Hybrid Modeling

Hybrid modeling is a method of using different modeling techniques in the same workflow in Computer-Aided Design. A Hybrid model is a combination of parametric features and a large patch of mesh that uses rapid surfacing and traditional solid modeling when basic geometric features merge with complex contours. Normally, a simulation on a polygon model using point-cloud data will be simulated and the insights of that simulation are used to make changes to the original polygon data. But this is a time-consuming process. To overcome this, hybrid modeling allows designers and engineers to seamlessly hop back-and-forth between modeling types without losing any data in the process. It allows engineers to run any simulation on their polygon files, and take those insights back to automatically adjust their models.

3D scan to Hybrid Modeling

After initial alignment, the scan data is duplicated before any changes are made. The key features are removed using commands like Defeature, Erase, and Fill Holes and it will produce better surfacing results. We can use automated surfacing tools including the Loft Wizard and the Mesh Fit tool. This Auto-surfacing tool wraps the entire model in NURB surfaces (4-sided patches), producing a surface solid, or dumb solid. Auto-segmenting is a type of feature that can analyze the scan data and identify standard features like cylinders, cones, planes, etc dividing them into distinct regions denoted by randomly assigned colors. By using the Solid Primitive feature we can extract the region, define sketch planes, and cut planes for more advanced modeling. The accuracy analyzer checks the accuracy of the model. The hybrid model can now be exported as one of many available file types, or live transferred into a CAD program.