Hello!
Intro:
This is my very first (of many) post in this forum and it is about the issue that made me find this community.
A couple of years back I found a “digitizer” project online. (measuring arm)
I bought the encoders and downloaded the code but I didn’t get going there and then cause I wanted to scale it up first.
Finally started some weeks back now and I have the arm up and running! 
This is just a prototype, my final goal is 5 axis and export to 3D. However I really need this to work first and learn some things on the way. I have really learned a lot already and I really like processing!
The problem
When I have taken out my measurements and done the PDF file export things are not right.
First of all, In the code (that I downloaded and edited what I could) the scale is set to a value and I have no clue why this value is? (2,84832). It could be calculated from the creators device size and that is a lot smaller than my device!
When I open the PDF file exported I don’t see all my data. The sheet is to small or the size of the data to big.
I tried changing the scaling to “1” but this makes my measurements way off when I export the PDF to e DXF and opens in in my CAD software.
I need my PDF to come out in the correct size and scale as I have set my device measurements to.
The part of code I mention above (full code below)
if (ctl_pdf.update())
{
String s="3D_"+Integer.toString(year())+"_"+Integer.toString(day())+"_"+Integer.toString(hour())+"_"+Integer.toString(minute())+"_"+Integer.toString(second())+".pdf";
size(1600, 900);
beginRecord(PDF, s);
background(255);
translate(width/2, height/2);
scale(2,84832);
for (object obj : objects)
{
obj.export();
}
endRecord();
}
Images:
This is my last PDF of a dot in the center of my device. Not right! The dot should be a small X in the middle of the document.
This is with scale set to “1”. Looks good but measurements is off!
!
This is just to show my environment. Image from a different day so the cross pattern is irrelevant.
!
Full code tab: GUI2_demo4_plus (I cant fit the other tabs in this post. There is: gui, objects and pointer tab. If they are interesting to see for the solution just say and Ill post them in the conversation below. Or you can get the original files here from the creator: https://github.com/dzlonline/3D_digitizer2/tree/master/processing_code/GUI2_demo4_plus)
//============================================================
// 3D Digitizer GUI V2 Prototype
// Used with 3D digitizer:
// http://fablab.ruc.dk/diy-digitizer/
// (F)DZL 2015
//============================================================
import processing.serial.*;
import peasy.*;
import processing.pdf.*;
//============================================================
//-3D navigation
//============================================================
PeasyCam cam;
//============================================================
//-Digitizer
//============================================================
pointer digitizer = new pointer(this, 0);
//============================================================
// GUI controls
//============================================================
ArrayList<control> controls = new ArrayList<control>();
control ctl_clear = new control(10, 10, 'q', "Clear", "Clear all");
control ctl_point = new control(10, 10+1*40, 'p', "Point", "Mark a point");
control ctl_circle = new control(10, 10+2*40, 'c', "Circle", "Mark a hole");
control ctl_feature = new control(10, 10+3*40, 'f', "Feature", "Start a feature. Use \"Modify\" to add points");
control ctl_modify = new control(10, 10+4*40, 'm', "Modify", "Modify last figure");
control ctl_pdf = new control(10, 10+5*40, 'z', ".pdf", "Export as flat PDF file");
//============================================================
// Objects
//============================================================
ArrayList<object> objects = new ArrayList<object>();
//============================================================
// Setup
//============================================================
void setup()
{
size(1600, 900, P3D);
//Set up visualizer
cam = new PeasyCam(this, 750);
cam.setMinimumDistance(50);
cam.setMaximumDistance(1500);
//Add GUI controls to display list
controls.add(ctl_clear);
controls.add(ctl_point);
ctl_point.typematic=true;
controls.add(ctl_circle);
ctl_circle.typematic=true;
controls.add(ctl_feature);
controls.add(ctl_modify);
ctl_modify.typematic=true;
controls.add(ctl_pdf);
background(0);
}
//============================================================
// Handy globals
//============================================================
float penX=0;
float penY=0;
float penZ=0;
float penA=0;
//PVector pen;
object currentObject=null; //-Last created object
//============================================================
// Draw
//======================================================proce======
void draw()
{
//-Get coordinated from digitizer
digitizer.update();
//-Update globals
PVector pd=new PVector(digitizer.tip.x, digitizer.tip.y);
penA=digitizer.rotation;
pd.rotate(-penA);
penX=pd.x;
penY=pd.y;
penZ=digitizer.tip.z;
// pen=digitizer.tip;
background(0);
//-Draw pad
stroke(255);
// fill(10,10,10,128);
noFill();
rect(-277.5, -277.5, 277.5*2, 277.5*2);
rotateZ(penA);
//-Draw zero cross
stroke(100, 100, 0);
line(-20, 0, 20, 0);
line(0, -20, 0, 20);
//-Draw all objects flat projection
for (object obj : objects)
{
obj.project();
}
//-Draw all objects
for (object obj : objects)
{
obj.draw();
}
//-Draw cursor
pushMatrix();
rotateZ(-penA);
translate(digitizer.tip.x, digitizer.tip.y, digitizer.tip.z);
stroke(0, 255, 0);
noFill();
box(10);
popMatrix();
//-Draw Heads Up Display
cam.beginHUD();
color faceColor=color(98, 206, 198);
color textColor=color(75, 42, 0);
stroke(50);
fill(98, 206, 198);
rect(width-115, 10, 105, 90);
fill(75, 42, 0);
textSize(15);
//-Coordinates
text("X: "+penX, width-110, 30);
text("Y: "+penY, width-110, 50);
text("Z: "+penZ, width-110, 70);
text("R: "+penA, width-110, 90);
pushStyle();
//-Update GUI controls
if (ctl_clear.update())
{
objects.clear();
}
if (ctl_point.update())
{
currentObject=new gpoint(penX, penY, penZ);
objects.add(currentObject);
}
if (ctl_circle.update())
{
currentObject=new gcircle(penX, penY, penZ);
objects.add(currentObject);
}
if (ctl_feature.update())
{
currentObject=new gfeature(penX, penY, penZ);
objects.add(currentObject);
}
if (ctl_modify.update())
{
if (currentObject!=null)
{
currentObject.modify(new PVector(penX, penY, penZ));
}
}
if (ctl_pdf.update())
{
String s="3D_"+Integer.toString(year())+"_"+Integer.toString(day())+"_"+Integer.toString(hour())+"_"+Integer.toString(minute())+"_"+Integer.toString(second())+".pdf";
size(1600, 900);
beginRecord(PDF, s);
background(255);
translate(width/2, height/2);
scale(2,84832);
for (object obj : objects)
{
obj.export();
}
endRecord();
}
//-Draw GUI controls
for (control ctl : controls)
{
if (ctl.change)
ctl.draw();
if (ctl.mouseOver)
ctl.drawHelp();
}
popStyle();
cam.endHUD();
}
