SPATIALANALYZER USER MANUAL

Faro Laser Trackers

Faro Vantage / Faro Ion / Faro Xi

This guide applies to the setup of the Faro X, Xi, Ion and Vantage (in-
cluding VantageS/E, VantageS6/E6 models).
Hardware Setup
Set up the unit following the manufacturer’s directions.
Connect the temperature probe and ensure that it is well clear of any
external heat sources (such as the heat fan on the back of the power
supply). Ensure that the instrument is powered on and that an SMR is
in the home position.
Software Setup
Faro trackers are networked TCP/IP connected devices and should be
connected either to a wireless network or directly to a computer with
an Ethernet crossover cable.
Set your computer’s Local Network connection to be compatible with
that of the Faro tracker. Faro trackers are shipped with a standard
wired IP address of 128.128.128.100 (subnet 255.255.255.0). Wireless
connections default to 169.254.4.115.
Download the latest java drive from: http://www.kinematics.

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com/ftp/SA/Install/Driver Downloads/Laser Trackers/

Faro/. Extract the files to the C:\ drive. This should create a directory
structure with the Faro Java files contained in C:\FaroJRE.
Your JRE files must match your version of SA...
■ Versions 2017.02.09 and older, use the Faro JRE v4.3
■ Versions 2017.02.09 to 2018.07.11, use the Faro JRE v5.0.0.1
■ Versions 2018.12.07 to 2019.11.21, use the Faro JRE v5.1.3.1
■ Version 2020.04.09, use the Faro JRE v5.1.7.3
■ Version 2020.07.20 and 2020.12.01 use the Faro JRE v5.1.8.3
■ Version 2021.01 and newer use the Faro JRE v5.1.9.4 (required
to support the 6D probe2)
If you plan to use the video (overview) camera, you must also get the
‘Faro Tracker Camera files.zip’ file (version matching that of the JRE
Files). Unzip the file and follow the instructions contained in ReadMe
Faro Camera.txt. Note that cameras are wireless. If your camera
has the default IP address, you can set your PC’s wireless connection’s
address to 129.129.0.1.
Starting the Interface
1. Select Instrument > Add and choose the appropriate Faro track-
er from the Add Instrument to SA dialog (Figure 3-64).

Figure 3-64. Adding a Faro tracker

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2. Run Interface Module without connecting (Instrument > Run In-

terface Mode) and choose Laser Trackers.
3. Within the Connect to Spatial Analyzer dialog, Se-
lect the instrument station (computer name, job name,
Collection::Instrument Name: Serial Number) you wish to con-
nect your instrument to from the network list and press OK.
4. This will bring up the Faro Connection dialog (Figure 3-65).

Figure 3-65. The Faro Connection

dialog

5. Enter the tracker’s IP address (if different than the default) and
use the Ping button to test the connection if needed.
Once satisfied, click OK. The next time you connect this instrument to
the instrument, you can just select Run Interface and Connect. This will
utilize the last saved settings and automatically connect the instru-
ment.
Notes on the connection process:
■ The first 7 digits of the tracker serial number can also be used
to find the tracker. When you use this method it will search for
both a wired and wireless connection.
■ To connect Wireless, be sure to connect your computer to the
trackers wireless signal and use either the serial number or the
wireless IP address which will something like 169.254.1.1 (not
the wired default).
■ If you have any trouble be sure to check your windows firewall.
Exceptions need to be made for both the Spatial Analyzer and
SA Laser Tracker applications.
The interface is now connected and ready for use. Please refer to the
Measurements chapter of the manual for more details on the tracker

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interface and instrument settings options.

