Geomagic Unveils New Suite of Solutions

By DE Editors

Geomagic announced the release of Geomagic Spark, the newest addition to the company’s line of 3D scan, design and inspection applications,  along with the 2013 versions of its Freeform, Qualify and Qualify Probe solutions.

The Spark 3D software combines a live 3D scanning interface, 3D point and mesh editing capabilities, comprehensive modeling design, assembly modeling, and 2D drawing creation in one application. The solution incorporates 3D scan data functionality, integrating Geomagic’s scanning technology with the direct modeling capabilities of the SpaceClaim platform. According to the company, users can create accurate, manufacturable solid models and assemblies using combined scan and CAD data in the same application within minutes, even with partial scan data.

“Geomagic Spark, in a single application, introduces a whole new paradigm for the capture/modify/make process. It can be used by CAD professionals but, more importantly, by the millions of manufacturing engineers who are not CAD experts,” said Tom Kurke, president and COO,  Geomagic. “The high level of support, technical expertise and the quality API from SpaceClaim allowed Geomagic Spark to come to market quickly. Geomagic Spark is the industry’s most innovative platform for super-fast creation of manufacturable CAD models from scan and mesh data.”

The integrated package includes point cloud, mesh and CAD modeling in the same user interface. Designers can simply scan directly into Geomagic Spark or load an existing point cloud or polygon mesh. From there they can choose from a range of automated tools used to convert and edit data into a polygon mesh: sampling, noise reduction, wrap,  mesh simplification and more. Once the solid model is created, users can then compare the solid model to the mesh upon which it is based,  identifying areas of deviation. 2D technical drawings, annotations,  dimensions and more are available instantaneously and can be created interactively with the 3D data.

The company also announced the latest version of its Freeform 2013 3D modeling software. The new release includes subdivision modeling, and allows designers to combine four different modeling representations (voxels, NURBS, subdivision surfaces and polygons) in the same model.

The touch-enabled solution facilitates fast 3D modeling of detailed organic shapes, which can be combined with geometric forms for prototyping or manufacturing. It is integrated with the company’s Sensable Phantom haptic 3D input devices.

Subdivisional surfacing allows designers to achieve progressively greater surface detail by applying a refinement scheme to polygon mesh surfaces, the company says. SubD technology allows users to easily create very smooth forms with good transitions between hard edges.

Freeform is now integrated with Geomagic’s AutoSurface component, which automatically converts voxels and mesh data into high-quality NURBS surfaces. Once converted, these solid models can be automatically combined with other solids and/or exported in IGES format for use with software tools that demand surface data.

Users can create patterns along one or two curves, or across broad areas. Designers can add details, such as zippers along a single curve,  or laces between two curves to make realistic designs. Users can also easily pattern existing 3D geometry across a surface, with controlled degrees of randomness. This can be used for adding feathers, scales,  spines and other repeating patterns in 3D form.

The 2013 releases of Geomagic Qualify and Geomagic Qualify Probe deliver improved automation, GD&T and hard-probing functions. The combined new features will make it easier to quickly measure and verify manufactured part size and perform automated inspection and measurement in quality checking and assurance processes, the company says.

New QuickFeature enhancements include CAD-less feature creation and fast, intuitive creation of features using the new pre-selection highlight. The QuickProbe functions now include better probed feature editing with relative measurements; improved fitting statistic readout for each probed point, with the ability to exclude and automatically refit; and audio feedback when probing, which indicates real-time out-of-tolerance conditions without the engineer having to watch the monitor.

Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerance (GD&T) enhancements have resulted from the improved feature editing and include definition of nominal geometry without a CAD model; improved prompts to probe test data to satisfy callouts in walkthrough mode; and a more detailed Measure Features command that delivers measured and nominal features plus deviations.

The new alignment commands work with and without a probing device and enable quick alignment of the 3D data through matching features or geometry. Engineers can align with just a few clicks, and the tools are flexible enough to handle simple 3-2-1 or more complex feature-driven alignments, the company says. In addition, N-point alignment allows for dissimilar objects to be aligned using point pairs.

For more information, visit Geomagic.

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