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Table of Contents
Table of Contents

2Introduction
Intended Audience
System Requirements

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Quick Start

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Xtract3D Fundamentals
Concepts
File Import/ExportImport
Export Mesh
Mesh InfoEdit Mesh
Mesh Processing
Move Mesh
Orient Mesh
Align Mesh to Solids
Create Entity
Create Plane
Cross Section Entity
Drafting and Modeling
SliceSnapFitProject
Point Cloud Data Processing
Hide All Meshes
Hide Solids
Clip PCD Sphere
Clip PCD Cube
Mesh Deviation
Settings
License

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Introduction
XTract3D is a reverse engineering toolbar that works natively inside SOLIDWORKS.
There is no need to create CAD models from scratch. XTract3D gives you powerfulslicing, fitting, and snapping tools to create parametric CAD simply by tracing right on
top of 2D cross sections of 3D scan data (Scan-to-CAD).

Intended Audience
This document is for new Xtract3D users. In this document, the concepts and design
process for reverse engineering will be introduced in a high-level approach. Online
video tutorials contain a comprehensive set of tutorials that provide step-by-step
instructions on the features of Xtract3D including many samples.
Online tutorials can be accessed here: Xtract3D Video Tutorials (Approximately 20minutes)

System Requirements

Recommended Requirements● Windows 10 64bit● SOLIDWORKS 2022
● 12 GB of RAM

Minimum Requirements● Windows 10 64bit● SOLIDWORKS 2015
● 8 GB of RAM

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Quick Start
1. Import the mesh data into SolidWorks through the Xtract3D import function.
Scan samples can be found here: Scan Samples

2. If the object does not align with the original coordinate system, create a newcoordinate system based on the mesh data. It makes it easier to make CAD
models out of the part in later steps.

Page 4Create a new plane by using the Slice function to cut the mesh. Then the 2Dcross-section of the part can be viewed.

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3. Sketch the contour of the scan data outline using XTract3D and SolidWorks
drafting tools.

4. Revolve the sketch to get the final CAD model.

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Xtract3D Fundamentals
Concepts
Xtract3D supports quickly importing high resolution Mesh and Point Cloud Data. It is anative SolidWorks add-in toolbar which allows users to perform the reverse engineering
process easily within a familiar environment in SolidWorks. XTract3D focuses onproviding a basic yet powerful set of tools to manually extract features, sketch, andcreate CAD data using the 3D scan data as a template for design.

File Import/ExportImport

The file formats supported are shown below:● Supported Mesh Files:.stl, .ply, .obj
● Supported Point Cloud Files: .ply, .e57, .asc, .csv, .pts, .txt, .laz, .lasPage 7

In the pop-up menu of importing mesh, users can set up correct file units and choose toplace the Mesh or Point Cloud Data in the global origin. It is recommended to minimize
the size of the imported data for the best rendering experience. In addition, theGenerate Normals function will generate facing information that enables better 3d
rendering of both point clouds and meshes.

Export Mesh

Allow users to export the current mesh data and save on the local drive.
Mesh InfoPage 8

Display Mesh and Point cloud data information. Allow users to change the rendersettings.

Under the Mesh Info tab, users can change the render styles including Wireframe,
Wiremesh and hide mesh option as well as change the color of the mesh. Users cantoggle on Render Normals if the Point Cloud Data has the feature. Generate Normals
allows users to generate facing information that enables better 3d rendering of bothpoint clouds and meshes.
Edit Mesh

Under the Edit Mesh tab, users can edit the mesh either by deleting selected areas orby decimating. This function is only available to mesh data. Decimate Mesh allows
users to decimate the original mesh date by percentage, from 10% to 99%, in terms ofthe values of vertices and faces.

Page 9Mesh Processing

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Move Mesh

Under the Move Mesh Tab, users can translate and rotate the mesh by entering
numbers into the boxes with correct units, including in, ft, um, mm, cm, m, and km. The
mesh can also be reset to its origin by clicking the Auto Center Mesh button.

Orient Mesh

Under the Orient Mesh tab, users can change the orientation of the mesh/point clouddata by using selected points or planes.

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Use Coordinate System:

Align mesh data to the existing coordinate system. It is recommended to align the meshposition correctly into the SolidWorks coordinate system before starting the drafting andmodeling process.
A detailed tutorial can be found here: Use Coordinate System

Align Mesh to Solids

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Aligns Mesh data to already created Solid files. Note: The Fine Alignment option should
work without having to use rough Alignment unless dealing with complex assemblies
involving multiple part files or if the mesh and solid are not close to each other.

