Scan2CAD raster to vector conversion software

REVIEW:

Graphtec CSX300 large format scanner

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Paper Handling

The CSX300 is a 36" scanner - just wide enough to scan an A0 or E-size drawing in portrait mode. The maximum media thickness is 0.06" / 1.5 mm, enough for most drawings. (Many scanners have maximum media thicknesses of less than 1 mm.)

The paper feed is centre justified and face-up, allowing you to see the drawing as you scan it. Smoothly sliding paper guides help to load the paper into the scanner. Initially, when feeding a document into the scanner we found that it paused for some considerable time before taking the paper. Fortunately, this wait can be reduced by changing default timing settings in the scanning software.


The CSX300's compact design
includes just three buttons -
Power, Eject and Stop.


Under the lid:
The CSX300's paper feed.

To keep the scanner compact, the buttons on its control panel are economic. Other than the Power button, there are just two buttons - Eject and Stop.

The Eject button combines a Forward feed and Rewind function. Depending on how far through the scanner the drawing has already travelled, it will be ejected forward or backward through the scanner, not necessarily in the direction you want. However, the Scanning Master 21+ software does allow control over where the document is to be ejected once scanning is complete, either front or back.

A slightly disconcerting label on the scanner tells users to "use a carrier sheet when scanning the document, because depending on the condition of document, the document may be damaged during scanning operation". We did not receive a carrier sheet with our unit and there is some confusion as to whether these will be supplied or not.

If you open the scanner's lid you can see there are plenty of places where a document can get snagged. A thin document WILL get snagged! We scanned a piece of newspaper which got well and truly concertina'd on the first feed! (This was quite unfair to Graphtec who stipulate that thin media requires a document carrier sheet.)

However, we also fed some 20 different drawings on various media through the scanner. Most of the drawings were rolled, folded and or dog-eared and all fed through the CSX300 with no trouble whatsoever.

We would conclude that there is no need for a carrier sheet for most drawings, but if you are scanning a particularly thin, fragile or valuable document, you should certainly use one. As Graphtec are one of the few scanner manufacturers who supply document carrier sheets, you should ensure that your supplier provides one when you buy a CSX300, even if you have to pay for it. It could save you much regret later.

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