A three-dimensional scanning auxiliary tool for small workpieces and a method of operation

Abstract

This invention discloses an auxiliary fixture and operating method for 3D scanning of small workpieces. The fixture includes a base, precision guide rails, a lifting frame, a positioning ball support frame, positioning balls, and thin wires. Since 3D scanning requires attaching positioning points to the surface of the object being scanned, and these positioning points are circular patches approximately 10mm in diameter, such small positioning points, especially on small workpieces, would obscure a significant portion of the object's features, making scanning difficult. This invention enables handheld 3D scanners to scan small workpieces, allowing for precise positioning using positioning points without attaching them to the object itself. This invention improves the accuracy of scanning small workpieces, enhances the surface quality of the scanned results, and reduces the difficulty of scanning small workpieces.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of 3D scanning reverse engineering, specifically to a 3D scanning auxiliary tooling and operation method for small workpieces. Background Technology

[0002] In reverse engineering, the first step is to perform a 3D scan of the workpiece. Since 3D scanning requires attaching a large number of positioning points to the surface of the scanned object, and these positioning points are circular patches with a diameter of about 10mm, it is not a problem to attach positioning points to the surface of large workpieces, especially on relatively large planes, without obscuring any details. However, for small workpieces, attaching them to the surface of the workpiece will obscure a large part of the object's features. Therefore, a 3D scanning auxiliary fixture that can achieve positioning by attaching points without attaching them to the surface of the object has become the key and difficult point in the design. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the present invention proposes a three-dimensional scanning auxiliary fixture for small workpieces.

[0004] Furthermore, this fixture does not require attaching positioning points to the surface of small workpieces, but it can accurately input the three-dimensional coordinate information of the positioning points into a 3D scanner, thereby accurately scanning the workpiece surface.

[0005] The objective of this invention is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0006] The mechanism consists of a base, six precision guide rail outer slides, six precision guide rail inner slides, a workpiece hoisting frame, six positioning ball support frames, several positioning balls, thin lines, and positioning blocks. The base, workpiece hoisting frame, and positioning blocks are welded together. The precision guide rail outer slides are connected to the top of the base by bolts. The precision guide rail inner slides and positioning ball support frames are connected together by bolts. The tail of the positioning ball can be inserted into the small hole of the positioning ball support frame. The two have a slight interference fit to maintain relative fixation. The workpiece is suspended on the workpiece hoisting frame by thin lines and is located at the center of the sphere formed by the six positioning ball support frames.

[0007] Furthermore, the holes on the aforementioned positioning ball support frame are spatial holes, which are generally difficult to machine with a machine tool. In addition, this part needs a certain rigidity and needs to maintain its shape after multiple disassemblies and reassemblies. Therefore, this part needs to be formed in one piece using 3D printing technology.

[0008] Furthermore, the aforementioned positioning spheres are made of steel, and 3D scanning-specific positioning reflective points are attached to each face of the polyhedron.

[0009] Furthermore, under normal scanning conditions, the workpiece is suspended on the workpiece hoisting frame by a thin string. Since the string is very thin, the 3D scanner cannot scan it. Three of the six positioning ball support frames are retained. The 3D scanner is positioned by the positioning ball, and the 3D coordinates of all the positioning points on the positioning ball that can be scanned from the front are included in the 3D scanner. Through the spatial positioning of these points, the front surface of the workpiece is scanned. After the front scanning is completed, one positioning ball support frame is removed, and another positioning ball support frame is installed from the other direction. It is pushed in by the cooperation of the outer slide rail and the inner slide rail of the precision guide rail until it contacts the positioning block. At this time, the scanner can determine the 3D coordinates of the new positioning point through the existing positioning points, and then scan the newly exposed workpiece surface through all the positioning points until all the surfaces of the workpiece are scanned.

[0010] Furthermore, the method of using the present invention is as follows:

[0011] 1. Insert the positioning ball (60) into the small hole of the positioning ball support frame (50), and insert approximately 4 to 6 positioning balls (60) into each positioning ball support frame (50).

[0012] 2. The workpiece (90) is hoisted onto the workpiece hoisting frame (40) by the thin line (70). The workpiece (90) should be roughly located at the center of the positioning ball support frame (50).

[0013] 3. Insert the inner slide rail (30) of the precision guide rail under the positioning ball support frame (50) into the outer slide rail (20) of the precision guide rail until the positioning block (80) is positioned. Adjust the depth of the cylindrical rod of the positioning ball (60) so that the polyhedral head of the positioning ball (60) is as close as possible to the workpiece (90) but does not contact the workpiece. Leave space between the positioning balls (60) and do not contact each other.

