FARO RevEng vs PointCab Origins

FARO RevEng is Windows software for creating and editing meshes and CAD surfaces from 3D point clouds. It supports reverse-engineering, further design and 3D-printing workflows. RevEng connects with FARO ScanArms and the 8-Axis Quantum ScanArm, including real-time capture, and imports point-cloud data from PC, ASC, XYZ, PTS, E57, NPTS, VTX, PCS and PWN files. Mesh inputs include STL, PLY, OBJ, OFF, OM, GLTF and GLB. Tools provide automatic mesh fixing, repair, adjustment, smoothing and fitting. The Sketch Tool can produce editable NURBS surfaces from point clouds. Hole filling, simplification, offsets and shell operations help prepare watertight meshes for printing. Exports include the listed point-cloud and mesh formats plus STEP. The recommended system is Windows 10/11 64-bit with an Intel Core i7 or equivalent sixth-generation processor or later, at least 16 GB RAM and 1 GB free disk space. Virtual-machine installation and remote desktop access are supported. Pricing is on request, with no free plan; FARO offers a fully functional 30-day trial. A license is complimentary with new CAM2 Scan Professional or Expert purchases.

PointCab Origins evaluates laser-scanner point clouds and transfers results to CAD and BIM systems. It automatically creates front, side, and top orthophoto views; users can also make floor plans and sections and measure areas, distances, and volumes. The desktop software processes data from drone, terrestrial, and SLAM scanners, can merge point clouds, and exports 3D information in formats such as DWG and DXF. Its listed capabilities include point-cloud registration, E57 and LAS/LAZ support, geospatial analysis, and point-cloud-to-mesh processing. Origins runs on Windows and macOS. PointCab offers Origins Core and Origins 3D with perpetual, subscription, and rental license options, plus plugins for Archicad, AutoCAD, BricsCAD, Revit, Vectorworks, and ZWCAD. The Core monthly rental is €420.00 per month. A free trial lasts 24 working hours and allows up to three test projects; activation requires installation, a form, an emailed code, and a request through LicTrust Manager. Tutorials are available, and academic licenses are limited to non-commercial educational use.