User manual

Innovative tools to compliment the Creative

PicaSoft SA
Espace Mercure, 84-86 rue du Général Leclerc
45240 La Ferté Saint Aubin, France
Phone: 00 33 238 64 01 10 - Fax: 00 33 238 76 34 59
Email : info@picasoft.com

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Copyright © 2001-2002 PICASOFT sa ® - Any reserved rights
The contents of this handbook and the software which are described are protected by
international laws. Neither the software, nor this handbook can be reproduced,
recorded or transmitted without the written authorisation of PICASOFT its (laws of
March 11, 1957 and July 03, 1985 on the royalties).

Limitation of guarantee and responsibility

Although the information described in this handbook was carefully tested, neither
PICASOFT, nor its suppliers, offer a guarantee, implicit or otherwise, on its qualities,
its performances or its capacity to respond to the needs of the user. The user
assumes the risk of its use and its possible consequences. In no case can
PICASOFT or its suppliers be held responsible for the direct or indirect damages
resulting from an imperfection in the program or the handbook or from there use,
even if they were advised of any possibility of such damages. The purchaser is
entitled however to the legal guarantee, in the case only where the legal guarantee is
applicable, not withstanding any exclusion or limitation. Moreover, PICASOFT
reserves the right to modify the characteristics of the product or the contents of its
documentation without being held to inform the users of them. The use of this
product supposes that you accept the conditions appearing above. PICASOFT®, the
logo PICASOFT, HandyScan, the HandyScan logo are trade marks of PICASOFT.
Windows 98, Windows Millénium, Windows 2000, Windows XP, DirectX are trade
marks of Microsoft Corporation.

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Thank you for purchasing the HandyScan software.
We hope that this software will meet your needs, that it will enable you to save time
by releasing you from the tiresome tasks. For that, it is significant to fully understand
its principles of its use. Please attentively read this handbook and contact your
supplier for all further information. This handbook refers to HandyScan version 1.0.
If you have suggestions or remarks concerning the HandyScan software, we will be
happy to receive them via our web site www.picasoft.com .

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1 Presentation

You have 1 CD containing the installer of several softwares.

Insert CD in the reader of your PC. This one contains:
- the installer of the various software
- the installer of the files of examples
- the installer of documentation.
Click on the icons of your choice.

? Configuration required for HandyScan :

Minimum Advised
Procesor PIII 1GHz PIV 1.8 GHz
Memory 512Mb 1Gb
Graphic card GeForce GeForce 2
Operating system Windows 98se / Millenium / 2000 / XP
DirectX 7 minimum
Sensor Immersion, Faro, Romer, …
Communication Serial port or USB
HandyScan is complient with dual processor configurations.

1.1 The protection

HandyScan is protected with a serial number. Without this number, it functions in
demo mode and it is not possible to save files in STL or DXF format. In order to
activate the software, you must connect the dongle provided with HandyScan and
record your serial number in the software.
? Select menu Windows/Serial Number

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1.2 The Configuration
? Select menu Windows/Préférences

In order to setup the software you need to

specifiy:
The kind of view
The software units

1.3 The use of HandyScan

Fix the model to be digitalised in the operating range of the arm.
Perform the arm initialisation (no need if you don’t use a rotary table)

Define a virtual block around the model

Digitise

Export the mesh in file format STL or DXF

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2 The interface

2.1 Introduction

The software can be configured in French or in English at the time of the installation
It is possible to choose to work in mm or in inch
the interface of HandyScan is made up of:
- a display window (perspective and/or projections)
- a bar of menus,
- a bar of commands,
- a bar of icons,
- a bar of edition of the grids

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The Icônes Bar

choice of the view

zoom
Undo redo

Management of the Sensor

Automatic mode
Creation of a curve
Creation of a block per extrusion of a curve
Creation of a block per revolution of a curve
Place a marker
Parameters of digitising (Precision/tool...)
Activation of the digitising

Numerical information
(Bottom left of the software)

The numerical information which are displayed in this view is the mouse position or
the sensor position. Grid size is shown in order to show the size of the model. Its
information is shown in millimeters or in inches.

The Status bar

(At the botom of the screen)

The status bar is made of:

Display accuracy
Smooth parameters (Weight, step)
An update buton in order to apply a modification
A progress bar which shows the working progress

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The action bar

(At the top of the scren)

The action bar tells the user the active function and what is expected to be done.

