[bgmnn]

Hello,

I am curious of the possibility of using a flat top scanner to create 2D geometry for CNC programming.

A freeware application is available to glean the linear dimensions from a part image created by a table top flat top scanner, commonly found in an "All in One", (scanner, fax, copier).

Does software exsist to harvest the linear, as well as radial and angular dimensions?

Small parts are hard to measure for reverse engineering, if you do not have an optical comparitor.

I do not have a comparitor, or access to one.

Being able to use the scanner I do have, would be a usefull tool for my small shop.

Any ideas or thoughts on this one?


Thanks in advance,

Mike

[plasmator]

I have had the exact same thought...

Because a regular scanner is 1) precise and 2) planar, I think it would make a great reverse-engineering tool.

I think that if you got some gauge blocks and scanned them, you could quite easily calibrate the scanner axes. It would be limited to mainly 2D objects but even that is useful. Given the resolution of today's scanners I bet you could get some reliable measurements with one.

[fabconv]

scan and vectorize with illustrator or inkscape
than export in dxf