NextEngine - Photomodler

[taskins]

Is there anyone out there currently using NextEngine 3D or Photomodeler?
Most of the threads I've seen are a couple of years old.

Thanks

Tim

http://www.nextengine.com/

http://www.photomodeler.com/index.htm?gclid=CIiguKf-s6ICFROdnAodU3ZP6A

[Luxury Architectural]

Actually we use both. E-mail me ryan AT luxuryarchitectural.com

[geometree]

I have a nextengine HD scanner. What would you like to know?

[taskins]

Ryan- you've got mail.

Shawn-

Here's what I'm trying to do: http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11066

The touch probe and indexer route is taking awhile to digitize the part even at a resolution of .125 and then more time to clean up and stitch together. Most parts I do will fit in a 4"x4"x48" envelope but I do have the opportunity to do some larger items like surfboards as well.

Right now I have some panels that are 3'x3' and compound curved. It's going to cost around $1,000 to send them out to be scanned so I could plunk down the $$ for NextEngine instead.

Obviously the resolution is vastly improved but What's the learning curve on the NextEngine? Plug and Play or Punch and Stumble? Are there "new opportunities" to be had with the NextEngine?

Thanks for your input

Tim

[cabnet636]

has anyone used the nextengine on a larger scan, i am considering a purchase of a polhemus or equal, but the 20-30 k investment has me sitting in silence often, anyone here have one?

jim

[geometree]

I found the nextengine to be fairly quick to learn to use and get ok results. Within a few days of getting mine I was able to scan and then reproduce this carving. That being said, there are lots of problems that could cause someone to think that getting a usable scan was impossible. Individual scans only take a couple minutes, but you will need many scans to get a good model. The model of this carving was about 5 scans of the left half merged together. I then mirrored it to make the full carving. I used 5 scans in the end but took about 25 trying to get the right angle so it could "see" into the deeper parts of the relief. Long skinny objects would require lots of scans. The scan area is really only about 6"x6" and the focal length of the camera is very particular. Too close or too far away = no scan.
I'm sure I will be able to find new opportunities to use 3d scanning in my work but didn't have any clear ideas about that when I bought mine. I got mine second hand for a real good price. I'm not sure I would be happy with it at full price since it is fairly limited at what it can scan well.
I've learned tons about laser scanning from reading about the "david laser scanner", if you have some time to setup one of their rigs it would probably be much more versatile. They have a great forum too.http://www.david-laserscanner.com/forum/index.php

[cabnet636]

thanks shawn, i spent a couple of weeks trying to do the "davids" and one other that i cannot remember the name of right now, the second one had some promise as it came with a small servo rotary table and hope was to set it on the gantry for larger scans, we needed to move on with the chess player project and eventually outsourced the scan, at this point i am doing plenty of liturgical reproduction and insurance documentation work so the investment in the "wand" may be a good idea, i am hoping there will be some competion for this at iwf to see. i never went back and atempted to do the davids wish i had the time at this point.

i just took another look see at the davids forum, it has come a long way, there is a good read on the next engine and a comparison worth reading, may just take another look
jim

[bleeth]

Khalid of home built cnc and quilter fame did a lot of experimentation and R & D work with the David and ended up getting some pretty good results. Check out his posts on the subject although I am not sure whether he posted most about it here or on other forums.

You might also quiz Brady about it although if he gave you any of his "real secrets" he would probably have to kill you afterwards!!!! :D:D:D:D

[cabnet636]

tim, i have all the equipment for the intracad triangles scanner, i will give it to you and if you suceed teach mr and i will buy another, i have produced a file with the davids, but moved to out sourcing before i got a useable result.

http://www.intricad.com/index.html

jim

[taskins]

Jim-
I ordered the Nextengine. They offer full money back for 30 days so If it doesn't work I can send it back. I'll let you know how it goes and you can come down and check it out.

So how've you been- it's been awhile! We need to hook up sometime. I can see from your posts and website you've been busy since I saw you last- what 10 years ago?

Tim

[mikeacg]

Jim,

I'd be interested in looking at the Triangle stuff. I am going to Augusta next week and could swing by to talk about it on either leg of the trip.

[cabnet636]

i was in the charleston fed courthouse last week with john brady and some of the guys from jenkins hancock, told john i saw you here on the bot and he told me to tell you hello, we should catch up!! saw randy not to long ago here in cola.

you know what is funny tim is you were the first person to show me a cnc machine!!

jim

[cabnet636]

mike call me at 803 518 2074 when you are coming

jim

[cabnet636]

ya'll got me a lit up about trying this again, will dog out all the parts later today

jim

http://cgi.ebay.com/High-precision-David-Vision-3D-Scanner-Starter-kit-/110539886094?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19bcb0ce0e

[myxpykalix]

I hope no one sees that link and goes and buys that from ebay for $500.00 because the software is free. What i found intimidating was trying to put all the componnents together.

As Dave pointed out I believe that if you do a search for khalid and his thread on the steps that will be more helpful then just about anything else you might find.

[cabnet636]

it comes with the camera and the laser, although it is the red laser and i was not successful with the one i had, i believe the green one is better for this, will check w/ kahlid he had recieved the pro version as well as the free one does not contain all the software.

with the exchange rate it is 9.00 difference

jim

[cabnet636]

i just got off the phone with a friend who has the next engine, after his experience i can see me giving it a go, there is a fellow in europe who has attached it to a cnc

i understand it can be asttached to the cnc and moved for progressive scans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XZfR1at-AQ&feature=related

jim

[cabnet636]

mike came by yesterday and picked up the intricad scanner setup i had purchased, i am hoping he figures it out as we ran out of time when needing the chess players scanned, i got enough file work this week to purchase the nextengine and am hoping tim has had sucess with it!! will order today

jim

[mikeacg]

Good seeing you again, Jim, and thanks for letting me have a chance to play with the Triangle stuff. I forgot which forum this was on when I got home last night or I would have thanked you sooner!
I am looking for components right now. I think I have a digital video camera lined up and I am designing up a table that will incorporate all the attachment points in one piece. I'm mounting the camera and the laser on slotted, adjustable arms that will pivot as well as sliding in and out to adjust the distances correctly. I'll be posting pictures as soon as I get something going here.

[cabnet636]

http://www.laserscanning.org.uk/forum/index.php?sid=0a4ceb6ad773fe16968a5d8f9384c8e9

http://www.cadalyst.com/hardware/nextengine-3d-scanner-cadalyst-labs-review-11207

[taskins]

Jim-
Mt NextEngine arrived Friday. So far I'd say I'm pretty pleased with the results. It pretty much worked right out of the box. I hooked it up and had the first scan done in about an hour. Getting used to the software took more time than getting the scan. I have 2 parts done and plan to cut them later today. I'll keep you posted.

Tim

[cabnet636]

thanks, spent yesterday using the davids scanner for the fun of it, gotta admit they have come a long way with the software but the free version is not what the paid version is. i will hopefully order the NE this week can we see a scan? is the export .stl as i will be modeling in aspire.

jim