2.2 Edit View

Right mouse button: Rotate the 3D view
Shift + Right mouse button: Move the view
Mouse center wheel : Zoom + / Zoom –
Double click: Maximise / reduce the size of the view

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3 The Menus

3.1 The file menu

3.1.1 New
Clear the current document and create a new empty document.
All unsaved data will be lost.
This function can’t be undone or recovered.

3.1.2 Open
Clear the current document and create a new one with the selected file-.
HandyScan files use the (.hdy) extension.
This function can’t be undone or recovered.

3.1.3 Save
Save the document into a .hdy file (HandyScan file format) .
A dialog box request the name of the file if it is the first time it is saved.

3.1.4 Save as
Save the document into .hdy file (HandyScan file format)
A dialog box always request the name of the file.

3.1.5 Export
Export the digitised mesh into DXF or STL file format.
This function is not avaliable in demo mode

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3.2 The Edit Menu

3.2.1 Undo
Undo the modification applied to the document.

3.2.2 Redo
Recover the last undo.

3.2.3 Select all

Select all the items of the document.

3.2.4 Select None

No object will be selected

3.2.5 Invert selection

The selected items will be unselected
The other ones will be selected

3.2.6 Delete
Delete selected items

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3.3 The HandyScan Menu

3.3.1 Automatic
The Automatic mode allows you to increase the speed of preparation of the digitising
process. This must be done with the standard stylus of the arm.
It is composed of 4 steps :
- Block creation
- Choice of accuracy
- Marker placement
- Tool configuration
- Digitising initialisation

1. Block creation :
In order to create the blocks you need to specifie the control points with the sensor.

4 point 1 : Xmin, Ymin, Zmin

point 2 : Xmax, Ymin, Zmin
point 3 :Ymax, Zmin
point 4 : Zmax
3
1
2

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 2. Choose the digitising accuracy
You can specify a default parameter for use later,

this parameter is always available in the parameter dialog box.

3. Marker creation:
cf. § 3.3.6 HandyScan / Marker

4. Tool configuration
cf. § 3.3.2 HandyScan / Parameters

5. HandyScan is ready to digitize

cf. § 3.3.7 HandyScan / Digitize

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3.3.2 Parameters

This dialog box allow you to :

- Manage the tools(The demo tool can be use to test the software but it is
not the best to make a good job ).

- Specify the digitising parameters (accuracy / automatic removal of detached

block)

Standard stylus to perform tests.

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 The avaliable tools on HandyScan.

It is possible to measure and adjust the variation of length between the standard
stylus and the used tool with the Offset button.

3.3.3 Curve
Curves are used only to create block that encloses the model.
With this helpfull function the digitising process is faster.
To create a curve you need to :
Click on curve button.
Create the point with the standard stylus of the sensor.

3.3.4 Extrude
Select a curve and press Extrude Button.The folowing dialog box will appear :

The extrusion is performed following the specified vector into the dialog box.
After having pressed the Ok button the mesh will be computed.

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3.3.5 Lathe
Select a curve and press Lathe Button.The folowing dialog box will appear :

You need know and to write :

The center
The axis for the operation,
The angle of rotation of the operation.

After having pressed the Ok button the mesh will be computed.

3.3.6 Create a Marker

The marker allows you to activate the automatic removal of detached parts of the
block during the digitising process.
The way it works is:
The user puts the standard stylus on the model to be digitisze and press one
of the buttons of the arm.

A marker is created inside the block on the model (10mm into)

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During the digitising process, isolated parts of block will be created and removed.
The only ones to be kept will be the one that owns the marker.

the isolated parts of block that don’t own the marker will be deleted.

3.3.7 Digitising
It is commonly performed in several steps. Between each step we look at the
result to understand what still needs to be done.

To digitise using a block you need to:

1. Press the Digitising button. If it is the first time the following dialog box will
appear:

2. Select the block that will be use. Now digitizing process will be initialized.
When it is done the selected tool will be shown instead of standard 3D cursor
and “Ready to digitise” will appear next to the progress bar.

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 3. Activate digitising process by clicking on the sensor button.
4. Sweep the tool over the model to virtually remove the material.
During this proces the progress bar continually move and “Digitising process” is
displayed.
5. Press the sensor button at the end of the digitising process in order to
refresh the mesh.
6. Wait for the end of the computation to complete:
- computing Motion (boolean operation on the motion path)
- Update Mesh (update mesh after computation)
- Initialisationof the digitising process (Update view)
7. You can now perfom a new digitising sequence.

