Improved searching box method for extracting boundary from unhomogeneous measured point cloud

Reports an improved searching box method for extracting boundary from unhomogeneous point cloud measured on the surfaces of complex mechanical parts in order to construct numeric geometry model, which is the key for reverse engineering. Discrete points are assigned into searching boxes. The searching boxes locating at the boundary are searched in manner of circulation. The points in them are linked into a boundary point chain table. Finally, the obtained boundary points are further optimized to make the generated boundary clearer. Detailed algorithm is explained together with corresponding implementation and particular examples. The weight selecting, searching path, and boundary correction are described. This method has advantages over traditional searching box method in that, it is more suitable for treating totally unhomogeneous, amorphous and messy point set and is more universal.