3D Locations

For users of FlexiCAD/Flexijet Stone 3.0.16 and later (update released April 2020), please follow the following instructions.

For users of FlexiCAD/flexijet Stone 3.0.14 and earlier, please click here

If you cannot measure all the required points from one position, it is necessary to define your location in order to be able to change location. Examples of this would be a U-shaped room, a staircase measurement or a measurement through several rooms and/or floors.

However, it can also be a precautionary measure to define your location, especially when there is an increased risk of the device being hit or knocked. A minimum of 2 relocation points are needed to define a location, but additional points can be added now, or later in order to allow for repositioning from multiple vantage points. (Single points can be added later).

NOTE: To return and use the Flexijet to project points at a later date, a location must be defined with measurements points.

Steps to reposition:

1. From the Flexijet Ribbon, click on the ‘3D Locations’ button. Or, this can be selected with the ‘Define Location’ button on the screen of the Flexijet.
   

2. Now, select the ‘Define’ button in the ‘New Location’ section of the Relocation window. NOTE: Name is optional not required.
   

3. Measure location points (2 minimum required, but more can be measured now, or later.) with the Flexijet laser. The points should be at approximately the height of the Flexijet, and have the largest horizontal distance between them as possible. Ideally, the points will have at least a 50mm (2”) height difference. It is critical to use the remote control for accuracy.
   Flexijet will measure each of these points 5 times for added precision(with a clicking sounds followed by the measurement chime).

4. After measuring the desired amount of relocation points, press ‘Esc’ button on the Flexijet or the ‘Confirm’ checkmark to end the command.

5. Now you can move the Flexijet laser unit. Note that

6. TO RESUME LOCATION after moving the Flexijet laser, again select ‘3D locations’
   

7. Now, select the number of points to be used to be re-measured (either 2 or 3), and click on ‘Resume’. With the checkmark next to ‘Automatic Leveling’ selected, the Flexijet will Auto-level, and is ready to re-measure the location points.
   

8. You may re-measure any of previously defined relocation points, in any order. Flexijet will automatically determine which points have been measured and interpolate Flexijet’s new position.

9. If successful, the command window will read ‘Location was set’

Two possible locations found

If both measurement points are set at the exact same vertical height, a pop-up window will open asking to click on the first point re-measured while resuming the location (while resuming the location). Select ‘click on the point’, and click on the first measured location point in the drawing to allow Flexijet to determine its location.

In the rare event that relocation was unsuccessful or Flexijet cannot determine which measurement points have been re-measured, you will be prompted to ‘Measure again’, or to ‘Pick points Manually’. An extremely fine tolerance of ‘Maximum allowable deviation’ may also cause Flexijet cause this message.

*The Maximum allowable deviation for repositioning can be adjusted in ‘General Settings’. If the the measured relocation points are beyond this tolerance, a warning will appear prompting the user to re-measure the points.

Location point stickers

In your Flexijet case is a a box with measurement location markers. The surface of the location stickers is well suited for laser measurement. In case you forget your measurement marks, a pencil cross on painter’s masking tape will also work – these stickers are only a helpful tool at which to aim.

Considerations for the right choice of location

To define your location, you have to act a little like a chess player: you have to think a few steps ahead. Think about where you want to move and what you can measure at the new position. This is especially important when there are multiple locations. The location points must always be chosen so that at least two points can be reached from the new position.

The following things must be looked at:

• A location is defined by a minimum of 2 locations points.
• It is better to have one extra location point, than too few.
• The location points should be stuck on objects that cannot be moved.
• Ideally, the laser beam should hit the measuring mark perpendicularly.
• The maximum angle of incidence should not be less than 45°.
• The locations points should be at least 50mm(2”) apart in height.
  

Example 1: U-shaped Room

U-shaped room should be measured completely, so 3 location points are defined from position 1.

All three points can be reached from location 2. However, I use only two. If possible, the ones on opposing walls.

Example 2: Measure room and adjoining room:

In the room at location 1, define two measuring points in the adjoining room spread apart as far as possible.

In the adjoining room at location 2, you can again reach all three location points. Again, only use 2 points: one in the adjoining room and one in the current room.

Repositioning with 2 points vs 3 points

Flexijet can resume its location with 3 points instead of 2 points. Generally, it is recommended to use 2 points to resume a location for greater precision and ease, with 3 points reserved for situations where the Flexijet has been manually levelled.

Why reposition with 2 points?

Resuming a location using 2 points interprets the Flexijet’s location based on the relative distance and angles of the measured location points, combined with the level information from the Flexijet’s auto-levelling sensor. Especially in the case of longer distances, this means that the Flexijet will continue to measure level over these longer distances.

Repositioning with 3 points – Triangle has too acute an angle warning.

When setting and resuming a location with 3 points, it’s important that the location points are spread out in as wide as a triangle as possible. When resuming, Flexijet does not use the data from the internal auto-levelling sensor, and instead relies upon the triangulation of the 3 points to determine it’s location, and for this reason, the 3 points must form as wide and even a triangle as possible. For example, resuming a location with 3 points where all 3 points are at the same elevation on the same wall is not possible as they do not form a triangle.

*NOTE: Repositioning is achieved by measuring a minimum of 2 points, then moving the Flexijet and re-measuring 2 of those points. This can be done from FlexiCAD/Flexijet Stone or directly from the Flexijet’s touchscreen

*REMINDER: Once a location has been defined and the Flexijet has been repositioned, the ‘Horizontal Alignment’ tool in FlexiCAD and the ‘Align’ tool in Flexijet Stone should not be used, as the canvas’s position has been anchored to these points location points.

In North America, please contact Flexijet Support at 1-844-MY-FLEXI ext 2 or helpdesk@flexijet.info with any questions!