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3.4 The Sensor menu

3.4.1 Initialisation
You need to define 3 points with the arm in order to adapt the arm to
HandyScan’s origin.
It needs to be performed with the strandard stylus.

Point 1 : origin
Point 2 : X axis
Point 3 : point 3 of ref plane O,x,y (y>0)

Point 3

Y>0

Axis Y Point 2

Axis X
Y<0
Point 1

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3.4.2 Connect
Connect the sensor

3.4.3 Disconnect
Disconnect the sensor

3.4.4 connection status

Give information about Sensor connection status

3.4.5 Configuration
Select port and baudrate (Not needed for USB Sensor)

3.4.6 Rotary table (option)

You need to specify the center of the rotary table (Offset) according to the sensor
origin.
You need to enter the number of index positions

After the activation of the arm, a control will appear near the progress bar. It will allow
to specify the index position to use.

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3.4.7 Selection

Select your sensor

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3.4.8 Measure

3.4.8.1 Angle Measure

Perform your measure by selecting 3 points with the sensor.
The value is displayed in the numerical information area.

3rd Click

2nd Click

1st Click

3.4.8.2 Length Measure

To perform your measure by selecting 3 points with the sensor.
The value is displayed in the numerical information area.

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3.5 The window menu

3.5.1 Icon bar

Show or hide the icon bar.

3.5.2 Status bar

Show or hide the status bar.

3.5.3 Action Manager

Show or hide the action manager.

3.5.4 Preferences
This is a dialog box to set up the interface parameters.

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3.5.5 About box…
Information about PicaSoft

3.5.6 Serial number

Entering your serial number will allow you to exit the demo mode.

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4 Keybord Shortcut

< Zoom -
> Zoom +
Ctrl W Zoom Box
A Fit Window
1 front view
3 left view
5 4 view
7 top view
9 perspective view
F10 Show hide icon bar
F11 Shos hide status bar
F12 Show hide status bar
F9 Interface parameters
Ctrl A Select all
Ctrl D Deselect all
Ctrl I Invert selection
Delete Delete
S Connect
O Sensor initialisation
Shift C Create curve
Ctrl O Open
Ctrl S Save
Escape Escape current function
Enter Finish current action
F1 About box
Ctrl Y Undo
Ctrl Z Redo

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5 Index

3.3.1 Automatic ........................ 11

3.3.2 Parameters...................... 13
1 PRESENTATION ...........................4 3.3.3 Curve............................... 14
1.1 THE PROTECTION ........................4 3.3.4 Extrude............................ 14
1.2 THE CONFIGURATION ................5 3.3.5 Lathe ............................... 15
1.3 THE USE OF HANDYSCAN ...........5 3.3.6 Create a Marker.............. 15
3.3.7 Digitising ........................ 16
2 THE INTERFACE..........................6 3.4 THE SENSOR MENU .................. 18
2.1 INTRODUCTION ...........................6 3.4.1 Initialisation.................... 18
2.2 EDIT VIEW..................................8 3.4.2 Connect ........................... 19
3.4.3 Disconnect ...................... 19
3 THE MENUS ...................................9 3.4.4 connection status............. 19
3.1 THE FILE MENU ...........................9 3.4.5 Configuration.................. 19
3.1.1 New....................................9 3.4.6 Rotary table (option)....... 19
3.1.2 Open ..................................9 3.4.7 Selection.......................... 20
3.1.3 Save ...................................9 3.4.8 Measure .......................... 21
3.1.4 Save as...............................9 3.5 THE WINDOW MENU ................. 22
3.1.5 Export ................................9 3.5.1 Icon bar........................... 22
3.2 THE EDIT MENU .......................10 3.5.2 Status bar ........................ 22
3.2.1 Undo ................................10 3.5.3 Action Manager .............. 22
3.2.2 Redo.................................10 3.5.4 Preferences ..................... 22
3.2.3 Select all ..........................10 3.5.5 About box…..................... 23
3.2.4 Select None ......................10 3.5.6 Serial number.................. 23
3.2.5 Invert selection ................10 4 KEYBORD SHORTCUT............. 24
3.2.6 Delete ..............................10
3.3 THE HANDYSCAN MENU ..........11 5 INDEX............................................ 25

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