Arclight Auto Tracer for non-Arclight tables

For general topics and questions that do not fit into any of the other categories or forums.
Post Reply
adbuch
6 Star Elite Contributing Member
6 Star Elite Contributing Member
Posts: 8599
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2017 5:22 pm
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Contact:

Arclight Auto Tracer for non-Arclight tables

Post by adbuch »

I am interested in using the Auto Tracer on a non-Arclight machine. I have a PlasmaCAM DHC2, a CNC Router Parts Pro4848 running with Mach3, and an Avid CNC Pro2448 running with the Centroid Acorn controller. I have not been able to find any information online as to exactly how the Arclight Auto Tracer interface works. It obviously traces a pattern and creates the corresponding vector file in dxf format. My question is how it interfaces with the cnc controller to drive the motors to do the actual trace. I will appreciate any of your input.
Thanks,
David Buchhauser
BTA Plasma
3.5 Star Elite Contributing Member
3.5 Star Elite Contributing Member
Posts: 590
Joined: Thu May 12, 2011 4:28 pm

Re: Arclight Auto Tracer for non-Arclight tables

Post by BTA Plasma »

Several companies try to claim it but it is just scanything from sheetcam.
adbuch
6 Star Elite Contributing Member
6 Star Elite Contributing Member
Posts: 8599
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2017 5:22 pm
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Contact:

Re: Arclight Auto Tracer for non-Arclight tables

Post by adbuch »

Please elaborate. Are you saying it only works with sheetcam, is manufactured by sheetcam, or what?
Thanks,
David
User avatar
lockeyone
2 Star Member
2 Star Member
Posts: 90
Joined: Tue Nov 22, 2016 8:59 pm
Location: Schofield, WI USA

Re: Arclight Auto Tracer for non-Arclight tables

Post by lockeyone »

Table 4'x4', BladeRunner EtherCut 620 LINUX w/CommandCNC
Hypertherm 65 CPC/RS485 Machine torch 2016
BobCad router 50"x50" MACH3 2kw spindle 2003
Shoptask Eldorado cnc MACH3, 1999
Epilog Mini 24 60watt, 2013
Vectric Aspire CoralDraw x6 SheetCam
adbuch
6 Star Elite Contributing Member
6 Star Elite Contributing Member
Posts: 8599
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2017 5:22 pm
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Contact:

Re: Arclight Auto Tracer for non-Arclight tables

Post by adbuch »

Thanks! I'll take a look at that.
David
adbuch
6 Star Elite Contributing Member
6 Star Elite Contributing Member
Posts: 8599
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2017 5:22 pm
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Contact:

Re: Arclight Auto Tracer for non-Arclight tables

Post by adbuch »

I can't seem to find any information on the hardware requirements for Scanything. I have a 4x4 router table (CNC Router Parts pro4848). I am using Mach3 with the Warp9 ESS to run the table. The ESS/controller connects to the computer using an ethernet cable. The computer is Windows 7 - 64 bit. I have downloaded Scanything V1.0.16 from the Sheetcam website and followed the instructions for Mach3:

"Instructions for installation with Mach3
Download and install Scanything then run Mach3 and go to Config->Config plugins. Enable the SheetCamRemote plugin and restart Mach3. To test the connection, enable the drives on your machine and check if the jog buttons in Scanything work. "

Does a video camera need to be connected in order to test the connection by enabling the drives and checking to make sure the jog buttons work?
Since I can run Mach3 Mill on my desktop office computer (not the computer out in the shop that I use to run the cnc) and I have downloaded and installed Scanything onto this computer, should I be able to test the jog buttons without being connected to the cnc? I can use the keyboard to jog in Mach3 Mill, and the display shows the movement on the readouts without any hardware being connected.
Mach3 Jog Buttons work.jpg
When I open Scanything, the jog buttons are not active.
Scanything Jog buttons not active.jpg
I have not yet purchased the video camera. The Scanything description says: "It is designed to work with a USB video camera"

In reading thru some of the other posts, they talk about using a parallel port for the camera, and that there might be a limitation of using Windows 32 bit operating system. Also - do I need a registration key in order to use Scanything?

Do you have any specific recommendations as to a suitable video camera to use here?

