If you're serious about your 3D scanning then chances are good that you are already using the Geomagic suite of software to help clean up and translate scanned data into usable data needed for downstream applications. If not, welcome to one of the more robust point cloud, data crunching, file translation software packages on the market. Geomagic 2012 is the newest release and is packed in with some fresh enhancements just waiting to be unleashed.

Translating data collected from 3D scanning into something useful, no matter which scanner type or touch probe is used, needs some post-production work. It's similar to using Photoshop to 'touch up' an image to give it that extra TLC to make it shine. Whether the intended downstream application is quality inspection, translation to any 3D software or 3D Printing, the Geomagic software suite covers a versatile range of options. Some of the new features and enhancements in 2012 that stand out the most include:

• Sketching ability that will aid in the creation and editing of cross-section. This can come from either the actual point cloud data directly or from a polygonal model. This is useful especially when pushing the data down to your CAD program of choice.
• Remeshing tool that adds the ability to quickly and accurately "shrink warp" or retriangulate the data. Where this adds a huge boost and is extremely useful is in applications such as 3D Printing which needs "water tight" geometry.
• The new 'Patch' command offers a much needed functionality when it comes to fixing polygonal data.
• Native import of file formats from: NX, Catia, CREO elements/Pro, Spaclaim, and Solidworks. This adds an much tighter integration into your current CAD package without the possibility of data loss that can sometimes occur when converting to a neutral format.
• Quality Comparison is an aspect that's used to compared scanned data against 3D CAD models for surface deviation. The addition of 'Probe' allows for the testing of as built parts for first article inspection. The measurements gained from probing the physical model can be immediately compared to the digital version.

So whether it's the conversion of point cloud data to CAD or comparison and measurement to digital data the Geomagic suite—Studio, Wrap, Qualify and Probe—can be used in many various aspects of your process. You can download a free trial of the new Geomagic 2012 suite or see the patch command in action after the jump.