[0014] 4. Insert the remaining five positioning ball support frames (50) in sequence and adjust them repeatedly until all the positioning balls (60) do not touch each other. Record the positioning ball support frames (50) in sequence as frame 1, frame 2, frame 3, frame 4, frame 5, and frame 6.

[0015] 5. Remove the three adjacent positioning ball support frames (50) along the precision track. Keep three of them. Be careful to handle them gently and do not allow the positioning balls (60) in each positioning ball support frame (50) to shift or change.

[0016] 6. Use a handheld 3D scanner (00) to scan the positioning marks, and then scan the surface of the workpiece;

[0017] 7. After scanning the exposed surface of the workpiece (90), remove one of the positioning ball support brackets (50) and handle it gently.

[0018] 8. Insert another positioning ball support frame (50) removed from the corresponding track, and continue scanning the positioning marks and surface, completing the scanning step by step.

[0019] This invention enables handheld 3D scanners to scan small workpieces, allowing for precise positioning using locating points without attaching the locating points to the object itself. This invention improves the accuracy of scanning small workpieces, enhances the surface quality of the scanned results, and reduces the difficulty of scanning small workpieces. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The accompanying drawings, which constitute the basis of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an improper limitation of the invention. In the drawings:

[0021] Figure 1 Tooling General Drawing

[0022] Figure 2 Working status of the fixture during normal scanning

[0023] Figure 3 Positioning penalty diagram

[0024] In the picture:

[0025] 20. Base; 30. Precision guide rail outer slide; 40. Precision guide rail inner slide; 50. Workpiece hoisting frame; 60. Positioning ball support frame; 70. Positioning ball; 80. Fine wire; 90. Positioning block; 00. Workpiece; 3D scanner Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them.

[0027] like Figures 1-3 As shown, a 3D scanning auxiliary tooling and operation method for small workpieces is described. Detailed Implementation

[0029] Under normal scanning conditions, the workpiece 90 is suspended on the workpiece hoisting frame 40 by the thin wire 70. Since the thin wire 70 is very thin, the 3D scanner cannot scan it. Three of the six positioning ball support frames 50 are retained. The 3D scanner is positioned by the positioning ball 60. The 3D coordinates of all the positioning points on the positioning ball 60 that can be scanned from the front are included in the 3D scanner. By spatial positioning of these points, the front surface of the workpiece 90 is scanned. After the front scanning is completed, one positioning ball support frame 50 is removed, and another positioning ball support frame 50 is installed from the other direction. It is pushed in by the cooperation of the outer slide rail 20 and the inner slide rail (30) of the precision guide rail until it contacts the positioning block 80. At this time, the scanner can determine the 3D coordinates of the new positioning point through the existing positioning points. Then, it is positioned by all the positioning points and scans the surface of the workpiece 90 that has just been exposed until all the surfaces of the workpiece 90 are scanned.

[0030] The usage instructions for this organization are as follows:

[0031] 1. Insert the positioning ball (60) into the small hole of the positioning ball support frame (50), and insert approximately 4 to 6 positioning balls (60) into each positioning ball support frame (50).

[0032] 2. The workpiece (90) is hoisted onto the workpiece hoisting frame (40) by the thin line (70). The workpiece (90) should be roughly located at the center of the positioning ball support frame (50).

[0033] 3. Insert the inner slide rail (30) of the precision guide rail under the positioning ball support frame (50) into the outer slide rail (20) of the precision guide rail until the positioning block (80) is positioned. Adjust the depth of the cylindrical rod of the positioning ball (60) so that the polyhedral head of the positioning ball (60) is as close as possible to the workpiece (90) but does not contact the workpiece. Leave space between the positioning balls (60) and do not contact each other.

[0034] 4. Insert the remaining five positioning ball support frames (50) in sequence and adjust them repeatedly until all the positioning balls (60) do not touch each other. Record the positioning ball support frames (50) in sequence as frame 1, frame 2, frame 3, frame 4, frame 5, and frame 6.

[0035] 5. Remove the three adjacent positioning ball support frames (50) along the precision track. Keep three of them. Be careful to handle them gently and do not allow the positioning balls (60) in each positioning ball support frame (50) to shift or change.

