Neutral Scan Format for Customized Products

By DE Editors

To facilitate the introduction of customized products, the Neutral Scan Format (NSF) has been designed by Human Solutions (Troy, MI) as part of its contribution to the Custom-Fit (Ibi, Alicante, Spain) project, a multi-million European project.

The NSF file format, which is based on the XML format specification and is open, portable, end extensible, has been designed to store different types of 3D scan formats, as well as information derived from the 3D scans (geometrical properties), information that was acquired by user input or other means of data acquisition (non-geometrical properties), and customer information (identity information). Different scan formats can be generated using different scan technology due to the different type of products the project is investigating.

A user interface, i.e., NSF viewer, has been developed to support the editing and loading of NSF files. It is able to display 3D scans stored in a file or load the file via the Internet if the file is stored as a URL in the NSF file. By using the viewer, users will be able to add geometrical and nongeometrical properties to the file as well as personal customer information.

Project Custom-Fit (funded by the European Commission) is to create a fully integrated system for the design, production, and supply of individualized products using rapid manufacturing (RM) technologies, direct manufacturing of parts layer-by-layer using digital data. Custom-Fit is using RM technology for medical implants, prosthetic sockets, seats, and helmets.

Visit Human Solutions or view the Custom-Fit project for further information.

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