3D Scan-in-CAD Makes Sparks Fly At Geomagic

Geomagic Spark integrates Geomagic’s scanning technology with SpaceClaim’s direct CAD modeling capabilities. With it, users can create solid models and assemblies even from partial scan data, according to the company. Image courtesy of Geomagic.

Geomagic (Morrisville, NC) announced the release of its new 3D scan and CAD design software, Geomagic Spark. Geomagic says that its new Geomagic Spark is the only 3D application that combines a live 3D scanning interface built on Geomagic’s 3D point-and-mesh editing platform with a comprehensive direct-modeling package built on the SpaceClaim 3D direct-modeling platform. In related announcements, the company also introduced the 2013 versions of its Geomagic Freeform 3D modeling software and its scanning and metrology products, including Geomagic Qualify, Geomagic Qualify Probe, Geomagic Studio, and Geomagic Wrap.

Geomagic Spark is built on the SpaceClaim API (application programming interface), which enables Geomagic’s scanning technology to integrate with SpaceClaim’s direct-modeling capabilities. With it, users can create accurate, manufacturable solid models and assemblies using both scan and CAD data in the same application within minutes, even from partial scan data, according to the company.

To produce a model, users move between scanning and editing tools, relying on the software’s gesture-based user interface, a push/pull toolset, and a ribbon-based GUI. The software also enables the integration of third-party add-ins built for SpaceClaim, including CAD translators, CAE, CAM, and rendering applications, according to the company. Geomagic Spark also provides assembly modeling and 2D drawing capabilities. The result, says the company, is an intuitive tool that allows CAD users to create models for conceptualization, prototyping, manufacturing, or documentation easily and in one complete package.

Among its functionalities is a range of automated editing tools for converting and editing data into a polygon mesh, including sampling, noise reduction, wrap, and mesh simplification. Using the software’s solid-modeling tools such as one-button extraction of curves, surfaces, and solids, says the company, simplifies the process of creating solid geometry from the mesh. Geomagic Spark currently supports Creaform, Faro, and Hexagon scanners, and also includes the ability to load existing scan data from other scanners.

Geomagic Freeform 2013 lets designers combine organic shapes with geometric shapes for prototyping or manufacturing. Here, CT and 3D scan data is being manipulate in Geomagic Freeform for a medical model. Image courtesy of Geomagic.

“Geomagic Spark delivers a truly transformative integration of scanning and design for every level of user,” said Ping Fu, Geomagic’s founder and CEO, in a press statement. “Combining Geomagic’s scanning expertise with an innovative direct modeler allows designers and engineers to realize their creative inspiration, from basic reality capture applications, such as reverse engineering, to product design and modification.”

Geomagic describes the 2013 version of the Geomagic Freeform 3D modeling software as a touch-enabled solution that facilitates fast 3D modeling of highly detailed, organic shapes. Users can combine organic shapes with geometric shapes for prototyping or manufacturing. When users hook up Geomagic Freeform with Geomagic’s Sensable Phantom haptic 3D input devices, they create a modeling environment in which they can intuitively navigate and design with virtual clay as if hand-sculpting, the company says.

With its 2013 release, Geomagic Freeform now offers as many as four modeling approaches: voxels, SubD (subdivision surfaces), polygons, and, in the Geomagic Freeform Plus version, NURBS. With its new SubD surfacing, Geomagic Freeform designers are said to achieve more control over smooth forms, hard edges, and transitional blend control. As well, designers have the ability to refine a mesh to allow detailed features such as textures to be captured.

“The Geomagic Freeform 2013 product family is the only 3D modeling solution to integrate voxels, polygons, SubD, and NURBS,” said Kevin Atkins, senior product manager for Geomagic Freeform in a press statement. “This means designers can be more productive in a single product, cutting out the non-productive time of importing and exporting to other packages.”

Geomagic Freeform 2013 also presents the ability to add detailed annotations to models. This functionality lets designers, clients, and manufacturing partners using Geomagic Freeform add pointers, comments, image links, and Web page links to models, thus streamlining collaboration throughout the design and production workflow. Version 2013 also is said to enhance standard tools such as 2D Lattice Deform and measurement functions.

Geomagic release the 2013 versions of its suite of scanning and metrology products – Geomagic Qualify, Geomagic Qualify Probe, Geomagic Studio, and Geomagic Wrap in late January. Image courtesy of Geomagic.

“Combined with ]its] other user-driven new features, ]Geomagic Freeform] version 2013 streamlines workflows and ultimately allows our customers to get more creative and bring better products to market faster, which is really what it’s all about,” adds Atkins.

Geomagic says that the 2013 versions of its Geomagic Qualify and Geomagic Studio scanning and metrology products deliver greater automation and user customization of 3D inspection and scanning processes, streamlined workflows, and enhanced features focused on probing procedures. The 2013 releases include the ability for users to write custom functionality such as inspection protocols, constrained alignments, CAD model access, and reporting using Python scripting. Enhanced GD&T (geometric dimensioning and tolerance) probing and measurement functions are said to include CAD-less definition of nominal geometry, improved prompts to probe test data, and a more detailed Measure Features command that delivers measured and nominal features plus deviations.

Geomagic Wrap 2013, according to the company, incorporates many of Geomagic Studio 2013’s new automation and customization features, and now offers exact surfacing using a one-button AutoSurface tools. Additional new features include Repair Patches, Construct Grids, and Fit Surfaces functions as well as more automated, intelligent tools for visualizing and transforming point clouds into usable 3D models

Along with the introduction of Geomagic Spark, Geomagic Freeform, and the 2013 versions of its scanning and metrology products, Geomagic also announced a new Enterprise Bundle, which provides scanning, design, and inspection in a bundled configuration. All the new Geomagic applications are available now and are offered in a variety of languages.

For more information on Geomagic Spark, go here. For more on Geomagic Freeform 2013, click here. Complete details on all Geomagic applications are available on the company’s website.

Watch how Geomagic Spark can model using incomplete scan data.

Download the Geomagic Spark brochure.

Watch a video introduction of Geomagic Freeform 2013.

Download the Geomagic Freeform brochure.

View a video of the facial reconstruction King Richard III using Geomagic Freeform reconstruction.

Check out the Geomagic blog.

See why DE’s editors selected Geomagic Spark and Geomagic Freeform 2013 as their Pick of the Week.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.