[hockeyguy01]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN2prASQPoU]Compact 1000 Pro with 3D Scanner and 4th axis rotary fixture. - YouTube[/ame]

Does anyone know of a software and machine setup to do this? It is a neat video.

[ger21]

I'd like to know what that setup cots. It looks like the machine is about $15,000(US), and I'd guess the laser scanning with 4th axis is at least another $2500 or more.
Commercial laser scanners are very expensive. NextEngine 3D Laser Scanner

If you want to laser scan for less than $1000, the David laser scanner is probably your best bet. I've never used it, but there's probably a pretty good learning curve, from what I've seen.

[txcncman]

Faro offers this option. Cost? No idea really. Would guess in the $20,000.00 range since you have to buy their software to convert the laser points into a point cloud.

[hockeyguy01]

Can you have more then 1 software on your computer? I think that you should be able. The cnc i am leaning towards basic machine comes with a 2.5 touchcade sofetware with an option to upgrade rhino as well. Want to make sure that i can have both loaded.

[txcncman]

As long as any third party drivers are compatible, you can load as many programs on your computer as you want. The only one that is active will be the one you tell to be active by opening that program.

[hockeyguy01]

What are the questions that i need to ask tourchmate? What there file extentsions are or is conection paralelle ports or usb what you are talking about?

[ger21]

If they are using FlashCut as I suspect, then you can not run it with Mach3 without additional wiring or hardware. FlashCut uses USB and it's own hardware device to generate step and direction signals. To use Mach3, you'd need to use either the parallel port and a breakout device, or a USB device compatible with Mach3, like the KFLOP or Smoothstepper.

Either way, it's not practical to switch back and forth.