This is the most important part of what you asked, the answer is yes and no…Rotorage can help with some info here also, he uses a scanner as well and works in Solidworks with it.
The idea of a scanner is that it creates a model in negative space of what ever it is you are scanning. CAD programs can open the file, but cannot read it the same as if it were a solid surface file.
Depending on how accurate it can scan, you can take the .STL (stereolithography) file and a CAM program can read the outer profile and cut a plug from the data. You would only have to repair the file prior to doing so, meaning fill in any holes and clean up background noise from the scan, this can be done with most softwares provided with the scanner.
We use a creaform for larger projects and Next Engine unit for smaller desktop stuff, the Next engine can scan right from Solidworks and you have reasonably work-able file - Rotorage can confirm what can and can’t be done, I have not tried that yet in Solidworks with our scanner.
Have you looked into the cost of a unit yet? The Next Engine runs roughly $3,000 to $5,000 depending on software add-ons, used units can be had for $1,500 to $2,500 or so. Stay away from 1st gen units, they are no longer supported by Next Engine, if it fails or you need support, they won’t help…
The Creaform units are $24K plus depending on model and add-ons again, killer scans though and very fast.
Artec make a nice and is between the Creaform and Next Engine unit at roughly $12K
Once you have a scan, if you need to make a design change it has to be surfaced, two ways to do it is to draw over top of the scan and re-create it from scratch (cheapest way, not always most accurate) or import the model into a surfacing program like Rapidform or Geomagic. From there you can surface the model through “wizards” which will guide the process, you will have to become familiar with how to surface a model without a wizard guiding because of what we call free-form shapes, these are shapes the software doesn’t recognize and need to be interpreted. Once a model is surfaced and “water-tight” you can export it as a .IGS or solidworks or whatever file format you prefer and start using it in a traditional CAD program.
There are some steps between a scan and CAD, what may work for you and still be economical is to scan with a Next Engine unit, produce the file and either have the part 3D printed or cut on a CNC, then you have a plug you can work with or a part you can re-draw from measuring. To really get the benefit of a scanner, you need a surfacing software and method to produce the scanned model, either a 3D printer or CNC…with all that, making moulds is a days work at best…
I’ll post back in with some screen shots of models scanned and had design changes done to provide some examples.
Hope that helps, you will have more questions when you start researching…
