DASI Solutions had an open house at their facility in Pontiac, Michigan. DASI is an engineering consulting company that also sells SolidWorks CAD software and Stratasys 3D printing equipment. The open house included a presentation on Geomagic by EMS and demonstrations by EMS, Wenzel, CyberOptics and 3D Infotech.

Mr. David Darbyshire, one of the owners of DASI, was greeting people as they signed in. He later took a few people on a tour of the building which was still under renovation. Most of the first floor was finished but less than half of the second floor was done. Mr. Darbyshire spoke of how he was able to acquire the building and some adjacent property cheaply due to the depressed Real Estate market in Pontiac. He also pointed out some nearby properties that were available or recently purchased cheaply. He then led the way to a kind of lunch room where he spoke of some of the other endeavors in which he is involved.

There was a class room session in which EMS did a presentation on reverse engineering using Geomagic software by 3D Systems and SolidWorks CAD software. There are a number of products under Geomagic name. The one that was demonstrated was Geomagic for SolidWorks. Geomagic for SolidWorks allows the import of scan data or for scanning directly into SolidWorks. Sketches, surfaces and even solids can be produced directly off the scan data. A plastic part with a small section broken out was reverse engineered for the demonstration. A scan for the broken part was imported into SolidWorks. Plans and sketches were then created to start building the solid. A surface was created on a curved portion of the scan. Using data from the scan, the missing portion of the part was recreated. The resulting solid model was then exported to .STL for 3D printing.

EMS also had a pair of Creaform 3D scanners on display. One was the Go!Scan 3D and the other was the MetraScan 3D. The Go!Scan 3D is a white light scanner and is capable of doing full color scans. It is a hand held scanner weighing about one pound. The scanner does not need any special set up or operator training and can be used by anyone. The Go!Scan 3D has a fast scan rate and does not need post processing of the scan data. The MetraScan 3D is an optical Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM). It is designed for use on the shop floor. This hand held laser scanner weighs about three pounds. Neither the scanner nor the scanning subject need a ridged set up during the scanning process.

A company named 3D Infotech had a display of a robotic arm with a 3D scanner attached. The robotic arm moved the scanner to scan an object. 3D Infotech developed the software to operate the scanner and the robot. The software will interface with just about all 3D scanners. In this way the proper scanner for the job can be used. The operator is not confined to a particular scanner or scanner type.

Another display was by CyberOptics. CyberOptics provides solutions for inspection and verification of manufactured parts. The unit on display was the CyberGage 360. This unit uses Multiple Reflection Suppression (MRS) sensor technology developed by CyberOptics. The CyberGage 360 is meant for use on manufacturing floor or where a fast accurate scan is needed. The CyberGage 360 has scanners above and below the clear turn table and can do a 360 degree scan of a part. It will then overlay the scan data onto a CAD model of the part previously loaded into the software. In about three minutes it will give a comparison between the CAD model and the part as manufactured. All that needs to be done is to place the part in the center of the turn table, close the door, and push a button. The unit does the rest.

Wenzel was there with a Computed Tomography (CT) scanner. Yes, that is the same technology that is used in medicine. This scanner is smaller, however, and sits on a table top. This industrial CT scanner uses X-rays to see through the part to map the interior surfaces. It can see inside an assembly and show how the parts of the assembly work together. It can also accurately scan very small objects. These scanners can even detect porosity within the part.

One of my editors was with me to take some videos of the open house. We were very open about what we were taking videos of and there did not appear to be a problem until the end of the day when Mr. Darbyshire pulled us aside and led us into a conference room. He then questioned us on the things we were taking videos of and what was the real purpose of the videos. We explained that the videos were to be used as an accompaniment to the blog post I would be writing. He then demanded that we leave our SD card with him to be reviewed. We of course complied with his request since we had nothing to hide. He told us that he would review it and get it back to us in short order. It took over a month and several email messages to get our SD card returned. Mr. Darbyshire agreed that there was nothing on the videos that should not be there.

Unfortunately our day at the open house ended rather abruptly as I was about to get the names of the presenters. My apologies to the people from Wenzel, EMS, CyberOptics and 3D Infotech. I would like to have given them credit. I wish Mr. Darbyshire the best of luck with his vision to turn Pontiac, Michigan into a technological center. Pontiac could use the help.