CAD Software for Automotive Glass?

Some 3D cad packages like SolidWorks allow you to save the drawing as an AutoCAD drawing or a DXF file.

Of course the file is then a pretty dumb file. A snapshot of the 3D model.

Are these windows flat or curved?

dear sir,

i want to say that i need a hard ware tool that will used to sacn the

sheet of glass in order to transmmit the drawing of the sheet to the pc then to cad

soft ware i need only 2D scaning for the sheet

These must be old cars as modern cars seem never to have glass that is completely flat (2D) as you require.....

dear sir

i want to clairefy some points,

first i'm working in factory for Autmotive glass manufactoring using cattin machine, and if i want to make a quantity of Automotive glass sheets, this mean that i need to have a template for the sheet of glass, which i will produce one in 3D for press, and another in 2D only for cutting of the flat sheet then the machine role.

so my problem now in the 2D template what is the most economic and efficient way to have this template from the original glass sheet of any car

regards

Will you flatten the glass sheet first? If yes, you only need 2D scanning / Software. A simple digital camera to take a photo, including of course rulers along the X and Y axis to make sure that the picture is correctly sized. The rest can be handled by cheap or even free CAD software, converting the image into a .DXF file for Autocad, if Autocad cannot do that itself.

If you are not able to flatten the glass, you need 3D scanning / Software......

The word "scanning" does not imply a "scanner", this scanning may be done by a laser scanner or even a CNC machine with a "Touch" sensor for example.......or by some other means that I am not aware of.

My tip is for the laser scanner, if you click on this link, it will tell you exactly how it works:-

3D Scanner

Hello eng.hmk:

I have an idea how you can do this but I will have to search and refresh my memory!

Unless you are scanning completely flat glass, I think you will need 3D scanning. Such as the windscreen on modern cars bend in three planes?

The machine I have in mind is not cheap. So it would help if you can tell me where you are to allow me to find a local supplier?

Any 3D cad will do the software job. I am looking for the measuring device to scan the glass. Can you tell me for sure what exactly you are scanning. As you have said you can do it with a 2D scan?

Take care...........

Hello eng.hmk

This might be the scanner you are looking for?

Take a look.

Take care.

What is the tool that help me to have 2D drawing for Automotive glass sheet, in order to save the drawing in soft ware like Autocad. i want to say that i need a hard ware tool that will used to sacn the sheet of glass in order to transmmit the drawing of the sheet to the pc then to cad soft ware i need only 2D scaning for the sheet

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Reverse engineering a contoured surface requires digitizing in some way. CMM touch points, analog scanning, laser scanning or "White Light" scanning will be the modern route taken although $$$.

Heck if it's simple enough surface you could possibly make a template with plotter paper then measure it and draw it in CAD but I think you should farm it out to a layout house.

Hello marker,

How are you?....................I was looking at various scanning options earlier but, wanted to wait to find more details before I said anything .

As I said and you and at least one other person here, depending on whether it is flat glass, (then why scan it?) and or in a vehicle, makes a huge difference to the type and cost of the hardware. Several times the cost of a really good computer and then some, as you well know. I am not sure if the OP realises that though? I did not check further than yours but, it seems he has not been back to the thread for two days? Perhaps it is not all that important? It is hard to advise when you do not know what he wants to do isn't it? I had a white light scanner possible a thing I can't recall the name of which just about touches the surfaces on lots of places and so builds up a topographical picture?

Take care.....................

He insists that it is only 2D.......surprisingly, so it could be as simple as a digital camera and a scale for the horizontal & vertical.......

Hello Andy,

How are you?.....................

He insists that it is only 2D.......

I would have thought if he knew it was truly 2D, then he would know what to look for? Maybe he had possible reflections in mind when he asked? We don't know because he has not got back yet?

Take care...................

I am personally very surprised that he only needs 2D as for at least the last 45 years, many cars have sported "shaped" glass.....but someone else has already asked....

Have a great day.

Hello Andy,

No offence to the OP, but I think , as I have noticed others do, he is logged in to several help sites? Hence the obvious lack of appearance?

Oh well, win some lose some I guess?................

Take care.........................

You too, have a good one!

once the glass is shaped the original template (2d) can be used to map the 3d with use of cameras.

working from fixed camera stations with reference marks on the template (would help to black out template and use high vis paint as elevation points). photos taken from 2 fixed points at angle X and angle 180 -X (my geometry is sketchy) and fixed distance. The photo loaded as raster to CAD and points calculated for value in three axes.

You would overlay the 3d to the 2d and calculate the deviations.

It is the same principle used for photogrammetry. Really not to tough these days.

really i'm very grateful to you and i will do my best to handle this issue

hoping for further cooperation from you

thanks and best regards