AutoCAD - GTCO Calcomp digitizer: how does it all work?

[dave]

Hi,

I'm looking at purchasing a new Digitizer and have a few questions about the interface to Autocad.  I need to trace some old parts that have no drawings and figured tracing them would be easier than getting out a ruler and calippers and redrawing from scratch.

1. how do the points on the digitizer translate to the autocad workspace.  are there scaling issues?

2. How smooth are the tracings that are captured in  autocad.  is there a bunch of cleanup that is needed?

3. What are the cons of the digitizer tablet?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. TIA

[ The subject line of this post has been edited for clarity by @handjonathan Original: GTCO Calcomp digitizer ]

[devitg]

@dave 

I  use to scan the image, then scale to a given measure. 

And draw over image. 

[paullimapa]

What you want to do with a digitizer is no longer necessary especially when there are so many more effective ways to get a physical drawing into AutoCAD as a digital dwg. You can now purchase multifunction paper size scanners to convert the paper dwg as an image file. You can even take a picture with it using your smartphone and again save that asan image file. Then attach the image into AutoCAD and scale it up the real world units. Now you can draw over it using AutoCAD commands to create digital objects. Digitizing with a digitizer really is a thing of the past. I wrote about about this in this recent article:

https://issuu.com/augi/docs/aw202110hr/32?ff

[dave]

Thanks for the response, but I don't have paper drawings for these parts.  I have the physical templates that I would like to put on the digitizer and trace.  I have scanned drawings in and done the overlay deal before.  I understand this is old technology, but it would be the fastest way to get physical parts into a digital format.

[pendean]

@Anonymous Your terminology may be throwing people off track when trying to help you.

So... what are you calling "physical templates" exactly? 3D scanners exist for that task if your use of the term is the same as mine. No 2D pen-equipped (or mouse-clicker) on a 16-inch X 16-inch Tablet is going to be able to tackle that scope of work.

[dave]

Physical template=actual part.  I have looked into 3D scanning, but it is cost prohibative for the amount of parts I need to trace.  the parts are either sheet metal or thin wood templates that would lay flat on the 36"x48" digitzer.  I'm not doing 3D design here, just simply want to get the 2D templates into Autocad so I can then modify them for sending to a CO2 laser for duplication.

[pendean]

Thanks for the feedback.
Your question is best posed elsewhere, start here where you would buy such hardware and software to support them https://www.gtcocalcomp.com/contact-us/ and https://www.gtcocalcomp.com/graphics-tablets/ then https://www.gtcocalcomp.com/tabletworks-product-updates/

FWIW If it can lay flat, it may be 2D scann-able too, and your previously stated experiences will kick in too. A second option.

[dave]

Contacting the manufacturuer was the first thing I did.  They pointed me to ask Autodesk as they are not autocad exterperts.  their tablets are softwre agnostic, so they don't support questions on integration.  wanted to see if anyone on this forum has experience with it.

[Kent1Cooper]

Does your digitizer use a puck or a stylus?  I would think if it's a puck, the positioning can be pretty accurate, but there's the question of whether the parts are thick enough that the puck doesn't lie close enough to the digitizer surface to register properly.  If it's a stylus, presumably you can get right onto the surface against the edge of the part, but the stylus tip shape could result in the picked points being outboard of the actual shape a little, so you would want to Offset the resulting outlines inward to compensate.

[pendean]

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@dave wrote:

Contacting the manufacturuer was the first thing I did.  They pointed me to ask Autodesk as they are not autocad exterperts.  their tablets are softwre agnostic, so they don't support questions on integration.  wanted to see if anyone on this forum has experience with it.

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Your questions are all related to their hardware/software performance (see Kent1Cooper excellent summary above): there is nothing in AutoCAD to compensate for your physical (and eye/hand coordination) ability to precisely click where you need to click over and over again at different points across an element of the entire object using a pen or puck.

This is why today, in the year 2022, everyone so far here is suggesting you use more modern means/methods/tools to achieve the level of accuracy you need.

OR... you alone decide that's not important if the cost if prohibitive to you to achieve your goals here. Sorry., it is what it is.

Good luck either way.

[dave]

I can choose between a stylus or a mouse with crosshairs.  I'm going to go with stylus.  The material that I am tracing is betwwen 1/16-1/2" thick.  some are as long as 45" but they are not heavy.  There are instructions to get the tablet interfaced to Autocad, but they lack detail.  It sounds like there are folks using these with Autocad and was hoping someone on here has to ask some specific questions.  thanks for all the feedback.

[dave]

Hi Pendean,

I completely understand what you are saying.  If I could I would scan all the parts either 3D or if I had the paper drawings I would just scan them and do an overlay.  Unfortunately they are not options.  Take a look at Logicgroup.com.  They have created software that will create a dxf.  they created the software for people that don't have a cad package.  trying to avoid buying another middleware application, when i already have the full horsepower of Autocad.  granted, this is very old technology, and for the parts i need to recreate the accuracy is fine.  I also realize cleanup will be need thank you for all of your help.

[pendean]

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@dave wrote:

...trying to avoid buying another middleware application, when i already have the full horsepower of Autocad...

---

totally understand: plain AutoCAD is rarely good enough for your type of detailed precision task (looking from the outside as I am of course): if you are on subscription I wonder if more free tools like RASTERDESIGN (to help with scans cleanup and conversion) would be what you might also need to consider, and perhaps even using a different variant like MECH

[cadgroup2]

For the Calcomp digitizer to work with AutoCAD you need to also purchase their CADdriver software. This allows for the "mapping" function you are looking for. Currently this software only supports Windows 10. It does not work with Windows 11.

The way I do it in AutoCAD is to start the "pline" command at pick the points around your object. The closer/more you pick the more accurate it will be. Then I use the "Pedit" "fit" to smooth any curves. If your piece is 1/2 inch thick you would use a stylus as mentioned in the thread.

The con of using a large digitizer is that your back will be killing you unless you can prop up the digitizer so it's almost vertical.

Good luck....I don't check this forum often, but would be glad to help you with any setup/configuration problems. I'll try to check back in.

[dave]

Thank you so much, you are the exact person I need to talk to about this.  I sent you a private message.  look forward to further discussing this.

[AllenJessup]

Depending on how often you'll be doing this. You might want to look into ReCap Photo. Take a bunch of photos of the part and it will convert them into a 3D model.

There are issues with digitizing. everything is eyeballing. It's only as good as how well you pick the point on the tablet. I'd also try to get a demo to see if the tablet will detect the stylus 1/2" away. Or at least get assurances from the supplier.

[cadgroup2]

Sorry, I didn't receive your PM.