Re: digitizer probe and software

Hi again Gordon,

The XYZ files (as I understand it) are "arrays", Row then column (or
column then row). So their is a "neighbor" relationship between
adjacent rows and columns. Fred has just said that Vector CAD/CAM can
take DXF's, and generate XYZ's, which StlTrans can convert to STL.

The STL's (again, as I understand it), are a series of triangles,
between the rows and columns. Made by connecting the endpoints, much
like the triangular reinforcements on a tower, I'm thinking. so there
you have the "surface" generated from a set of "regular" points. After
that, I'll bet it gets complex! I'm hoping to apply this to the DLG
(Hypsographic) data I have. I can generate a "line" type DXF file;
hopefully it can be output as a XYZ that StlTrans will like! Actually,
the "contour" data *IS* available in the DLG file as lists of ordered
points, however *I* don't yet see how to cut 'em (order, direction,
etc)!

The "drape" sounds familiar. Perhaps Vector has something like that.
If I could understand how that works...

Study, Study, Study!

Alan KM6VV


Smoke wrote:

>
> Hi Again Alan
>
> For the particular task I was doing, the lines were generated by the
> digitizer as a long series of connecting short lines. All Vector had to do
> in this case was follow the lines from beginning to end to generate the tool
> path. This will work just as well if I expand or shrink the set of lines.
>
> Eventually I want to be able to digitize numerous pieces of art carvings
> that I create and be able to "mix and match" them to create bas-relief
> scenes. The completed scenes would then be merged as a single file to be
> output for generating gcode.
>
> Complicated, isn't it!
>
> If I generated XYZ files, how would I go about connecting the right points
> to create the 3D file I'd need to output for code generation? I certainly
> wouldn't want to do it manually for surfaces as complex as I'm planning on.
>
> I tired the "drape" feature in Rhino. That doesn't work very well for my
> purposes as it tends to distort the true image...sort of like throwing a
> sheet over an object and using the contours of the sheet for the surface.
>
> Smoke