I will appreciate any input you can provide.
Thanks,
David

You currently do not have access to download this file.
To gain download access for DXF, SVG & other files Click Here

adbuch
6 Star Elite Contributing Member
6 Star Elite Contributing Member
Posts: 8599
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2017 5:22 pm
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Contact:

Re: Arclight Auto Tracer for non-Arclight tables

Post by adbuch »

I receive the following error messages when starting Scanything. I do have he plugin (SheetCamRemote.dll) installed in the C:/Mach3/plugins folder.
Any ideas what I am doing wrong here?
Thanks,
David

22:07:09: Checking for updates...
22:07:09: Not connected to machine
22:07:09: Error: file '', line 1: '=' expected.
22:07:09: Error: file '', line 2: '=' expected.
22:07:09: Error: file '', line 3: '=' expected.
22:07:09: Error: file '', line 4: '=' expected.
22:07:09: Error: file '', line 5: '=' expected.
22:07:09: Warning: unexpected " at position 89 in '"https://www.sheetcam.com/Scanything/Upd ... re</a>.</p>'.
22:07:09: Error: file '', line 7: '=' expected.
22:07:09: Connected to update server
User avatar
djreiswig
4.5 Star Elite Contributing Member
4.5 Star Elite Contributing Member
Posts: 1929
Joined: Thu Nov 19, 2015 10:02 pm
Location: SE Nebraska

Re: Arclight Auto Tracer for non-Arclight tables

Post by djreiswig »

I believe you need a license for Scanything to work. If you contact Les @ SheetCam he will probably give you a trial to test it out.
2014 Bulltear (StarLab) 4x8
C&CNC EtherCut
Mach3, SheetCam, Draftsight
Hypertherm PM65
Oxy/Acetylene Flame Torch
Pneumatic Plate Marker, Ohmic, 10 inch Rotary Chuck (in progress)
adbuch
6 Star Elite Contributing Member
6 Star Elite Contributing Member
Posts: 8599
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2017 5:22 pm
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Contact:

Re: Arclight Auto Tracer for non-Arclight tables

Post by adbuch »

Thanks for your reply. I have just sent an email to Les at SheetCam to inquire about a trial license.
David
BTA Plasma
3.5 Star Elite Contributing Member
3.5 Star Elite Contributing Member
Posts: 590
Joined: Thu May 12, 2011 4:28 pm

Re: Arclight Auto Tracer for non-Arclight tables

Post by BTA Plasma »

Whatever you have for motion control must be running and ready to jog. Also there is a north, south...east..west for the camera. It must be rotated correctly to calibrate. Be aware that scanything is very accurate...often too accurate. Also on the sheetcam page it lays our the requirements. A powered usb cable and supereyes 640 usb camera will do it besides software. Simple. We were an early adopter of the system but it just didnt meet good enough standards for the bulk of what our customers asked for.
User avatar
acourtjester
6 Star Elite Contributing Member
6 Star Elite Contributing Member
Posts: 7770
Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2012 6:04 pm
Location: Pensacola, Fla

Re: Arclight Auto Tracer for non-Arclight tables

Post by acourtjester »

I looked at the sometime back, one thing is the video camera needs to one that is like a microscope,very fine detail close up type.
These cameras attach via the USB port and that is why you need the plugin from SheetCam. The way it works is the color difference between the line and the background, it moves to keep the line in the center of its view. I cannot see how that would work without movement of the table that keeps the line in the view. Your manual movement of a line would be very hard due to the precise tracking of Scanything.
Les is very good about trial versions for your testing.
DIY 4X4 Plasma/Router Table
Hypertherm PM65 Machine Torch
Drag Knife and Scribe
Miller Mig welder
13" metal lathe
Small Mill
Everlast PowerTig 255 EXT
adbuch
6 Star Elite Contributing Member
6 Star Elite Contributing Member
Posts: 8599
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2017 5:22 pm
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Contact:

Re: Arclight Auto Tracer for non-Arclight tables

Post by adbuch »

BTA Plasma wrote: Sun Feb 23, 2020 9:35 am We were an early adopter of the system but it just didnt meet good enough standards for the bulk of what our customers asked for.
Please elaborate on the specifics of why it didn't meet your customer's requirements.
Thanks,
David
Post Reply

Return to “CNC Plasma Cutters General Forum”