part copy from picture

[acourtjester]

Here is a video on how to copy a part shape/dimensions from a camera image using Blender software. Video talks about 3-D printing but the process would be the same for DXF file.

[adbuch]

Tom - thanks for posting! Have you used the Blender software? If, so - how do you like it?
David

[adbuch]

Tom - I thought I'd download Blender to try it out, but during the process my Malwarebytes flagged it as having a Trojan and blocked the installation.
I don't know that I want to take a chance messing up my computer. Maybe I'll try to install it later on a different computer.

But I did take a quick look at the video and he's simply using the techniques we already use with a different software program. Take a photo, import to Inkscape, CorelDraw, or whatever and trace/scale to size using measurements taken from the actual part. I would normally use one of these programs to create the drawing, then save as svg/dxf and import to Fusion 360 for creating the solid model.

David

trojan.jpg

[acourtjester]

I have not tried Blender, and agree with watching downloads for Malware. It seemed to be an alternative software for some to use for part copying.

[tinspark]

I have used the method that David mentions with only one exception, and only for flat patterns at this point in time.
I take a photo and crop it. input it into Inkscape, clean it up a bit, convert it into a DXF file, then import it into Designedge.
I then draw a line in Designedge that matches either the x or Y coordinate of the actual part, and scale it up or down in DE to match the fixed line
of x or y. This has worked well for me, and I can get parts very close, especially for the tolerances that I need up to this point.

[adbuch]

I have used the method that David mentions with only one exception, and only for flat patterns at this point in time.
I take a photo and crop it. input it into Inkscape, clean it up a bit, convert it into a DXF file, then import it into Designedge.
I then draw a line in Designedge that matches either the x or Y coordinate of the actual part, and scale it up or down in DE to match the fixed line
of x or y. This has worked well for me, and I can get parts very close, especially for the tolerances that I need up to this point.

Doug - that's pretty much what I do as well. Take photo, crop with Paint.net, manual trace or auto trace with Inkscape and then send it to Design Edge for edit/scaling.

David

[TJS]

David. What do you crop out of it in Paint.net. The backround ? After you crop it in Paint.net I assume you save it as a JPEG so then a trace can be performed in Inkscape.
Thanks.
T.J.

[adbuch]

David. What do you crop out of it in Paint.net. The backround ? After you crop it in Paint.net I assume you save it as a JPEG so then a trace can be performed in Inkscape.
Thanks.
T.J.

Yes. Particularly if I am planning to do an autotrace. But it works well for a manual trace as well. Here is a crude example.

Original photo.

20230903_232136_resized_1.jpg

After cropping.

plate cropped.jpg

Imported to Inkscape for tracing.

plate cropped 1.jpg

The problem with this photo is the fact that I didn't have the camera looking straight on, so as a result there is some parallax.

David

[TJS]

Cool. I will have to check the video you posted on how to do a manual trace with the bezier tool. I am always making a mess with that thing. Curves, clicking, wondering....totally uncoordinated.

[adbuch]

Cool. I will have to check the video you posted on how to do a manual trace with the bezier tool. I am always making a mess with that thing. Curves, clicking, wondering....totally uncoordinated.

TJ - one of the things I like about the Inkscape manual trace method using the Bezier draw tool is that you don't need to have a steady hand. You just lay out your nodes and they are automatically connected. Then go back and do a node edit to drag the individual path segments out to match the exact shape of the image you are tracing.

David

[TJS]

I watched the Bezier trace video you posted. Good vid but kind of hard to see what was happening with the black shape and red dark line.
Thanks.

[adbuch]

I watched the Bezier trace video you posted. Good vid but kind of hard to see what was happening with the black shape and red dark line.
Thanks.

TJ - I'll work up some screen shots showing how I do the manual tracing with Inkscape.

David

[acourtjester]

David and TJ you can change the line size and color by adjusting the stroke settings. but it only shows up when the line is finished drawing. Make is easier when making correction as David points out after you trace the object.

[adbuch]

David and TJ you can change the line size and color by adjusting the stroke settings. but it only shows up when the line is finished drawing. Make is easier when making correction as David points out after you trace the object.

[adbuch]

I watched the Bezier trace video you posted. Good vid but kind of hard to see what was happening with the black shape and red dark line.
Thanks.

TJ - I'll work up some screen shots showing how I do the manual tracing with Inkscape.

David

TJ - here is a simple example of using the Bezier draw tool to manually trace an image. In this case, the image is symmetrical so as an option you could just trace 1/2 the shape and then use the Mirror tool to finish the trace.

David

manual trace example 1.jpg

manual trace example 2.jpg

manual trace example 3.jpg

manual trace example 4.jpg

manual trace example 5.jpg

manual trace example 6.jpg

manual trace example 7.jpg

manual trace example 8.jpg

manual trace example 9.jpg

manual trace example 10.jpg

[TJS]

Thanks David. I will try a part soon from a picture I take. Seems like when I am Bezier tool mode I cannot land the node or the line at the end never closes right when I double click it or it moves just a tiny bit off and does not close to make a closed path.

[adbuch]

Thanks David. I will try a part soon from a picture I take. Seems like when I am Bezier tool mode I cannot land the node or the line at the end never closes right when I double click it or it moves just a tiny bit off and does not close to make a closed path.

TJ - of up enable your snaps - you may have better luck.

David

snaps 1.jpg

snaps 2.jpg