Faro Focus String Remote

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jcoco3
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Faro Focus String Remote

Post by jcoco3 »

I am not proud of this one, but at least its a funny way to start off the new year :D Santa brought us(after we paid him) a new X330 and a Gitzo Giant. Only problem is we have to use wifi to start a scan, which uses much more battery.

youtu.be/
Focus String Remote.jpg
Ugly yet effective. Somewhere there is a Faro engineer shaking his head.
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Re: Faro Focus String Remote

Post by ddustin »

You are without a doubt, the most creative person I know when it comes to any kind of a solution.
Hence the reason I refer to you as the "Mad Scientist".

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Re: Faro Focus String Remote

Post by jcoco3 »

Thanks David :D It is my best skill next to persistence.
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Re: Faro Focus String Remote

Post by max72 »

Great solution!
But I'm missing a step.
Are you using zip ties for the contact? The Focus 120 display is capacitive and very picky. I tried an assortment of material (but not zip ties) to do something similar with no success.
Is the X330 display different or am I missing a key point of the touch process?
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Re: Faro Focus String Remote

Post by rbrch »

When you combine high tec with low tech, does this solution make it mid tech? Lol :D

We use a high tripod as well (faro 4.5m) but with the wifi option;)
I haven't noticed a significant increase in power usage though.
Anyway, nice to see creative solutions...
Kind regards,
Roy
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Re: Faro Focus String Remote

Post by jcoco3 »

The Focus 120 display is capacitive and very picky.
Unless I missed something a long time ago, all Focus scanners have a resistive touch screen, meaning they need pressure touch not capacitance. This is typical of devices that are used in outdoor environments where moisture or gloves may interfere. The slightly loose membrane over the LCD screen is a dead give away. To answer your question, yes it is just the end of the zip tie banging into the touch screen :lol:

The wifi does drain a little more power, ultimately it can reduce the maximum number of scans you can capture from a single charge. Not that big of a problem for us now that we have many batteries and a dock charger, but it is still a hassle.

This method of touching the screen is still not the most efficient since it keeps the screen active draining the battery significantly also. I tried to set this up to push the start/stop hardware button instead of the screen button, but it required too much effort(I need to 3D print a bracket with a lever and cam). When making numerous scans at the same settings we have found that we can squeeze more scans out of a single charge, by setting the screen to dim in 15min and using only the hardware start/stop button which does not re-activate the screen. I kind-of wonder why the firmware doesn't just turn the screen off instead of dimming it. That would conserve even more "juice."

We have started recording how many additional scans after the low battery warning we can achieve from specific settings before the scanner goes dead, but the number varies with temperature and the age of the battery. We also are working on how many scans of a single setting that can be captured from a single charge, but that number has even more variables. There be another rule of thumb table or spreadsheet to make when I get bored.
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Re: Faro Focus String Remote

Post by max72 »

jcoco3 wrote: all Focus scanners have a resistive touch screen
You are right!
When I tried to operate the screen with gloves it didn't respond, so I assumed it was capacitive. Probably my gloves were too soft.
I can reconsider my remote control idea.. :-)

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Re: Faro Focus String Remote

Post by ScottKarlins »

Jonathan,

Great solution! I was using WiFi to start the scanner on my Gitzo Giant, but this is better indeed, less battery drain. I am already 3D printing a bracket for the Start/Stop button!
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Re: Faro Focus String Remote

Post by jcoco3 »

I am already 3D printing a bracket for the Start/Stop button!
Scott you are one step ahead of me now :lol: Zips ties work fine, but if I had a 3D printer I could print a more permanent solution that was removable without being destroyed.
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Re: Faro Focus String Remote

Post by Scott »

I am already 3D printing a bracket for the Start/Stop button!
Scott- I'll buy one too (another Gitzo Giant owner) if you will print a few extras.
~Scott
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