3D Scanning Options

[brendan_scratch]

I do a lot of work where I mock up an object to build around.  Adding attachments to existing machinery etc

it would be a lot easier if I could scan that item and bring it in to inventor.  Is there a way to do this. What hard ware and software would I need.

[Frederick_Law]

Scans come in as point cloud or mesh.

Some scan software could fit them into planes and circles and features.

Usually scan won't be solid.

Scan software could patch it to be solid.

Inventor is not ideal for point cloud or mesh.

Get scan software that can clean up the scan and product solid model.

Geomagic is one.

[sam]

I do a lot of reverse engineering of broken, worn and damaged parts and assemblies. I use a Faro Edge portable CMM arm with the Faro HDD laser scanner for my probing and scanning right inside of Inventor using the Dezignworks addon software. So yes it is possible to Scan to Mesh directly inside Inventor. And using their special tools you can build a parametric model with complete history. This may be exactly what you are looking for. Or it may be way more than what you need. They are a great company with great, super friendly peoeple and I highly recomend them.