Haptic-Based Sharp Edge Retaining and Gap Bridging Algorithms for Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Reverse Engineering (RE)

Abstract

In Reverse Engineering (RE), a virtual model is created from point cloud data using surface fitting or triangulation techniques. Point cloud data or three dimensional position data of a physical object is typically acquired by laser scanning the part. Obtaining data that well characterizes surface of an object is quite difficult. Defective point cloud that is caused by loss or non-uniform distribution of scanning points might lessen the quality of the resulting virtual model and these defects usually appear as holes or gaps on the constructed triangulate facet surfaces.

This paper proposes a computational and haptic interface technique to improve the repair of non-watertight virtual models through the enhancement of hole filling and sharp edge retaining strategies. The technique can be used to selectively repair holes and retain sharp edge for both geometrical and free-formed models.