Wireless Connections

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The ScanArm is equipped to connect to your computer using different wireless connections.

① WLAN On/Off Button

② Bluetooth On/Off Button

ScanArm Wireless On/Off Buttons

FARO Wireless - Bluetooth

The ScanArm is a Bluetooth equipped device and can connect to your computer without using a cable.

The Bluetooth connection will not support Laser Line Probe use.

Bluetooth wireless is a short-range communications technology intended to replace the cables connecting devices. The range of a Class 2 system, such as the ScanArm, is approximately 30 feet or 10 meters. Bluetooth devices are generally paired, or associated with each other, either openly or employing security, with one serving as the master device and the second as the slave. In the case of the ScanArm:

The ScanArm is the slave.
The host computer is the master.
Basic PIN based security is employed.
The host computer establishes an RS-232 emulation or Serial Port Profile (SPP) connection to the ScanArm.
Once the connection is established, the PC and ScanArm can transfer data at a rate of 921600 bits/second.

If your ScanArm is connected with USB cable and Bluetooth, only the Bluetooth connection will be active.

To activate the Bluetooth signal, press the Bluetooth On/Off Button. Connect the ScanArm to your computer:

Using Bluetooth - Windows 10
Using Bluetooth - Windows 7

Using Bluetooth - Windows 10

Create the wireless connection between the host computer and the ScanArm using:

The Devices category of the Windows Settings command.
FaroArm Manager

Ensure your computers Bluetooth radio is on. Some computers have a hard switch for the wireless receiver and some are only controlled through a software switch.

ScanArm to the Computer Connection

To connect your ScanArm to your Computer:

Click Start > Settings.

Windows Task Bar menu

You can also click the Bluetooth icon in the task bar menu and choose Add a Device.

Choose Bluetooth and then your ScanArm. All ScanArms are identified by their serial number.

Choosing your ScanArm

Click Pair.

Pairing the ScanArm

Enter the ScanArm pairing code, faro, and click Next to create the SPP connection.

Entering the Pairing Code

The FaroArm Driver connects to the SPP connection using the FaroArm Manager

Using Bluetooth - Windows 7

Create the wireless connection between the host computer and the ScanArm using:

The Devices and Printers category of the Windows Control Panel.
FaroArm Manager

Ensure your computers Bluetooth radio is on. Some computers have a hard switch for the wireless receiver and some are only controlled through a software switch.

ScanArm to the Computer Connection

To connect your ScanArm to your Computer:

Click Start > Devices and Printers.

Windows Task Bar menu

You can also click the Bluetooth icon in the task bar menu and choose Add a Device.

Choose Add a Device from the menu in the upper left corner of the window. All ScanArm are identified by their serial number. Double-click your ScanArm.

Choose your ScanArm

Choose the Enter the device’s pairing code option and click Next.

Device Pairing Code

Enter the ScanArm pairing code, faro, and click Next to create the SPP connection.

Enter Device Pairing Code

Windows checks and installs the hardware drivers. When this is complete, click the Devices and Printers link.

Hardware Install Complete

Right-click on your ScanArm device and choose Properties.

ScanArm Device Properties

Click the Hardware tab, and look to see what COM port is assigned to your ScanArm. This is usually COM3.

ScanArm COM Port

Write down your SPP connection COM port:___________________

This number is important and you will use it later.

Click OK to close the Properties dialog box.

The FaroArm Driver connects to the SPP connection using the FaroArm Manager.

FaroArm Manager

The FaroArm Driver connects to the SPP connection using the FaroArm Manager utility software. To connect your ScanArm using Bluetooth:

Click Start > FARO > FaroArm Manager.
Choose Bluetooth.

Choose the Bluetooth Connection

In the Devices list, click your ScanArm.

Choosing the Active Device

No more than two (2) ScanArm pairings can be active at any one time, but any number can be defined.

When the measuring software is launched (CAM2 2024, CAM2 SmartInspect, CAM2 Measure, Geomagic, Polyworks, etc.) the FaroArm Driver attempts to use any ScanArm connection - USB cable and any active Bluetooth pairings. It takes slightly longer, 8 or 10 seconds, for the ScanArm to connect and initialize via Bluetooth.

Once you start measuring using a hard probe, there is no difference in data transfer between using the Bluetooth connection or the USB cable. The Bluetooth connection will not support Laser Line Probe use.

Deleting The Bluetooth Connection

To delete the Bluetooth connection, highlight the Bluetooth connection and click the trash can icon.

FARO Wireless - WLAN

The ScanArm is a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) equipped device and can connect to your computer without using a cable.

A WLAN is a series of interconnected computers that communicate with each other over the air waves rather than through a network cable connected to each computer. In a WLAN, a radio communications device called an access point, or wireless router, connects network computers and provides network access. The access point, or wireless router, and the wireless network card in the computer communicate by broadcasting data from their antennas over the air waves.

The ScanArm WLAN is normally configured as a DHCP Client. Due to the nature of an open air system, network security is very important.

After connecting the ScanArm to the computer, start the FaroArm Manager program and choose Devices in the Devices group.

For a detailed description of the ScanArm’s wireless ethernet communication, See WLAN Primer.