Free-Form Surface Generation System for Camera Design

Free-Form Surface Generation from 3 Dimensional Measurement Data

Abstract

This paper describes a free-form surface generation system for camera design. The design of cameras has some aspects that differ from that of cars or airplanes. It is necessary to use real object models like wood or clay ones not only to confirm camera shapes but also to design them. Therefore a system is necessary that can generate or modify surfaces in the computer from the real object models as well as generate NC cutter paths to make real objects. The author has developed the system that generates free-form surfaces from three dimensional measurement data. The surface is generated with the following procedure. (1) Define a boundary line to specify the region where the surface will be generated. (2) Measure the real object with the three dimensional measurement machine. (3) Generate the free-form surface to be fitted for the measurement data. The system can offset surfaces and generate NC paths for them.