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Point Cloud for AutoCAD – Reverse engineering plug-in for AutoCAD


In this tutorial we will learn how a mesh is wrapped around a point cloud.


Step 1: Start AutoCAD.

Step 2: Select Import Points from the PointCloud menu or type PCImportPoints at the AutoCAD command prompt and press Enter.

Step 3: The Point File dialog box is displayed. Browse for the file Wrap Mesh Sample 2.txt (typically located in C:\Program Files\SYCODE\Point Cloud for AutoCAD\Samples\) and click Open from the Open dialog box.

Step 4: Select the format and delimiters in the Point File dialog box and click OK.

Step 5: Zoom to the extents of the drawing (View->Zoom->Extents). You will find the points from Wrap Mesh Sample 2.txt imported into the current model.

Step 6: Select Wrap Mesh from the PointCloud menu or type PCWrapMesh at the AutoCAD command prompt and press Enter.

Step 7: At the Select points command prompt, select the points and press Enter.

Step 8: At the Select points command prompt, set the Point cloud type to Convex by pressing "X". Press Enter when done.

A convex mesh is created as shown below. As you can see the inner points which make the point cloud concave are ignored. This is not what we want.

A convex mesh created ignoring the inner points

A shaded view of the mesh

Step 9: Delete the mesh and run the PCWrapMesh command again.

Step 10: At the Select points command prompt, select the points and press Enter.

Step 11: At the Select points command prompt, set Point cloud type to Concave by pressing "V". Press Enter when done. A concave mesh is created.

A concave mesh

A shaded view of the mesh
 

Tutorial 3 - Wrap a mesh around a convex point cloud

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