gold. Just what clarification is needed. Now, just an up-close review is needed.
By the way, thanks Ricky and Tom for the added clarity. May your scans be filled with accuracy and usable data.
Very nice work Josh,
that’s clarified quite a lot of things for me personally that I hadn’t been able to find anywhere else on the web. What carefully composed and appropriate questions you asked there Josh - I couldn’t have done better myself!
In this article I get the idea of the power of the RapidWorks software, and it makes me think of the importance of a good computer and OS. Maybe Vista 64 bit? Oh no - I feel some more important still unanswered questions coming through, such as:
Is the Next Engine scanner software ready to run with the Vista 64 bit OS? And if it’s not, do Next Engine know when it will be?
But thanks Josh and the other Solidworks Bloggers who contributed for clarifying quite a lot for me about these two options.
Chris,
Some more info on RapidWorks: we’ll be releasing an update in the next few weeks that makes 64 bit available for the first time. ScanStudio, the software that runs the NextEngine and does mesh optimization, etc. will also go 64 bit, probably a little bit later than RapidWorks. It would be safe to get a 64 bit OS (XP 64 is a good choice, but I know RapidWorks will run well on Vista 64 too) because you can run the 32 bit versions of SS and RW for the time being, and make the switch to 64 at no cost once they’re released.
I also just confirmed with one of our engineers that RW 64 bit’s liveTransfer (the data interface that pushes models into SW with feature trees) will work with SolidWorks 32 bit and I presume 64 bit as well.
- Tom
http://www.rapidform.com
I’m currently searching for a software solution which I’m finding difficult to locate. In short, I’ll be using full detail 3D scans of small objects and need to take a full 3 dimensional scan map of the surface, reducing it to a 2d plane, cut and trim desired areas for producing vinyl stickers which allow for the curves, angles and the such. Most of the software solutions are FAR too complex, licensing is prohibitively expensive, and just plain overkill for my needs. Is there consumer package which may have the features I need? A moment of someones time and vast knowledge for direction would be very much appreciated and the cost saving would certainly be significant.
James, I would definitely contact NextEngine to discuss that. I think they’re scanners are the best prices I’ve seen. What you’re talking about certainly seems feasible to me, but I have not seen a 3D scan flattened.
Hi All,
My customer need to scan bus prototype in 1:1 scale.
What is the best tool and software ?
Thanks
Hey solidwork professionals,
I’m interested in the scanto3d option of Solidworks, but don’t know
If it is the right software for what my company wants to do.
We’re 3d scanning machines and all parts etc. in a warehouse, So we can
convert to solidmodels, and then convert to rapid prototyping and simulations.
any clue,
William