Part 6: Advanced Assembly Alignment (Tablet)

A tablet guide. No HoloLens needed.

0.1 Now you can try to use a complex assembly such as set of stairs, truss etc.

Examples:

Welcome to your FabStation Tablet guide! Here is your learning plan for today:

Step 1: Prepare the model for alignment with 3D viewer

Step 2: Prepare the assembly for alignment

Step 3: Scan QR target and Map the area

Step 4: Align an assembly

Step 1: Prepare the model for alignment with 3D viewer

1.2 Select a different part of the assembly if the default one is not what you need.

For instance, if you are working with the complex assembly - the default part may be not the one you want to start with. In this case, you can change it.

If you need help with this step, please refer to the Part 5: Part Selector and Advanced Controls.

1.3 Fix rotation if needed.

Make sure that the rotation of the model correspond to the rotation of the actual assembly - top view. If it's different - rotate it 90 degrees using Center controls, and make sure that you are looking at the correct angle.

IMPORTANT: Basically, when you are looking at the actual assembly from the top, you need to adjust the 3d viewer model to the real assembly.

Step 2: Prepare the assembly for alignment

2.1 Place artificial feature magnets every ~ 3'-0.

The camera investigates the environment to be able to make the tracking accurate. It looks for the unique features to track, but a steel shop doesn't have enough features that are unique.

That's why we ask you to place the magnets throughout the assembly to artificially create a rich environment for the camera.

IMPORTANT: After mapping, the magnets cannot be adjusted or moved because they have been recorded and serve as tracking points to recognize the rest of the environment.

You can remove the magnets, but you risk that the accuracy will be affected.

2.2 Navigate to the Fab-Assist or QC-Assist

Exit 3D viewer and open the Fab-Assist or QC-Assist.

All good? Then, let's check what to do next 👉🏾

Step 3: Scan QR target and Map the area

3.1 Place a QR code on the assembly.

In the basic alignment, we have told you about the basic rules for the QR code. In general, the important thing with placing it is not your position, but the relation between the assembly and the QR code marker/target.

When the camera looks at the QR code, it's looking at the orientation and placing the model at the same orientation:

If this explanation is too hard to implement into work, feel free to stick to the basic one:

Please still follow these 2 rules:

- Always put a QR target in a horizontal position, it should always be on the top of the assembly.

- The Yellow arrow ᐱ or ᐯ should be placed exactly as on the picture above, depending on your position.

3.2 Scan the QR target following the instructions from the tablet screen.

3.3 Map the area.

To Sum Up:

- Follow the mapped range is 30 feet by 6 feet;

- Map and work only on 3 sides of the assembly. Technically, you can map and use all 4 sides, but there are chances that the result will be much less accurate.

Here are examples of your possible 3 sides working area:

Step 4: Aligning an assembly

Please remember that you are working with the perfect model and imperfect material, so the small discrepancies with the alignment are fine.

What you should aim for, using FabStation is to look for the mistakes that can easily skip an eye, such us thickness of the material, its misplacement, wrong holes placement etc. For this, there is no need to align the model perfectly - as you would rather want to do it as per the guide and then start fabrication or inspection.

Time to test your knowledge and put it into practice!

Perfect! That was your ultimate guide to the FabStation, and now you can work with any type of the assembly! 🎉🎉