From Paper Plans to CAD

[C Dub G]

Hey Guys,

I'm going to be trying to put my paper plans for a Wind Derringer into Solidworks/AutoCAD and I'm trying to find the best way to do it. Would it be possible to scan each part (ribs, formers, etc.) and either go directly to a sketch in Solidworks or clean up the sketch in AutoCAD and export that into Solidworks where it could be extruded? Or am I going to have to try and get close with calipers and just measure points along the way? Or is there maybe some other way I don't know of that would make the whole process more simple?

Thanks for any help.

[rcpilot82]

scan the drawings in as a pdf, use adobe illustrator to make a dxf for acad. or, scan drawings as a pdf get a converter and convert to dxf. in both formats you will have a bit of cleanup work to do.

[C Dub G]

That sounds like it will work rcpilot, thanks. As soon as I am able to test how that works I will post it here. Has this been tried before?

[nesikachad]

Yeah, this is how (sorta) I get the profiles on floor plates for inletting rifle stocks.

I use an optical comparator equipped with a PC and metrology software. I "ding" out a point cloud that outlines the profile and then export in dxf format. Wash it through Master crash and then I have an MC8/9/X file that I can assign a tool path too.

It's not a solid but if your just wanting drawings it doesn't need to be really. Editing and coverting to surfaces/solids will obviously take more work.

Good luck, it'll keep you busy that's for sure.

[rcpilot82]

Yes, it works. Thats how I do it. the other option is to get a digitizing tablet and make a point cloud. I have done that also.

[C Dub G]

It looks like I'll be using the scan to PDF method as a start anyways. Unfortunately I don't have an optical comparator on hard. But hopefully I'll be able to get the same results. The idea I have is to have the plane all laid out from the balsa to the landing gear, cockpit and everything else and see how it all works. Then I'll probably end up making drawings for whatever I need to.

It's actually a good thing this is going to take some time. I'd run out of time, space, money, and everything else in short order if I were to start actually building the model. Good thing Solidworks files don't take up any space when I create them.

[Mithrandir]

Just be sure to create a 3D solid model... possibly there will be distortion either in X or Y of the paper drawing and/or from the scanning process that can cascade... if you make a 3D Assembly of the parts.. you can interrogate the parts for clearances and interferences

[C Dub G]

That's exactly what I'll be doing Mithrandir. I'm also hoping to input the mass of whatever material I'll end up using so hopefully I'll have atleast an approximation of the what the weight will end up being.

[Thomas_W]

gonna bring this back up, but whats the best program to use to convert a PDF file to DXF? I've tried one of the free down loadable ones and it ended up converting 1 part into 15 different DXF files...

[rob1220]

I Scan Drawings into a PDF file and use our waterjet programming software to trace and save as dxf. Still a little clean-up, but works really well.

[rob1220]

Be Happy to trace for you. Just email PDF.

[Thomas_W]

	Quote: Originally Posted by rob1220
	Be Happy to trace for you. Just email PDF.

whats the average length of time for a drawing to be traced? I've got about 60 seperate drawings that i need changed to DXF and i would hate to take-up a large amount of your free time with them.

[rob1220]

It takes a few minutes to trace with my software. As i said there still will be some clean-up.

[rcpilot82]

what software are you using?

[Thomas_W]

	Quote: Originally Posted by rob1220
	It takes a few minutes to trace with my software. As i said there still will be some clean-up.

ok, cleanup is no problem.. i've got a few more drawings to get scanned into PDF, but as soon as i get those, i'll burn them to a CD and send you a PM for your mailing address.