Merge Wide

This tool is not supported on A and B revision Gocator 2100 and 2300 sensors that are not accelerated (either by a PC-based application or by GoMax). The tool is supported in emulator scenarios.

This tool is only intended for use with G2 sensors.

The Surface Merge Wide tool uses an XML transformation file produced by the Surface Align Wide tool (see Wide Layouts (Surface Align Wide Tool)) and combines scan data from multiple sensors into a single surface. You can use any built-in or GDK-based Surface measurement tool to perform measurements on the resulting merged Surface scan data.

Measurements
Measurement
Processing Time The time the tool takes to run.

Data
Type	Description
Processed Surface	The Surface data resulting from combining the scan data of the individual sensors. You can use any Surface measurement tool to perform measurements on the combined data.

Parameters
Parameter	Description
Source	The sensor, or combination of sensors, that provides data for the tool's measurements. For more information, see Source.
Enable Processing	Causes the tool to start merging data from the individual sensors. Make sure to properly configure the tool before enabling this option.
Operation	Actions that apply to the XML initialization file the tool will use to perform merging. An initialization file must first be created by Surface Align Wide (see Wide Layouts (Surface Align Wide Tool). XML files are located in C:\GoTools\SurfaceAlign. One of the following: Normal: The tool automatically chooses this operation after you have chosen another operation. Load: Displays a list of initialization files you can load. After you select a file, the tool loads it and displays a message in the log. Save: Saves the sensor alignment information to an XML file, using the name you provide in the Configuration Name field that displays when you choose this option. This lets you save the alignment information if you have made manual changes to the sensor positions or orientations using the Sensor Parameters settings. Delete: Deletes the initialization file you select.
Alignment Status	Indicates whether the tool has aligned the sensors. Either "Not Aligned" or the date of the alignment.
Sensor Count	Indicates the number of sensors in the system.
Sensor Parameters	A drop-down that lets you display the settings of a specific sensor. You do not usually need to change these settings, as they are set when you load the XML file produced by Surface Align Wide using the Operation drop-down. The values are intended for diagnostics only. For information on the parameters, see Sensor Parameters.
Y Axis Used	When enabled, displays a Y Scaling setting. For more information, see below.
Y Scaling	Typically used to compensate for errors in encoder settings, which can distort scan data. If you cannot change the encoder settings or if you are working with data recorded with an incorrectly configured encoder, use this setting to adjust the Y scaling to compensate. The value used in this tool must match the value used in Surface Align Wide (see Wide Layouts (Surface Align Wide Tool). Only displayed when Y Axis Used is enabled (see above).
Resolution Mode	Determines whether the tool scales the X or Y resolution so that they are the same (a 1:1 ratio), or leaves the X and Y resolutions as the original. One of the following. Optimal (uniform) Brings the X/Y resolution ratio to 1:1 while preserving the pixel area. Best for random rotation around Z. Provides a balance between the highest and lowest possible resolutions, requiring an average amount of memory and processing time compared to the High Oriented (uniform) or Low Oriented (uniform) options. High Oriented (uniform) Interpolates the lower resolution to match the higher resolution (between X and Y) in the input. Choose this option when increased resolution is preferred over speed and low memory usage. (This can result in a very high resolution output, creating a lot of data for subsequent tools to process. This can in turn result in slower processing.) Low Oriented (uniform) Decimates the higher resolution to match the lower resolution (between X and Y) in the input. Choose this option when speed and low memory usage is preferred over resolution. (It can result in significant data quality reduction with large Z rotations if the X and Y resolutions of the input are very different.) Original Resolution Keeps the original X and Y resolution of the scan. Use this option only when you expect little or no Z rotation. Otherwise, with X/Y resolution ratios that are not 1:1, large rotation around Z results in severe data quality reduction. Customized Lets you set a custom resolution mode using the Scale X, Scale Y, Output Width, and Y Offset Buffering parameters this option displays. For more information on Y Offset Buffering, see Y Offset Buffering Parameters.
Resolution Reduction	Reduces the lateral resolution of the heightmap to reduce processing time.
Filters	The filters that are applied to measurement values before they are output. For more information, see Filters. Not typically used with this tool.
Decision	The Max and Min settings define the range that determines whether the measurement tool sends a pass or fail decision to the output. For more information, see Decisions. Not typically used with this tool.

Y Offset Buffering Parameters
Parameter	Description
Y Offset Buffering	Displayed when Resolution Mode is set to Customized. The Y Offset Buffering setting determines how the input surface data from sensor layouts with sensors offset along the Y axis is handled over multiple subsequent input surfaces. The following options are available: Disabled The tool performs no offset buffering. This mode is suitable if some sensors in the system are offset along Y, but the motion is cyclic (back-and-forth), such as a motion stage, and not a conveyor. The resulting output surface will not have straight edges on the top and bottom due to the Y offset between the input surfaces. Fixed Length The tool buffers some of the input surface data from one frame to be merged with the data from the subsequent input frames. Use this mode in continuous scanning applications, such as with a conveyor, and if some sensors in the sensor system are offset along the Y axis and the system uses Fixed Length surface generation to ensure that the complete, combined Surface scan is output. (For more information on Fixed Length surface generation, see Surface Generation.) The tool outputs the new surface data in the Processed Surface data output. Choosing this option displays two additional, optional parameters: Overlap Length and Reset Time Limit. Overlap Length: Useful for applications where parts might be split between two frames. Sets an amount of the previous frame's data, in millimeters, to append to the current frame's data. The combined Surface data will be output in the Processed Surface tool data. Choose the overlap length to accommodate the size of your scan targets. The following images show how parts could be split between frames: The following shows how the tool combines data: Data is only appended in one direction. Partial objects in the resulting surface output from the tool must be filtered out using downstream tools, for example, excluding them based on the expected area. Reset Time Limit: The maximum time the tool waits until resetting the buffer. When it is set, it will check the timestamp of neighboring frames to ensure that not too much time has elapsed. If the time difference is above the limit, the buffering is reset. When set to 0, the check is disabled and input surfaces are assumed to follow each other.