Re: Digest Number 5

James P Crombie <jpcrombie@...> wrote:
Subject: Re: Rhino Segue

That would be a great idea, I think we could come up with a design for an
arm using some inexpensive encoders but the software
might be a bit tricky. Anybody got any ideas??

[I've got an Immersion Microscribe digitizing arm, and although it was an
expensive piece of equipment ($3k) it doesn't seem very complex
mechanically. The whole thing swivels on its base, then rises about 10
inches and supports the main arm, which pivots in a plane perpendicular to
the table it sits on. At one end of this section is a counterweight, at the
other another pivot with a shorter section of arm with another joint from
which the stylus depends. All the joints, with the exception of the
swiveling base, are parallel, operating in the same plane of movement.
These are also very heavy-duty joints, in what appears to be die-cast
metal. If someone could figure out the angular encoders and software
interface, the rest could probably be done in a simpler manner if someone
had a reasonably well-equipped machine shop.]

Gar Willis wrote:

> I agree, Rhino is a stellar goodie (I was lurking on the beta testers
> list during it's development, and I must say the developer guys are also
> a bunch of nice chaps, no fat-heads, ifyagetmedrift).

[I participated in that too, which is how I got involved in selling the
program when it came out. It was a rare privilege, as a user, to be
allowed to communicate directly with the writers of a program and to find
them so responsive to such various wishes and needs. I preserved and
categorized some of the most useful questions and answers we exchanged, and
have them archived on my site under "Rhinotes". ]

>
> The reason for chiming in was to mention something that is IN Rhino
> already, and that is: interface drivers for a couple of the high-end 3-D
> measurement tools, ya know, them gimbled arm thingies you use to
> digitize in 3-D. Now, THERES a grand other possible group project, eh?
> Develop a low-cost, workable resolution 3-D digitizing arm. Woooheee,
> you are about to enter the "dream and drool zone".

---------------------------------------------------------------------

James P Crombie
Summerside PEI Canada

http://www3.pei.sympatico.ca/jpcrombie/ My Astronomy stuff
http://www3.pei.sympatico.ca/jpcrombie/RHINOFILES/ RhinoCad 3D Stuff

[While these are handy devices, the thing I drool in my dreams about is a
home-made laser-scanner. It's basically a lot easier to catch 3d points by
shining a light at them than by physically touching each one. I heard about
a hand-held device some researchers at the V&A in London had cooked up,
which they were calling the "tricorder"- apparently it worked by casting a
grid over the target object, then comparing the distortions in the grid to
a flat one, and working out the location of the points from that. It
sounded good, but I haven't heard any more about it since last year, when
it was supposed to be coming on the market shortly. Perhaps it became mired
in a patent dispute.]

Andrew Werby

Andrew Werby - United Artworks
Sculpture, Jewelry, and Other Art Stuff
http://unitedartworks.com