Surface from data

[Anonymous]

I have a set of data that was taken across a surface. This is 21 data point that follow a pattern of outer edge, middle, outer edge for 7 lines of z-direction data across a surface.

I would like to model this data into a surface but this is outside of the realm of how we typically use the software.

I believe what I want is a surface of M and N nodes with differnet height values. Can IV do this or do I need to go back to MDT?

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you would setup 3 offset workplanes, each with a sketch
containing a set of 7 data points on them. Connect on each sketch a spline
through the datapoints, so you now have 3 splines. Loft a surface between
the 3 splines.

--Brian

wrote in message news:4826263@discussion.autodesk.com...
> I have a set of data that was taken across a surface. This is 21 data
point that follow a pattern of outer edge, middle, outer edge for 7 lines of
z-direction data across a surface.
>
> I would like to model this data into a surface but this is outside of the
realm of how we typically use the software.
>
> I believe what I want is a surface of M and N nodes with differnet height
values. Can IV do this or do I need to go back to MDT?

[Anonymous]

You MIGHT try my ReadPointsFromExcel from my IV Tools addin
to create an array of workpoints and then create splines thru the workpoints
and then loft them. I haven't actually tried that myself, but it might work. As an aside,
although the workpoints created will be grounded, they can be changed somewhat
parametrically by manipulating the values in the Excel file and read it back in. The
command will reposition the workpoints according to their names.

Look for the IV Tools addin in the addin section of mcadforums if you don't
have it yet.

wrote in message news:4826263@discussion.autodesk.com...
>I have a set of data that was taken across a surface. This is 21 data point that follow a pattern of outer edge, middle, outer edge
>for 7 lines of z-direction data across a surface.
>
> I would like to model this data into a surface but this is outside of the realm of how we typically use the software.
>
> I believe what I want is a surface of M and N nodes with differnet height values. Can IV do this or do I need to go back to MDT?

[Anonymous]

Hmmm, how about fixed work points, each with a finite x/y/z placement.

Awwww, now I see where you were going. But it would actually be 7 offset workplanes with 3 data points each connected with a spline. Then loft a surface betwwen the 7 splines.

[Anonymous]

Good thing workplanes are so easy to create!

--Brian

wrote in message news:4826316@discussion.autodesk.com...
> Hmmm, how about fixed work points, each with a finite x/y/z placement.
>
> Awwww, now I see where you were going. But it would actually be 7 offset
workplanes with 3 data points each connected with a spline. Then loft a
surface betwwen the 7 splines.

[hallstevenson]

Create a 3D sketch and create a spline for the outer edge, Finish Sketch. Create another 3D sketch and do the same with the middle, and so on.

Then create a loft between the splines as already mentioned. Pick 3dsketch1, 3dsketch2, etc, etc for the sketches.

I'm not sure if workplanes are necessary without seeing the point-array.

[Anonymous]

One of my students was working from point cloud data scanned into Autocad. First she has to find a lisp to write the point location to a spreadsheet. Then she used Bob's utility to get the spreadsheet data into Inventor.
I don't have intermediate Inventor file - only a derived part so I had to save it as ACIS and import in the original ACAD file to take this screen capture. I'll check with her tomorrow to see if I can get the complete dataset and her procedure.

[Anonymous]

OK here is my file using the 7 offset work plane method

Also can anyone tell me why you can not attach an ipt file to a post. This is an IV news group and I can not directly attach an IV file?

[Anonymous]

Forgot to mention specifics about the file.

Their are three user parameters defined:

xy_multiplier (ul) for scaling the span of the points
z_multiplier (ul) for scaling the up and down of the points
wp_offset (mm) for controling the distance between the pattern of work planes.