For Aligning mesh to Solids:
1. Click Set Three Mesh Points and select three points on the mesh surface.
2. Click Set Three Solid Points and select three points on the surface of the solid.
3. Click on Rough Alignment to roughly align both the entities.
4. Lastly, Click on Fine alignment to perfectly align the mesh to the solid.

Page 13Create Entity

Create Entity allows users to create points, lines, splines, or centre points of a plane on
Mesh. Users can toggle creating the entities on either a new sketch or a selectedsketch.

Create Plane

Create a plane using selected points on the mesh, surface of the mesh, splines, or froman existing plane.

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To create a plane, users can choose from the options in the dropdown menu, including
3+ points, single point, mesh select, use spline and copy plane. Users can also disable
the texture color based on their preference.

Cross Section Entity

Create an intersecting plane that is perpendicular to the mesh.

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For creating an intersecting plane:
1. Click on Create First Plane and select points where the first reference plane is to becreated.
2. Click on Create Second Plane and select points where the second reference plane isto be created.
3. Click on Create Plane Center and select the point where you want to place theintersecting plane.
4. Lastly, click on Create to create the plane that is perpendicular to the mesh.

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Drafting and Modeling
Slice

Cross-section slice of mesh/point cloud data at the intersection of a selected plane,
face, section view, or stored slices.
A detailed tutorial can be found here: Slice

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Under the Slice tab, users can choose different methods to slice the mesh. It also allows
users to generate multiple linear or circular slices by setting increments and number ofslices.

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For point cloud data, users can define the width of the slice by changing Selection
Width%.

Snap

Users can snap points, lines, arcs, circles, or splines to the existing contour of the meshdata.

Fit

Users can fit lines, arcs, or circles to the existing contour of the mesh data after
averaging it.

Fitting an arc to mesh data:

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1. Sketch on the slice plane with an arc. It is acceptable to deviate from the precisemodel.
2. Select the arc and click Fit

ProjectMoves 3D Points, lines, or splines to the closest surface.

Point Cloud Data Processing

Hide All Meshes

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Toggle the visibility of the Mesh or Point Cloud Data.
Hide Solids

Toggle the visibility of the Solids.

Clip PCD SphereClips the point cloud data by using a spherical tool.

Under the Clip PCD Sphere tab, users can define a sphere by setting the radius and thecenter. Reset allows users to undo all the changes made so far and start over.

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Clip PCD Cube

Creates a cubical shaped clipping tool for the point cloud data.

For creating a cubic clipping tool:
1. Setting Width: Click on Set Width and select two points that are far apart such thatyou decide the width of the cube.
2. Setting Length: Click on Set Length and select another point in the point cloud that
decides the length of the cube.
3. Setting Depth: Click on Set Depth and similarly select another point that decides thewidth of the cube.
4. Adjust the size of the cube by incrementing or decrementing the cube planes.

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After selecting the desired size of data, users can choose to clip the point cloud data
into defined shape and size by using Clip Volume, or delete the unselected data byusing Delete Clipped Points (Note: Cannot revert any of the deleted points).

Mesh Deviation

Compare mesh data to CAD model and visualize the differences at different points.
Users can change the color by adjusting bars on the top (CAD model color) and bars on
the bottom (mesh color), to have a better understanding of the deviation.

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Settings
Under the Settings tab, users can find the license and Xtract3D update information, andoptions to export CAD as mesh and sync broken meshes. It is recommended for allusers to update the Xtract3D to the latest version in order to get better performance.
Details for each version can be found in Patch Notes and the latest version can bedownloaded following the Check for Updates. In addition, users can change the default
setting including render preference, mesh texture color and line width, point cloud data
preference and import options. If there is an issue rendering mesh files that are smaller
than 1 GB, users can toggle on Basic Rendering to switch back to the legacy renderingsystem.

LicenseNormally, users are asked to fill in license information while opening the SolidWorks. If
the prompt is closed, SolidWorks can still be opened without Xtract3D showing in thetoolbar. Users can go to Customize (SolidWorks) -- Xtract3D and check the box. Thenthe license prompt will be shown again to type in license information.
The other way is to go to: C:\Program Files\Polyga\XTract3D\LicenseApp.exe and typein license information.
Users can change license information if multiple licenses are owned, by using
Licensing.

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