We currently have two methods of digitizing.  The old method, consists of using a contact probe and recording data points along a surface.  And the new method, which uses a white-light scanner to capture the desired surfaces. 

Our digitizing process utilizes the evolution of 3D scanning from the old process of using a contact probe, and has drastically reduced data collection time while increasing accuracy and repeatability.  The 3D scanning process digitally reconstructs and seamlessly duplicates your original hand-ground cylinder ports.  This has reduced the digitizing process from taking many days to a matter of hours.  The equivalent of about 4 million points are taken to achieve extreme accuracy.  The art of hand-grinding ports and getting the perfect shape, along with the desired air flow results, gets more attention to perfecting the design instead of having to do every port, while maintaining symmetry.  This process of redesigning ports to eliminate flaws and maximize the volume and velocity of air can be duplicated and automated perfectly.  Included in the scanning process, is the recording of a reference datum for locating the surfaces upon importing into CAD/CAM.  The time spent struggling with data to accurately replicate the original surface has been drastically reduced to a matter of minuets.  You no longer have to manually record data to create a “rough” surface to 5 axis digitize from.  The 3D scanning process also eliminates issues such as: only recording center-point data, features being rounded-off by probe-tip diameter, having to offset the surface to achieve real size, and eliminates any “bad hits”, “shanking”, or “no hits”.  You don’t have to worry about the probe getting stuck in small features and tough areas.  You no longer have to patch two sides together, reducing the possibility of mismatch.  And best of all, your machine is free to use instead of having to wait for digitizing to finish.

Both processes begin with the hand-ground master ports.  Using the probe the next step is to use 3 axis with 4+5 positioning to record single curves at fixed locations.  These curves will be used to make the rough surface.  A 5 axis digitizing toolpath is created on that surface to drive the probe.  The result is a collection of splines that create a wireframe for the port.  Upon some manipulation of the resulting data, a cutting toolpath can then be created.  Along with 5 Axis digitizing, the probe also has such digitizing procedures such as: Radial Digitize, Grid Digitize, and Contour Digitize.  The probe is also very useful for doing CMM work.  It can be used to check locations and positions of features.  This is a very useful tool to measure dimensions that would be difficult or impossible to reach with standard measurement tools.

For more information on our digitizing solutions feel free to fill out either the questions/comments form on the Contact page. Or, fill out the information Request form including any questions about digitizing you may have.