I have downloaded another version previously, what will happen?
When you will install the newer version, previous installation will automatically be detected and two possibilities can occur:
If the version has never been used (just installed) the previous version will be automatically uninstalled.
Else the installation program will prompt you whether you want to uninstall or keep previous version(s).
What is the limit size of point clouds or meshes it is possible to load?
The software has no limit concerning the point clouds and mesh size. All the memory management has been completely optimized to allow big object handling. The limit is the memory of your computer. Memory saturation can occur in two cases in 32bits mode:
If your memory size is incompatible with your object size. For example if you want to process 500 millions of points, there are some high risks that you will not have enough memory space. In this case you can import your point cloud and make a reduction "on the fly" to have only 30 millions of points really in the RAM memory. This reduction is done according to the local point density. This means that the reduction will affect mainly the flat regions where the density is very high and there is no risk of losing some details.
If you work a very long time in your session without clearing or deleting objects of the recycle bin. Do not forget that objects of the recycle bin remain available for undo processing and also use memory. Then, you must sometimes clear the recycle bin. If the memory of your computer is "limit" compared to your object size (for example you work with 20 million points with 512Mbytes), then it will not be possible to store many undo steps. In this case, it is probably better to disable the full undo (undo limited to one action). Refer to the help for more information.
I have just downloaded the software, but the menu is disabled. Is my license correct?
Don't worry, your license is correct ! Inside 3DReshaper Application, the menu and the icons are "contextual". It means that when you select object(s), 3DReshaper highlights the menu item(s) that can be used with this object(s) (and only it or them).
For example, menus 2D or 3D mesh are activated only when you select cloud(s). Sometimes, you need more than one entity type to enable the menu; for example, to enable "Chordal/Deviation error refine ", you must select one mesh (and only one) and cloud(s). Refer to the help to know which entity(ies) is(are) required inside the selection.
With 3DReshaper Application can we reduce a point cloud or a mesh?
With 3DReshaper Application you can reduce both a mesh and a point cloud. However, with 3DReshaper Application, it will not be necessary to reduce or simplify a point cloud if it contains les than 20 millions of points and to make a simplified mesh. This is because when 3DReshaper meshes, it chooses the most relevant points to obtain the best mesh. Then, inside 3DReshaper, the 2 steps that you can find with other software (reducing or simplifying the cloud and then meshing) are only one step here. This is highly more rapid and accurate.
The point cloud reduction is mostly used if your point cloud contains a very high number of points, which is not compatible with the RAM memory available on your PC. For example if you want to process 500 millions of points, there are some high chances that you will not have enough memory space. In this case you can import your point cloud and make a reduction "on the fly" to have only 30 millions of points really in the RAM memory. This reduction is done according to the local point density. This means that the reduction will affect mainly the flat regions where the density is very high and there is no risk to loose some details.
My model is in millimeters and 50Km far away from origin. Can I handle big coordinates?
There is no problem and no accuracy loss if you work very far from origin because 3DReshaper Application works in double precision (64 bits; 15 digits). Also the graphic display has been especially designed to work with high values even if the graphic board only works in single precision (32 bits; 7 digits; like majority of the graphic boards).
If you work in millimeters at 50Km from origin, your coordinates will be something like 50 millions and the millimeter is the digit number 8. We only see following problems:
When you enter a point or use the "Measure command", the window layout can change slightly in case of high coordinates and a part of the result is hidden. In this case, you just need to drag the corner of the window to extent the display zone and to display longer lines.
If you export using binary STL, you will have accuracy loss because this format only supports floating points single precision numbers (32 bits; 7 digits). The 7 first digits will be exact and the 8th will be rounded. Then, with this format, the export accuracy will be something like 2 or 3 millimeters.
For all the other export format as well as for native .RSH files there is no problem because they support double precision.
How 3DReshaper Application demonstration version and registration form works?
Demonstration version is 100% free. When you will install 3DReshape® Application on your machine, the security system will be locked and you will not be able to run the 3D scanner software. A dialog box will display your machine ID. The machine ID is unique, i.e. each computer has a different machine ID. To unlock the security system, you must fill a registration form to tell us which machine is to be authorized and who you are.
