[JMay]

To Kevan & Mr Flippant, thanks for the compliments a lot of work went into the conversion of the Mercedes and Triumph TR7 cars to generate different versions from the base model. To reply to the point on time taken (a massive variable) to create print files from scan files then a break down is shown below from the Lister Jaguar I scanned recently and highlighted in the 3dp addiction thread.

    Resin shell

    Scan file

@30 minutes for scanning process to set up and make several scans

@10 minutes to do initial clean up in the Revopoint Studio software
remove blobs (turntable spots and car support)
smooth surface
reduce resolution by @1/3 (smaller file size more manageable in CAD)

@2 hours using Blender to,
remove the arches infill
convert the skin to a shell thickness
tidy up the mesh
and mesh error correction

@4 hours using CAD to
cut the arches to the desired profile
create a new front grill aperture
create exhausts
cut headlamp apertures and rear air ducts
create headlamps to match the aperture
add body posts
add and adapt a drivers head (from a template folder)
section rear for printing and mesh error correction
add custom print supports

So @7 hours to get to a print ready file.

For comparison the TR7 was created some two years ago when I first bought the scanner and the creation time was a lot more due to inexperience, how much more is lost as I don’t keep the iteration files after the car is completed. Looking at the 1st scan and final print ready file dates the process for the TR7 to 8 conversion from scan to print ready was over several weeks and would estimate @30 hours work bulk of which was split between Blender and CAD.

The difference in time between the two cars is down to a number of factors,

Better car preparation i.e. remove all existing transfers and add a matt white coat
Learning to use the scanner to derive a file that requires less Blender work
Being prepared to ditch a scan file and start again
Understanding and using Blender more efficiently
Degree of modification to the source car required once the file is CAD ready

The last item is a variable that is outside the clean up process and would be incurred if the source file was a download from the net. Converting the TR7 to TR8 required extensive redrawing in CAD to convert the TR7 to the IMSA TR8 so longer than the simpler CAD modifications to the Lister.

       Tr8 mods in grey source file in blue

3d scanners are a powerful tool, but like using any software or technical process there is a learning curve where you have to be prepared to do the research on best methods and practise over and over. Looking at the cars created in the last two years, the scanner has saved an enormous amount of time compared to trying to create complex shells from scratch in CAD.

Finally, I have been asked about scanning cars for other people and the answer is only if I want the car for my own collection  as these are all passion projects.

Cheers
John