Copying of free-forms from digitized data - The voxel-space representation

The copying of free-forms consists in the duplication of an existing object from its 3D digitizing, and from the use of NC machining or rapid prototyping. In most cases, free-form copying uses the tools of reverse-engineering through CAD modeling. In order to ensure a good concordance to the object's geometry, we propose a direct free-form copying from the digitized points. To overcome difficulties linked to the discrete representation and the large amount of data, we suggest a representation model of the data: the voxel-spaces. Several classifications may be defined linked to the future exploitation of the points. Moreover, operations and attributes are defined on the voxel-spaces to simplify the data treatment. In the paper, we present the voxel-space representation and its application to free-form copying. We especially bring out how geometric characteristics of point cloud can be obtained, and in particular how free-form copying process can be optimized.