The form must be completely filled with exact information: name, Internet site, type of industry, application, etc. It is very important because it is the only way we have to better know who you are and how we can improve 3DReshaper to fit your needs. WE INSURE YOU THAT INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE WILL BE USED ONLY BY TECHNODIGIT AND BY ONLY AUTHORIZED PERSONS. IN PARTICULAR, YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WILL NOT BE GIVEN TO ANY OTHER COMPANY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSE. Your email address will be used to send you your authorization code and to send you a short newsletter about 12 times a year. You can unsubscribe to newsletter when you want.
When we receive your form, the authorization code generator will verify that information is coherent. For example, if your name is QWERTY, your company is Google, your website is www.google.com, your business email is toto@hotmail.com and the application for which you intent to use 3DReshaper® Application is "to test"! There are many chances that your request will be rejected and you will receive an email reply to invite you to fill a new form.
Once your form is accepted, we send you an authorization code (password) that unlocks the security software. This authorization code delivery is 100% free.
The demonstration version provides all the same features as the standard version, except that there is no possibility to save and to export your files. If you strongly required a demo version with a saving mode, please make the request at contact@technodigit.com in order to receive a specific authorization code for 25 saves or exports and for a one-month period. After one month-time, the software will not expire but it will be still usable as a pure demonstration version or as a viewer (in no save mode), to display and mesh point clouds, etc. Only some of the features like color surface inspection will be disabled. At this step you can continue to use 3DReshaper Application as a 100% free 3D scanner software.
During the trial period, do not hesitate to contact us for any commercial or technical issues.
You can use 3DReshaper with a network protection license. For that, you have to purchase a network protection dongle and the corresponding license.
1-You have to decide which computer inside your Local Area Network (LAN) will become the license server and have the dongle. On this particular computer you must have a program running so that the dongle becomes visible from the other computer of you network.
Unikey dongle procedure.
2-You will require downloading the Unikey server software from our Web site. Then you must plug the dongle and run the program so that the dongle becomes visible in your network.
The first time you will run the server you will get an error message saying that "the IP address in the configuration file is wrong". This is because there is no configuration file available. Then the server program will create its own initialization file called "NetUniKey.ini".
Once you have launched the Unikey Server program, you will see a new icon on the right of the Windows taskbar. You can click on this icon to open the detailed configuration and monitoring dialog box:
If you want this server to be launched automatically when you boot your computer, you will require to switch on the option "Auto start after system boots".
Inside the monitor tab, you can see all the computers running 3DReshaper Application and connected to the dongle.
3-For each additional seat, where the software has been previously installed, you must proceed as following:
Case#1 - 3DReshaper requires a code. Cancel and restart 3DReshaper. You should follow case#3 instructions;
Case#2 - 3DReshaper is running. Go to Edit/Options/License and settings and then follow the case#3 instructions.
Case#3 - 3DReshaper asks you if a license server must be contacted. Select: - Use local network with a automatic configuration (broadcasting on your network to find the license server) if you don’t know the IP address.
- Use local network with a IP address
Then a second dialog box appears, requiring an authorization code (display the current license and enter the authorization code).
The “Dongle ID” is indicated. Please send this ID to Technodigit (copy and paste) in order to receive back the corresponding authorization code. This code is the same for all connected seats to the license server.
If the “dongle ID” is not mentioned, it means that the dongle was not found. Check your fire-wall configuration and the network settings. If the problem persists, contact us.
Standalone or node-locked license
Install 3DReshaper
Connect the dongle
Launch the software
Copy and paste the authorization code that you received (in response to your request), in the dialog box which appears when you run the software for the first time (also available on Edit /Options / License and settings...).
Does 3DReshaper® make Internet access during execution?
No, 3DReshaper® does not access to the Internet but only to the LAN (Local Area Network).
However, your firewall (for example Norton Internet Security) may display a message saying that 3DReshaper® tries to access to the Internet. This message is a confusion between the Internet and the local network.
The local network is accessed for two reasons:
For network floating license sharing as discussed in the previous article. For this, network access will occur mainly when you launch the software to search for a license server.
For printing and to make the list of all the printers available (some printers may be shared through the network).
We recommend you to authorize 3DReshaper® to make network access. However, if you disable the access, 3DReshaper® will work correctly except for these two features above.
Measurement noise.
From the mathematical point of view, the best accuracy is obtained by keeping all the points of your cloud inside the mesh. This means:
No noise reduction
Null deviation error (equal zero).
