Convert Paper Sketch line into DWG.

[s8utt]

Hello

 

I have some shapes ( real physical shapes ) that I need to the profile of in AutoCad.

 

I was thinking of purchasing a graphics tablet, placing the object on the tablet and drawing round it. The cost of such a tablet can be as low as £50.

 

Before I purchase such an item does anyone have any experience of this scenario. I was hoping for an accuracy of +- 0.5mm ( 1mm )

 

I've read that you can calibrate the input of the tablet in autocad.

 

http://www.vectortec.com/autocad_tablet.htm

 

I just wanted to see if anyone had actually tried this does it work quite well ?

 

I guess my only other option is insert the scanned item as a jpg and draw lines on top of it manually tracing the profile, this sounds a little labour intensive.

 

Thanks for any feedback.

 

Also any suggestions on which tablet would be great, I was looking at this one

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aiptek-SlimTablet-600U-Premium-Digitizer/dp/B001IX3YUQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_i#productDetails

[ReMark]

I'd see if I could find a place that does 3D scanning and ask how much they would charge to scan your objects and give you a file that could be imported into AutoCAD. Once brought in AutoCAD there are at least four ways one can extract the required 2D views.

[s8utt]

Sorry but this is not possible

 

The said items are located all over the world and in very primative places, getting local 3D scans is not possible and transporting the objects back to base is also not possible

 

I don't need 3D at all, just a single simple 2D profile ( draw round the perimeter of the shape )

 

I've been drawing round the items onto a piece of paper but I don't know of a easy way to import that into AutoCad and extract the line into either a polyline or even a series of points

[ReMark]

Sketches like that could be electronically reproduced in AutoCAD via a digitizer.

[s8utt]

can you provide any details ?

 

I'd rather have something I can take with me, then waiting to get back to base.

 

Strike while the iron is hot

[ReMark]

A digitizer is a board with wire imbedded in it connected to your computer and accessible in AutoCAD as an input device. One tapes the sketch to the board, digitizes two points (on a diagonal), lower left hand corner and upper right hand corner which calibrates the digitizer then using the puck (it has a set of crosshairs) one traces the sketch using the line or polyline command.

[s8utt]

is that not the same as the graphics tablet I was talking about at the beginning ?

 

Sorry I don't intend on being a pain.

[BIGAL]

The main difference with a digitiser is probably the size right up to A0 and more accuracy in its design like DPI with printers. I bought a A4 tablet for $50 from Aldi supermarkets it worked, a digitiser maybe new $2,000. there are probably heaps out there gathering dust cheap to buy big problem they have serial interface, USB-Serial ?

 

I would try the scan and redraw adding stuff like parralell lines and using fillet, AlanJT has a nice dynamic fillet option +/- search here, even digitising you could draw non parralell lines.

 

There is a number of commands relevant to digitising like "sketch" check help.

[TKall]

I would tape the paper sketch to the screen of my tablet computer, start ms paint and just trace the drawing right on to the computer. My tablet is a Motion J 3500.

[ReMark]

I paid $349 for a Calcomp 12x12 digitizer with 16-button puck. It is possible, with a little planning, to digitize a 24x36 drawing by breaking it up into sections.

[scj]

What about making an orthograpic photograph and tracing on screen (within AutoCAD)...?

Regards

Jochen

[ReMark]

Is AutoDesk ImageModler still available as part of one of their vertical products? Take 2D digital pics and turn them into 3D objects.

[s8utt]

Just to add a few commments

 

today i bought the Bamboo tablet

 

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/wacom-ctl-470k-en-bamboo-pen-graphics-tablet-11466673-pdt.html

 

£40 was very cheap I thought.

 

It works in autocad without any configuring, using the sketch command I was able to draw a shape.

The pen does not have to physically touch the pad, it works a few mm off the surface so taping a piece of paper on it works fine ( to allow tracing )

 

Only thing I haven't worked out yet is scaling.

 

I can draw a shape and then measure the shape on autocad and scale it, however it didn't seem to scale all the same, if I drew a 1cm square, on Autocad it would draw a 5cm tall, 10cm wide 'square'

 

I wonder if there is a way to 'calibrate' the input ?

[ReMark]

Bamboo tablet calibration. Read this:

 

http://www.ehow.com/how_5833798_calibrate-wacom-tablet.html

[f700es]

Is AutoDesk ImageModler still available as part of one of their vertical products? Take 2D digital pics and turn them into 3D objects.

 

I think this is called 123D Catch now.

 

http://www.123dapp.com/catch#catchApps

 

I would give it a shot as it is free and will only cost you time