Editor's Pick: Verisurf Releases AutoSurface for its Reverse Engineering Software

By DE Editors

Dear Desktop Engineering Reader:

Without software to digitize its input, a laser scanner or CMM is about as useful to you as a milk bucket to a bull. And without the right tools to manipulate scanned data and meshes into something useful for your CAD system, you have to bull your way through your reverse engineering job -- set-up and scanning being the so-called easy part. Verisurf has been making metrology, inspection, and reverse engineering tools that define the promises of easy to use and shortened design cycles since '93. With the introduction of its new AutoSurface functionality in its Verisurf Reverse reverse engineering module, these guys moved the marker they set further along again.

Verisurf doesn't do hardware. They do a suite of applications  that makes your stationary or portable CMM, laser tracker or scanner a useful device. But its basic philosophy that should get your attention: Verisurf knows that today's manufacturing is based on CAD. No model, nothing to fabricate, inspect, or measure. Consequently, metrology, reverse engineering, and inspection need to be CAD based to complete the loop. That is, rather than just how do we get the model digitized? It's how do we get the model digitized and CAD-ready to move the design to manufacture process along efficiently?

It starts with the Basic System – that's the name. The Verisurf Basic System reads formats like IGES and STEP and native CAD file such as AutoCAD, CATIA, Inventor, NX, Pro/Engineer, Solid Edge, and SolidWorks. This lets you work with solids, surfaces, or wireframes quickly, easily, and comfortably. It lets you set tolerances and GD&T in the model for any surface, feature, or inspection item. Another key here is its device interface. The Basic System comes with the know-how to connect and control virtually all measuring devices. So, it understands CAD and it understands digitizing devices.

Now, from off that foundation, you build the Verisurf solution you need: metrology, inspection, and even a system that gives you the ability to create laser projection programs that take a native CAD file and project its geometry onto a tool or assembly. And, of course, reverse engineering, which gets us back to AutoSurface.

The new AutoSurface functionality in the Reverse module lets you create complex, shaped surfaces from point clouds with a click of your mouse. You can blend STL meshes, surfaces, and solids in a single design. AutoSurface can create surfaces, features, and planar, grid, or radial cross-sections automatically. You can export a CAD-compatible solid or surface model when done. So, Reverse with AutoSurface lets you go from scan to CAD then to manufacturing, measurement, or inspection with a bare minimum of fooling around.

And what's that mean for you? Fewer hassles, less scrap, better fit or finish, quicker verification, and more time be an engineer. You can read more about AutoSurface in today's Pick of the Week write-up. Hit the link to schedule a demo to see for yourself. Make sure to check out the link to see who is using Verisurf. This is impressive stuff.

Read today's Pick of the Week write-up.

Thanks, pal. -- Lockwood

Anthony J. Lockwood
Editor at Large,  Desktop Engineering  Magazine