Reverse Engineer Parts with the 3DGage Portable CMM

Last week at IMTS 2012, Verisurf Software, Inc. and Mastercam resellers introduced the 3DGage portable coordinate-measuring machine (CMM). It allows existing parts to be quickly reverse engineered by measuring the part and creating a 3D CAD model that can then be replicated by additive manufacturing or traditional means. 

The 3DGage Portable CMM powered by Verisurf X Reverse Engineering software features measuring modes such as Probe Measuring and Probe Scanning combined with Point Cloud and Mesh Editing, Surface Modeling and Optional Solid Modeling.

CMM’s combined with 3D model based software are changing design and manufacturing from manual 2D inspection and reverse engineering to highly automated 3D methods that accelerate the process, according to the company. With the new 3DGage, customers can customize a system to their needs by choosing from four software configurations, four portable CMM configurations and a variety of probe options.

In addition to reverse engineering, CMMs are used to quickly inspect parts to ensure they match the CAD model.

“The new 3DGage enables manufacturers to quickly implement lean model based inspection right on the shop floor that yield real improvements in production and quality while reducing costs,” says Ron Branch, Master3DGage product manager.

An inspection can be performed in three steps:

1. Align the manufactured part to 3D CAD model by probing the part to corresponding alignment targets on 3D CAD model.
2. Inspect the manufactured part in real time by manually probing or by following automated inspection plans.
3. The inspection results are automatically generated in HTML and Excel formats.

Watch Dave Matuszek from Mastercam reseller Macdac Engineering use the Master3DGage and Verisurf software to reverse engineer a part:

Source: Verisurf