how to convert .RCS scan file into a cad solid object

[Anonymous]

I'm currently using CADWORX plant professional we received RCS scans of our refinery and I'm attempting to pipe the scan with intelligent piping components and I'm having a difficult time seeing the pipes and placing them in the right XYZ. I know there is a way to take the scan and turn it into a cad file with autocad shapes I just don't know what that program is. any and all help is very welcomed

[Anonymous]

I'm uploading one now and after its done how do you fine the file I'm speaking of.?

[john.vellek]

HI @Anonymous,

Where are you uploading to?

If A360, you can find a share icon to the right of the file name.  john.vellek@autodesk.com is my email

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> how do you fine the file

It depends to which service provider you upload the file.

By default you should find a function like "Share" and there you get a link ... that is the link you can send us to download the file.

For A360 I have created that video which shows how to share and where to find this link:

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

uploading to A360 currently and its taking a lil while its a pretty big file

[Anonymous]

I had to use drop box A360 kept crashing on me when I tried to upload the scan. its still currently uploading and I will respond as soon as its done with the link to it

[Anonymous]

link below is to the drop box of the rcs file. please tell me what I'm doing wrong, I appreciate all the help.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zzkur4f68ddlzyq/B%26S_108269_Area002.rcs?dl=0

[dgorsman]

Do you have the scan for the entire facility?  That's going to make life difficult for you.  Chop it up into smaller scan using design areas as a guideline, similar to how you put piping into multiple models rather than one big one.  Aside from performance improvements it could be that the centerline processing is choking on the raw amount of data present.  Smaller point clouds are also a lot easier to follow along without any centerline finding, mesh processing, or other tools.

Don't forget to consult the existing documentation (iso's, GA's) either - insulation, especially bags, can make re-modeling solely from the point cloud difficult.

Edit: I think Alfred's link is correct but the text is wrong.  It should be PCEXTRACTCENTERLINE.  While I see it in AutoCAD 2017, I don't in 2014.  I don't have 2016 handy to test, but it might not be available in that version.

[Anonymous]

the scans are in chunks..... I have about 90 of them

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I have your point cloud attached to a file and I too am having problems snapping to centerlines of cylinders. I must confess that I have not worked much with point clouds so I am reaching out to specialists here that can offer some insight to what I am doing incorrectly.

I find that I can snap to nodes but the pipes in the point cloud do not appear as "cylinders" so the osnap is not working as expected.

I will post back as quickly as possible but I need some help on this too.

I apologize for the delay.

[Anonymous]

thank you!.... I knew It couldn't just be me. I

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

sorry to say, same issues on my side. It looks like the data is not dense enough and the scanner did not look to the pipes from bottom upwards (at least it looks like less complete on the bottom sides of the cylinders.

Sorry not to have a solution for getting centerlines (or cylinders) partially automatic with pointcloud commands.

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

well I appreciate the help.

[Anonymous]

so what are my options or any opinions that u may or may not have

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

Not all point cloud is able to be geometry extractionable (such as plane, edge, corner and centerline). Currently, AutoCAD only supports the structured point cloud files, we say it is “segmentation”. I am away from my computer at present but if you could please check the point cloud property in xref manager palette to see if the RCS is in this type.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I am back at my computer this morning so I checked the point cloud file you gave me. It is indeed not Segmentation (structured) data.  This means you are not going to find geometry to snap to in your data.

Is it possible to ask the sender to export the data in a different format that does support structured formats (FLS, PTG, PTX, ZFS, CLR, RSP and RDBX)?

Here is an article that describes the difference between structured and non-structured data format.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

Were you able to get the data from the sender in a more usable format? If so, please let me know if you need additional assistance or resources.

[Anonymous]

segmentation says no in the properties. will that make a difference?

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

Yes, That means there is no structured data in the file.  You need to go back and ask for a scan that does have segmentation.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

I am finding out if they can send the data in a diff format such that we are able to extract the data better. I will get back to you with that if its possible.