3D Digitizer

[coach]

A friend is selling a MicroScribe-3D Desktop Digitizing System. He told me he has Rhino software with it. Would a desktop digitizer be something worth purchasing for the bot? I don't know much about it but would definately learn.
Thanks for any suggestions.

[gc3]

http://www.simple3d.com/

[coach]

thanks Gene, but couldn't find what the product may be worth.
Is Mr. Brady W around I know this kind of stuff is one of his many forte's

[Brady Watson]

You rang?

They have been bringing in around $800-$1200 the last year or so, provided that it has the case, cables and power supply. Of course, if a licensed copy of Rhino is included, that will sweeten the deal. A demo video a la YouTube of you using it would probably go a long way towards selling it.

It's not a bad piece of hardware, but there are some limitations to it. First, you need to plan out how you are going to 'scan' the object in question. Since there is no CNC attached to it, YOU have to move the stylus to a point and press the pedal...move to the next point, press the pedal. It requires a lot of time and good coordination to get a good scan out of it. Many who use these put masking tape with dots on it to evenly space data points.

It is ideal for compound full 3D objects that don't have a lot of relief to them. Perfect for automotive type sheet metal, MC tanks, and other relatively smooth objects, or when it is difficult to get another type of scanner 'in there' because the area of interest is shielded by something.

Hope that helps...

-B

[billp]

When they show up on Ebay they run between $1-2K depending on age/model/software, etc. The older units were "touch probes" and had a resolution of somewhere around .015". The newer units use a laser tip and probably get better res. There was also a retrofit to take a touch unit and make it a laser as well I believe...
I used one for a few years, for objects a little too large to scan on my Roland Picza, or Next Engine laser scanner. It was great for objects around the size of a motorcycle tank, etc., although "theoretically" you can mark the starting position, and move the unit (carefully) along each axis, and do something as large as a car...
Rhino lets you "see"the scan you are doing in real time, and that part is VERY cool....Draw lots of points and build a "point cloud", or hold your foot on the floor pedal and drag the stylus tip along the edges, or body of whatever you want a copy of.
You HAVE to do this is a place with NO distraction, so you can fully concentrate on the process of acquiring as many touches, or points of contact to get a full model. Remember this means that YOU become part of the process,(you are now a manual version of the Shopbot probe) and if the phone rings, and you reach for it with the stylus you'll have a "meteor trail" on your Rhino screen ( don't ask....).
You can also use it as a CMM for measuring a existing part (measure with the stylus, and check your dimensions on the CAD screen...)etc., so it DOES have some nice functions. If you can buy it cheap enough it will be a nice toy, but in terms of using it to create 3D files, it's still probably faster/cheaper to farm that stuff out for those who can generate higher accuracy through software, or more precise scanning technologies.