Dear Michael,
I use Moi3D not only for 3D models used in visual projects but it is my primary tool for anything 3D printing related.
Recently I finally acquired a 3D laser scanner, the Creality Raptor. The YT creator Payo does excellent videos all around 3D scanners and shares full modeling workflows in CAD where he uses point cloud data as a reference. His videos and workflow inspired me to combine 3D scanning with 3D modeling.
https://www.youtube.com/@Payo-TensileCreator/videos

I know there are scripts for Moi that allow you to import point cloud data as points. I have successfully managed to do just that. However the viewport performance tanks immediately when I import a decently dense point cloud. Reducing the density first before importing into Moi3D helps but it's not ideal and with low point density it becomes harder to have sufficient enough cross cuts of points.
Another issue with having the cloud as Moi points is the visibility or rather the limited options to adjust the size and opacity of points. Even with the following Max Smirnov's script it's been quite difficult to work with the data:
script:/* Transparency */ var gd = moi.geometryDatabase; var so=gd.getSelectedObjects(); if (so.length>0) { so.setProperty( 'displayMode',1); so.setProperty( 'selected', 0); } else { gd.getObjects().setProperty( 'displayMode',0); }

You can see in the attached images a scan I imported into Moi. First a scan I imported as is and it's been impossible to navigate the views with it. Second image shows a reduced number of points before I imported it + the applied script shown above to make the points somewhat translucent. It is still rather slow and the reduced opacity doesn't make it all that helpful when modeling on top. Mostly because the points don't scale visually as you zoom in and out, they always stay the same size.

I have no idea how difficult it would be to integrate native point cloud support but I hope you would consider it. Ideally it would work similar to Autodesk Inventor. The points would need to visually scale in size depending on how close or far you are to the object. And they would need to be light weight on the viewport. Maybe it could exist in the View tab, alongside the Image feature.

Interestingly in Payo's most recent video he takes a look at BricsCAD which is CAD modeler which works similar to Moi in that it burns each operation into the model. It supports point clouds. Seeing that made me wish Moi supported point clouds as well.

Much love,
Andreas

Hi Andreas, MOI is focused on being a quick streamlined drawing and modeling tool.

I'm not surprised that you're having difficulty processing point clouds with it because that is quite outside of what MOI is designed to do.

Generating a model from point cloud scan data or polygon mesh data requires a substantially different "Reverse Engineering" toolset.

I'm sorry but MOI just isn't the right tool to use for that type of work.

Thanks,
- Michael

Hey Michael, thanks for the quick response.
The point cloud data would not be used to generate a model from it. The idea is to simply use the point cloud as a visual overlay/intersection as you model in the traditional way.
But I understand that native cloud data support is beyond the scope of what MOI is meant for. I thought it might be still worth asking just in case. I will continue to use MOI for 3D print models because enjoy modeling with it too much compared to other apps. Might have to import much sparser point clouds and perhaps scale down the bitmap that represents points in MOI.

Cheers,
Andreas