Shaper Trace for digitizing

[SegoMan DeSigns]

David,

I had a brain-quake on this subject when a customer brought in his CAD bumper bracket file (Cardboard Template) that needed digitized prior to cutting. I will generally place the template inside a framing square (or on a cutting board mat with a printed grid pattern) to establish "0" for both X & Y axis. From there I measure out to the templates node from X & Y and transfer these values to the CAD drawing on the computer to replicate the position of a hole or shape.

Instead of doing this manually why not build your own trace machine using 2 DRO scales? The machine would be similar to a panto-graph cutting machine but the coordinates would be read by the X & Y DRO sensors. Some DRO's have USB out for information exchange to a computer.

This could offer a cheap option for a digitizer.

Steve

[tinspark]

Hey David,
I was wondering if a layered .065 aluminum frame would work? Top layer has the hole and bottom layer is white. Put together with double back tape. Heck, 040 aluminum is light and rigid especially in two layers and might even work? Burn on the plasmaCam….But IDK

[adbuch]

David,

Instead of doing this manually why not build your own trace machine using 2 DRO scales? The machine would be similar to a panto-graph cutting machine but the coordinates would be read by the X & Y DRO sensors. Some DRO's have USB out for information exchange to a computer.

This could offer a cheap option for a digitizer.

Steve

Steve - I can do exactly that with my Plasmacam table. I can install the torch pointer and use the keypad controls to move the pointer along the edge of a template while clicking my mouse to place points ("nodes") on the screen in real time. Once I have the outline, then I can use the BSpine tool (for curved shapes) or the line tool for straight lines and draw the part right onto my screen. It will be to correct scale as there is a one-to-one correlation between the actual distance on the table and the movement on the screen.

Another thing I sometimes use is the Scanything program with my cnc router table. The total cost for the program, camera, lamp, and cables was under $200. This will automatically trace around a template, drawing, physical part, etc. and automatically convert the trace to dxf format. It is very accurate.

The Shaper Trace is just another tool that I became interested in after one of the fellow members was having problems following my instructions on how to take a photo of a large cardboard template and autotrace/scale it using Inkscape (or Design Edge). One of his main problems was that he was not able to get a good photo without introducing parallax into the image. I went over this process step-by-step in another thread.

The Shaper Trace frame will help to solve part of his problem as it eliminated the parallax. Also, the Shaper Trace software does a superb job creating an auto trace - either centerline trace or outline trace. I was very impressed with the result.

So this is just a fun project that may prove useful for various projects related to cnc plasma cutting, engraving, cnc wood routing, 3D printing, etc.

David

[adbuch]

Hey David,
I was wondering if a layered .065 aluminum frame would work? Top layer has the hole and bottom layer is white. Put together with double back tape. Heck, 040 aluminum is light and rigid especially in two layers and might even work? Burn on the plasmaCam….But IDK

Doug - I think basically anything will work. It could be 2 layers of paper (white backer with black top). The frame is black with holes, and the backer shows thru the holes and gives the proper white background inside the frame. So yes - aluminum, steel, masonite, etc. Supposedly - according to a fellow member who contacted Shaper to ask about larger frames - their response was that they have had lots of requests for larger frames, but the camera resolution was not sufficient for larger frames. That may just have been an excuse from a sales person, in my opinion.

The guy that 3D printed the 200% "Mega frame" and showed it in his video has I believe used it with success. I ordered one from him that should be here next week so I can check it out.

I also printed a paper frame (normal size) with a white frame and black dots - to try it out. I will report back on that as well.

David

[adbuch]

Steve and Doug - here is an example showing the process for digitizing a template using the Plasmacam table.

David

[adbuch]

I have several different torch pointers I use. One of them fits over the end of the torch with consumables in place, and the other one fits into the torch cap in place of the consumables (similar to the EasyScriber).

David

[SegoMan DeSigns]

David,

Thanks for showing that option your table offers. When I add DRO to the press brake I will explore my idea a bit further.

Steve

[tinspark]

Wow David, I didnt know that! Super cool!!
I have used an old nozzle for years that I tapped a threaded and sharpened screw into in order to find points along a sheet. But mainly when I drug a tip up and sheet between a cut and needed to move the sheet back to the corrrect location after confirming a few points on te sheet and current cut paths, and prior to resuming my cut, which works fantastic in that application. I only have basic height and machine control, so my machine may ocassionally snag a tip-up.
But this point graphing trick is really cool!
I might be mistaken, but i think I vaguely remeber glossing over this method somewhee in their (very boring, at least for me!) instructional video manual. They should sell their video manual in mass as a sleep aid to get people ready for a good nights sleep on those sleepless nights! They would get rich!! 5 minutes into their videos, and I am ready to nap day or night!!! literally!! haha. At least for me it is a chore to go through..
In all seriousness though, Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to seeing what you can do when you get your large shaper trace gizmo's.
And have a chance to play around with them. Please post ypur findings!

[adbuch]

Doug - I don't believe there is any discussion of this technique in the Video Manual. They do go over all of the various tools - and drawing points is one of them. If you watch your screen while you are jogging the torch around the table, you will see the small yellow crosshairs that follow the torch. So it is easy enough to draw a point on top of the crosshairs. You can use the "torch point snap" if you want to draw the point exactly on top of the crosshairs.

If you do find some discussion about this in the Video Manual, please let me know so I can check it out.

Thanks,
David

[adbuch]

David,



Instead of doing this manually why not build your own trace machine using 2 DRO scales? The machine would be similar to a panto-graph cutting machine but the coordinates would be read by the X & Y DRO sensors. Some DRO's have USB out for information exchange to a computer.

This could offer a cheap option for a digitizer.

Steve

Steve - if the DRO's do have a digital output via USB and that output format can be successfully integrated with some sort of cad software, then that would be pretty slick! I have used my Bridgeport to do it manually by writing down the display coordinates and using them do draw the part in a cad program.

The Plasmacam approach does automatically record each node coordinate into the Design Edge program in real time. So this is effectively the same as using the digitizer you describe - if I am understanding your idea correctly.

Let us know what you find out about interfacing a DRO to some sort of cad program to create the "cheap digitizer".

Thanks,
David

[adbuch]

[tinspark]

Doug - I don't believe there is any discussion of this technique in the Video Manual. They do go over all of the various tools - and drawing points is one of them. If you watch your screen while you are jogging the torch around the table, you will see the small yellow crosshairs that follow the torch. So it is easy enough to draw a point on top of the crosshairs. You can use the "torch point snap" if you want to draw the point exactly on top of the crosshairs.

If you do find some discussion about this in the Video Manual, please let me know so I can check it out.

Thanks,
David

[adbuch]

It is a useful technique, and if it is not described in the Video Manual, it should be. This is just another big plus for Plasmacam Design Edge.
David

[tinspark]

It is a useful technique, and if it is not described in the Video Manual, it should be. This is just another big plus for Plasmacam Design Edge.
David

I searched through the video manual a bit using a few key words and reading the headings, and did not find anything. So, yes, I agree it should be in there but does not appear to show this useful technique. Seems very simple also, which is a plus