Faro Specific Settings
Distance Mode
Beam rest can be manually overridden as needed. Choose between:
■ ADM Only. This mode restricts beam tracking operations to
ADM only.
■ IFM Only. This mode restricts beam tracking operation to IFM
only which requires a homing procedure each time the beam
is broken.
■ IFM Set by ADM. Faro’s default mode which is a hybrid mode
that provides accurate tracking using IFM and easy beam re-
capture using ADM modes.
External Trigger Settings
■ External Trigger Settings. The external trigger will apply to
ANY measurement profile which has either a spatial or tempo-
ral scan as it’s Acquisition.
When “External” is set (for the Measurement Start Trigger in the Faro
Tracker Settings), points will be taken when the trigger is pulsed. The
only requirements is that a profile must be started for the external
trigger to be recognized which as an Acquisition mode of either spa-
tial or temporal scan. The advantage of this design is that no adjust-
ments to the measurement profile need to be made, and any profile
will work (Figure 3-66).
■ The trigger cable must be connected to the “Up” port on the
tracker controller.
■ 0 Volts on the trigger port implies take data and send the data
in continuous mode (where as 5Volts indicates stop). So by
default the external trigger is set to on and sending data and
must be powered to stop sending data. This means that if there
is no external trigger, the measurement will simply begin at the
maximum temporal rate of the trackers.

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Figure 3-66. Faro tracker settings

including external trigger settings

Search Settings
Faro’s video camera is used is used for reflector acquisition and pro-
vides a couple of optional modes:
■ Camera Search Enabled. This option enables camera search.
Disabling this option is used to limit target search to a beam
spiral search only.
■ Find Me Enabled. This is similar to the “Gesture Recognition”
setting and allows the tracker to snap to the moving target.
■ Active Seek Radius. Active Seek can be set from main window
(formerly “Smart Find”) dialog if supported. The Active Seek Ra-
dius can be set to limit the search zone relative to the current
beam position considered by the camera.
Spatial Scan Data Buffering
Data buffering was added to ensure that SA keep up with data deliv-
ered form the instrument. With a very tight scan increment this can
be quite fast (~100Hz).
■ Enable Faro Data Buffering. Provides a switch to enable or
disable data buffer. If unchecked, behavior is unchanged from
previous versions
■ Buffer Size. Default is 0.2. At 0.2, for a spatial increment of
0.01” (2.54 mm), the buffer would be 0.2/0.01 = 20 pts. Another
way to look at this is the Buffer Size means the number of inch-
es worth of data that will get buffered. So at a value of 1.0 and
a spatial increment of 0.01”, the buffer size would be 1.0/0.01 =
100 pts, and with a point every 0.01”, 100 of them takes up 1.0
inch.

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■ Do not buffer if increment is >= . This allows you to set a max-

imum increment for which buffering will occur. The default
value is 0.1, meaning that when you set a spatial increment of
0.1” (2.54 mm) or higher, no buffering will occur.
Its important to know that this buffering happens on the Faro side,
the interface will not receive any data until the buffer is filled. So for
example, you cannot set a scan whose increment would result in a
calculated buffer size of 100 points, and yet set a profile to stop at 20
points because it will not send data at all until 100 points have been
recorded.
Specialty Targets
Windowed SMR Configuration
Windowed SMR’s have an additional ADM offset, due to their glass
front, which needs to be accounted for. This is done by building a tar-
get based upon the correct reflector definition (see “Targets and Ret-
ros” on page 19). Care should be taken to always use a target that is
representative of the actual reflector being used or an error equal to
the ADM constant may be seen in your measurements.
As stated in the Faro accessories manual, proper use of the windowed
SMR requires sending it home when the target type is set correctly,
otherwise an error will occur. This ensures the correct ADM offset is
used. Additionally, when running startup checks or CompIT with the
windowed SMR, you should be sure to send the tracker home after-
wards, as these routines assume 1.5” standard SMR is being used. An
additional homing operation should be performed to update the tar-
get definition.
Faro 6D Probe
Faro’s 6D probe can be used within SA, using the VantageS6 and Vanta-
geE6 trackers. No additional driver installation is required. Compatible
trackers will include a 6Probe definition.
■ The Faro 6Probe version 2 with exchangeable tips requires SA
version 2021.01 or later.
The 6probe target detection is automatic but an initial connection
and activation process must be performed each time the 6D Probe is
powered on, and would go as follows:
1. Connect to the Tracker
2. Power on the 6D Probe Unit and catch the beam.
3. Press any button on the probe and wait (approx. 10-20 sec.)
for the probe’s “happy” beep and blue LED. If you have trouble
getting the 6Probe to activate, try moving it farther from the
tracker.

