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Entering Dimensions in Onshape Directly From Your Digital Tape Measure
christian_reed096
Member Posts: 2 ✭
Hello all! I wanted to share a cool application today where you can directly update dimensions in Onshape (via any text input field) directly from your REEKON Digital Tape Measure. We had a few people reach out to us asking for how to do this and we put together a tutorial video and article showing how easy it is. This is a great way to getting real dimensions into your CAD model and is literally as simple as connecting over Bluetooth, selecting measurement field, and hitting the save button.
https://support.reekon.tools/hc/en-us/articles/38697010264724--Applications-Onshape-CAD-Entering-Dimensions-with-Digital-Tape-Measure
Let us know if you have any questions or if you would like to see any other functionality or features added to aid in your workflows!
-Christian, REEKON Tools
Comments
Nice. I have calipers connected to my computer via USB so I can enter measurements taken on small parts directly into my Onshape model. I'd be willing to pay extra for a BTLE version, though, to get rid of the cable and expand the radius. ;0)
I have a strong interest in what you have going on here. Can you share what calipers you have? Can you just get a longer USB cable to increase radius?
There was a link in the original post.
https://support.reekon.tools/hc/en-us/articles/38697010264724--Applications-Onshape-CAD-Entering-Dimensions-with-Digital-Tape-Measure
That's a tape measure. I was asking about Martin's calipers
I'd be interested in Martin's caliper utility as well.
As for the USB calipers: I bought them long ago, the brand is "Preiser". They have a proprietary connector on the top of the case and the USB cable was an add-on to buy. There is an "Enter" button on the case which can be easily reached with the thumb while operating it, and when pressed, it sends the value currently displayed to the PC. A little piece of software (Marcom or so) makes some additional modifications, E.G. changes the decimal to comma or appends enter or "mm" or "in". Some CAD software wants to know that. That can be configured, but since the software is old, it gets buggy, and the newer versions don't support my old calipers. The thing basically mimics a keyboard.
These devices were expansive back then. I recall having laid down about 200€ for the set, but it has already helped me quite some, especially when taking QC measurements en masse. In connection with a properly designed spreadsheet, it is quite easy to automatically flag out of specs dimensions. (By auto formatting the out of specs cell red and then have the red cells counted, for example.) Also helpful when remodelling bought parts.
The exact model is no longer available, but the brand apparently still has a similar model at a similar price. Now, since you asked, I googled a little and found you can buy Bluetooth-clipers from known brands for less today, so … I'd probably do that next time I need new calipers, rather than trying to optimize the USB Interface, especially since even when connected, they still run on the internal button cell, a fact I can still not understand.
Anyway, quite useful.
Nice. I too googled and found bluetooth versions. Also found a rechargeable caliper. I have an inexpensive 8", but lots of my measurements are well under 8" so I'm thinking of getting a supplemental smaller pair and thought it'd be cool to just press a button and have the measurement sent to the screen. I'll have to do some more looking.
@MDesign the rechargerable appears smart. In case it is a BT/recharge combo: Do you remember where you found that one?