Hybrid modeling for manufacturing using NURBS, polygons, and 3D scanner data

Some systems provide 2D environments where users can (1) import imagery from 2D cameras, (2) create new geometry and imagery, (3) combine the imported with the new, and (4) create high-quality production output. In contrast, most 3D modeling systems provide either non-uniform [knot sequence] rational b-splines (NURBS) or polygonal modeling with no import options from 3D cameras. 3D cameras/scanners are used efficiently today to create polygonal models, but high-quality NURBS modeling from 3D scanner data remains difficult and time-consuming. Ideally, designers could focus on 3D geometry and application issues in a manner independent of internal representations. It should be possible to import from any 3D geometry source, create 3D geometry, and freely intermix various types of shape information to create 3D models of sufficient quality that they can be manufactured with at least the ease of existing NURBS modeling systems. This paper discusses some of the issues involved in such a system.