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4. After the first successfully pairing of the 6Probe and tracker,

you’ll be asked if you want to pop the Probe Management UI
to set the active probe tip. Hit “Yes”, and select a tip that is
Valid, or Calibrate at least one probe tip, and select it.
The probe is auto-detected once a probe tip is activated. When you
lock back on to a 3D probe, the last used 3D probe will be set ac-
tive for you. The pairing process will not be necessary again until the
probe is powered down.
The follow status indicator lights may be displayed:
■ No Lights Flashing. Press a probe button to begin the initial
connection process.
■ Flashing Blue Lights. A connection to the probe is being
made... wait for completion.
■ Flashing Red Lights. Connection attempt failed. Press a but-
ton to begin again.
■ Flashing Green Lights. Success full connection has been es-
tablished, waiting for tip selection. The Probe Management UI
will open automatically to allow tip selection.
■ Solid Green Lights. Ready to Measure.
Once configured, the probe is auto-detected and will be set simply by
catching the beam. When you lock back on to a standard 3D reflector,
the last used reflector (such as a 1.5” ball) will be set as active.
Tip selection and calibration is performed within the Faro utility win-
dow that can be displayed directly from the Home Button in the inter-
face which will read Manage Tips when a 6probe is active (Figure 3-67).
Also note that the name and diameter of the active probe definitions
is displayed on the Measure button.

Figure 3-67. Tip Selection control

from the “Home” button

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This utility is also accessible as a target definition within the Reflec-

tors and Targets database, where the 6Probe target functions as a but-
ton and provides access through a left click to Faro’s Probe Manage-
ment utility (Figure 3-68).
Faro’s Probe Management utility provides:
■ Ability to select directly for a list of defined probe tips. The
6Probe version 2 will recognize tips automatically when they
are connected, but changes to the calibration or initial setup is
still performed in this dialog.
■ With the addition of the auto-detect tips this is typically not
necessary but it is possible to define multiple tips for a holder.
■ Probe Compensation options
■ Probe Check options

Figure 3-68. Faro’s Management UI

or tip selection and compensation Tool.

Note that undefined tips will have an initial offset of -1 meter.

To program the 6Probe’s buttons, just click on the “gear” icon ( ),

and then on the Faro button (Figure 3-69).

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Figure 3-69. 6D Probe buttons can

be configured as needed through the
general setting.

When set up for a given work flow, such as using the inspection task
list, these buttons can be used to work for long periods without go-
ing back to the computer. In addition, the 6Probe can be used as a
remote even when using and SMR.
A set of standard 6D measurement profiles will also be available with
the 6D Probe (Figure 3-70).

Figure 3-70. Standard Set of 6D

Measurement Profiles

These provide a starting point for custom measurement profile de-

velopment. 6D measurements send frame’s to SA to graphically de-
fine position and orientation, which can be used in combination with
regular point measurements (which also do save the probing infor-
mation in the measurement details). For more information on defin-
ing measurement profiles (see “Measurement Profiles” on page 25).
Running the Tracker Interface Separately
One of the unique features about SA’s architecture is that the instru-

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ment interface can be run separately from SA. This provides a means
to run multiple trackers independently on different machines while
connect to a single SA for data storage. Doing so also provides the
ability to separate the persistence files for individual trackers, as the
persistence file will be saved in the directory as where the tracker in-
terface is launched, as opposed to the C:\Analyzer Data\Persistence
folder.
In order to run the SA Laser Tracker process separately some addition-
al support files are required. These include the following files (Figure
3-71):

Figure 3-71. Required Files to run

the SA Laser Tracker process indepen-
dently from SA.

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