[0036] 6. Use a handheld 3D scanner (00) to scan the positioning marks, and then scan the surface of the workpiece;

[0037] 7. After scanning the exposed surface of the workpiece (90), remove one of the positioning ball support brackets (50) and handle it gently.

[0038] 8. Insert another positioning ball support frame (50) removed from the corresponding track, and continue scanning the positioning marks and surface, completing the scanning step by step.

[0039] It should be understood that the above detailed description of the technical solutions of the present invention with reference to preferred embodiments is illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art can modify the technical solutions described in the embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features based on reading this specification, and such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional scanning aid for small workpieces, characterized by: The fixture consists of a base (10), six precision guide rail outer slides (20), six precision guide rail inner slides (30), a workpiece hoisting frame (40), six positioning ball support frames (50), several positioning balls (60), a thin line (70), and a positioning block (80). The base (10), the workpiece hoisting frame (40), and the positioning block (80) are welded together. The precision guide rail outer slides (20) are connected to the top of the base (10) by bolts. The precision guide rail inner slides (30) and the positioning ball support frames (50) are connected together by bolts. The tail of the positioning ball (60) can be inserted into the small hole of the positioning ball support frame (50). The two are slightly interference-fitted to maintain relative fixation. The workpiece (90) is suspended on the workpiece hoisting frame (40) by the thin line (70) and is located at the center of the ball formed by the six positioning ball support frames (50). The holes on the above-mentioned positioning ball support frame (50) are spatial holes, which are difficult to process with a general machine tool. In addition, this part needs a certain rigidity and needs to maintain its shape after multiple disassembly and assembly. Therefore, this part needs to be formed in one step using 3D printing technology. The aforementioned positioning ball (60) is made of steel, and positioning reflective points for three-dimensional scanning are attached to each face of the polyhedron.

2. A method of using a three-dimensional scanning aid for small workpieces, which employs a three-dimensional scanning aid for small workpieces, characterized in that, Under normal scanning conditions, the workpiece (90) is suspended on the workpiece hoisting frame (40) by a thin string (70). Since the string is very thin, the 3D scanner (00) cannot scan it. Three of the six positioning ball support frames (50) are retained. The 3D scanner (00) is positioned by the positioning ball (60). The 3D coordinates of all the positioning points on the positioning ball (60) that can be scanned from the front are included in the 3D scanner (00). By spatial positioning of these points, the front surface of the workpiece (90) is scanned. After the front scanning is completed, one positioning ball support frame (50) is removed, and another positioning ball support frame (50) is installed from the other direction. It is pushed in by the cooperation of the outer slide rail (20) and the inner slide rail (30) of the precision guide rail until it contacts the positioning block (80). At this time, the scanner can determine the 3D coordinates of the new positioning point by the existing positioning point. Then, it is positioned by all the positioning points and scans the surface of the workpiece (90) that has just been exposed until all the surfaces of the workpiece (90) are scanned. The usage method is as follows:

1. Insert the positioning ball (60) into the small hole of the positioning ball support frame (50), and insert approximately 4 to 6 positioning balls (60) into each positioning ball support frame (50).

2. The workpiece (90) is hoisted onto the workpiece hoisting frame (40) by the thin line (70). The workpiece (90) should be roughly located at the center of the positioning ball support frame (50).

3. Insert the inner slide rail (30) of the precision guide rail under the positioning ball support frame (50) into the outer slide rail (20) of the precision guide rail until the positioning block (80) is positioned. Adjust the depth of the cylindrical rod of the positioning ball (60) so that the polyhedral head of the positioning ball (60) is as close as possible to the workpiece (90) but does not contact the workpiece. Leave space between the positioning balls (60) and do not contact each other.

4. Insert the remaining five positioning ball support frames (50) in sequence and adjust them repeatedly until all the positioning balls (60) do not touch each other. Record the positioning ball support frames (50) in sequence as frame 1, frame 2, frame 3, frame 4, frame 5, and frame 6.

5. Remove the three adjacent positioning ball support frames (50) along the precision track, keeping three. Be careful to handle them gently and do not allow the positioning ball (60) inside each positioning ball support frame (50) to shift or change.

6. Use a handheld 3D scanner (00) to scan the positioning marks, and then scan the surface of the workpiece; 7. After scanning the exposed surface of the workpiece (90), remove one of the positioning ball support brackets (50) and handle it gently.

8. Insert another positioning ball support frame (50) removed from the corresponding track, and continue scanning the positioning marks and surface, completing the scanning step by step.

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