MicroScribe G2 with Excel

a spatial measuring tool

• MicroScribe G2 is a computer tool for a designer or engineer to measure the location of points in three-dimensional space or on the surface of an object. It is a precision mechanical arm based on optical encoders at each of five joints, embedded processor, foot switch, USB (or serial) connection to the users computer and a software application interface - MicroScribe Utility Software (MUS) . Using the hand-held probe and foot switch the user selects a point or sketches a curve (a set of points). Calculated digitized XYZ coordinates are directly inserted into a selected function in the users active Windows software design, analysis or control application.
  
  
• MicroScribe G2 is compatible with
  ... Rhino
  ... AutoCAD
  ... DesignCAD
  ... BobCAD-CAM
  ... CADKEY
  ... ProEngineer
  ... SolidWorks
  ... Mastercam
  ... Excel
  ... Notepad
  
  all software application functions accepting keyboard entry.
  

setup

• at rear of base
  connect USB (or serial) cable from host
  power is provided by USB - red light (or power supply to +5V DC)
  connect dual pedal foot switch to accessory
  place probe tip in home position (in holder)
  push home button to calibrate, test and connect digitizer - green light (normal)
  
  
• open MicroScribe Utility Software (MUS)
  review welcome window or click OK to display digitizing window
  move probe tip around, notice display of XYZ coordinates
  
  
• select format strings button
  select Excel format %.4f\t%.4f\t%.4f\n
  
  
• select configuration button
  select standard (inches)
  use comma as decimal (un-checked)
  beep on plot (checked)
  use scaling factor (un-checked)
  use custom tip delta (un-checked)
  
  
• select reference frame button select custom to define a user coordinate system
  mark origin, X-axis, Y-axis on desktop (a drafting square is helpful)
  digitize origin (right foot pedal switch)
  digitize point on X-axis
  digitize point on Y-axis
  Z-axis is calculated at origin perpendicular to XY plane
  OK
  
  
• open Excel worksheet to calculate the distance between two points
  place cursor in cell A3
  digitize a point
  digitize a second point cell A4
  distance between points calculated in cell D4
  a set of five measurements may be made in the table
  standard & average deviations, average value of the set displayed in cells D13, D14 D15
  
  
• define format string for design application not listed
  determine format string to enter XYZ point from keyboard in a function (perhaps 3D points)
  try %.4f,%.4f,%.4f\n ... or ... %.2f\t%.2f\t%.2f\n
  \n (new line) may not be necessary
  AutoCAD format is %.4f,%.4f,%.4f\n
  add format to list and select format
  
  
• additional information
  sample test
  MicroScribe G2 User's Guide