Unfortunately, this is purely mathematic and theoretical, because in reality, most point clouds contain measurement error so that some of the points are over the real surface while other points are below the real surface. If you make a mesh keeping all these points, you will obtain many undulations around the surface. Most often, you will obtain a disappointing result :
The number of triangle will increase dramatically, as well as the quantity of RAM memory that your model will require. If the number of triangle is really too high, you can get some errors.
The size of the resulting file will be very big and probably difficult to treat by other software.
The response time will become bad due to the number of triangles.
The surface state will be very bad. The undulations of the surface is often called "noise" by analogy with sound wave oscillations.
Meshing with a too small deviation error provides often a "noisy" surface (orange skin effect).
How can we find a good compromise between number of triangles and meshing accuracy?
The goal is generally to create a mesh having the best quality as possible. The quality is a compromise between:
The accuracy,
The level of detail,
The smoothness of the surface,
The number of triangles.
When the deviation error D decreases, the number of points N increases. A deviation error of zero means "keep all points". If the deviation error is high, the level of detail is low and the surface is roughly defined (See S1 on the figure). If the deviation error is too small or null, the surface contains many spikes (See S2 on the figure). Between the two extreme values, the goal is to find the optimum value of the deviation error, which provides the optimum quality Q.
When the deviation error D decreases the number of points N increases.The quality optimum Q is reached between D1 and D2.
The best deviation error D to be used is the value that provides only a small noise effect. At this step, if we continue to decrease the deviation error, the result is getting worst.
The strategy to obtain the best result is to call the command "Mesh -> Deviation error refine" as many time as necessary until the noise of your point cloud begins to appear on the surface of your model. The first step is, of course, to start from a rough mesh that you can obtain with the command "Mesh -> 3D mesh creation". Let's assume that your measurement device, give you an accuracy of 0.1 (value provided by the device maker). You can use the procedure as follows and you must stop when a slight noise appears:
Select the mesh to refine and your cloud(s) and launch the command "Mesh -> Deviation error refine"
Select the option "Noise reduction" to keep only the best points.
Enter a deviation error of 0.1, which is the characteristic of your measurement device.
If the level of detail is not correct, reselect the model you have obtained in step 3 and restart step 1 again with a deviation error of 0.05, then 0.025. Note that you can enter a deviation error which is below the accuracy of your measurement device. This is because, as the "Noise reduction" option is selected, you will mesh only the "best" points having most probably the best tolerance.
At this step, if you think that the good level of detail is not reached, you must continue the procedure with all the points of your cloud and for that, you need to remove the "Noise reduction" option.
Select the mesh you have obtained in step 4 and your cloud(s) and launch the command "Mesh -> Deviation error refine".
Do not select the option "Noise reduction".
Enter a deviation error of 0.3. Note that we start with a deviation error really bigger than the accuracy of your measurement device. This is because the "real" accuracy is generally worst than the theoretical accuracy because the "real" measurement conditions are most often very far from the ideal conditions in a laboratory! Set the Aberrant points to 0.5, to ignore all the points that are too far away from your model.
If the level of detail is not correct, reselect the model you have obtained in step 3 and restart step 1 again with a deviation error of 0.2, then 0.1, then 0.05, then 0.025. At a certain time, if your point cloud(s) contains many points (several millions) you should see a dramatic increase of the computation time and the number of resulting triangles. If this happens, you must stop and perhaps you should make undo to retrieve the previous result, which is probably better.
Import and export formats supported by 3DReshaper®.
Ascii and binary STL format (*.stl)
Binary PBI format (*.pbi)
DXF 3Dface format (*.dxf)
Ascii POLY format (*.poly)
Vertices only (*.asc)
DXF polyline (*.dxf)
Universal IDEAS (*.unv)
OBJ formats (*.obj)
STEP file (*.stp)
Ascii Leica format (*.msh)
VRML 2 (*.wrl / *.vml / *.iv)
MDL file (*.mdl) Object File Format (*.off)
STL format (*.stl)
Binary PBI format (*.pbi)
DXF 3Dface format (*.dxf)
Ascii POLY format (*.poly)
OBJ format (*.obj)
Ascii Leica format (*.msh)
Minolta Vivid format (*.cdm)
MDL format (*.mdl)
VRML files (*.wrl / *.vrml / *.iv)
CONTOUR / SECTION
IGES format
DXF polyline format
ASCII formats
IGES format
DXF polyline format
Binary MLI format (*.mli)
on the right of the Windows taskbar. You can click on this icon to open the detailed configuration and monitoring dialog box:
