The FastTrack Digitizer fromOutline Technologies has significant advantages over all other digitizing systems.

Competitive Systems CNC Router On-Site Mechanical On-Site Photo Digital Angle Other Large-Scale Click on the competitive systems above for more detailed comparisons.

There are many ways to convert physical measurements into a digital format, including:
- Using a CNC router to digitize points,
- Using an on-site mechanical digitizing system,
- Using an on-site digital photo system,
- Using a digital angle-finder along with laser measurement system, or
- Using a competitive large-scale digitizer.

Each system has its advantages and disadvantages, but when all the factors are weighed, the FastTrack Digitizer from Outline Technologies results in the most profitable digitizing system on the market.

FastTrack Digitizers have been designed so that it takes only a few hours of training for your current templaters to master the digitizing and software procedures to create digitized files. You do not have to shift to more expensive, higher skilled labor in order to generate accurate digitized files.

FastTrack vs. On-Site Systems:
When you consider the entire process of creating digitized files, creating physical templates and digitizing them with FastTrack Digitizers is usually faster than using any of the on-site systems. If there is any time savings at the job site, the time savings is lost in the software manipulation required by CAD programmers back at the shop.

"Advantages" of No-Template Systems?
One of the advantages of the on-site digitizers is that physical templates can be eliminated, but that advantage is often a disadvantage in reality. Physical templates ensure that a top will properly fit into place once it is fabricated. Without a template, it is very easy to improperly digitize a top, either missing one or more points, missing a notch or digitizing the wrong point. A bowed wall that should have been scribed may only be digitized at the endpoints because the templater does not notice the bow.

Physical templates also allow the templater to remove and replace the template to see if it can fit in the space without requiring a seam. Sometimes, due to upper cabinets or other obstructions, the top will not physically fit into the space without having a seam placed in it. A physical template allows the templater to remove and replace the template to see if it can fit in the space. Without the template, a top might be made that cannot actually fit in the space.

Physical templates will usually be marked up to show which sides receive splashes, dropedges, field seams or shop seams. If physical templates are not made, and this information is not input into the CAD software, someone may have to go back out to the job site to retrieve the information.

The time savings which results from eliminating templating is more than offset by the increased computer time required to prepare CNC programs, and the time and expense of fixing or remaking tops that dont fit quite right.

Some Important Questions to Ask:

If you have multiple individuals that do templating, will you have a system for each templater?

Typically, the install crews will also do templates. Will they each have a system?

If you use contract installers or templaters, are you going to give this equipment to them to use?

Are you planning on training each installer or templater on the use of the equipment and the use of CAD software?

Do you believe that any of these no-template systems can ensure as good a fit as physical templates?

Without physical templates, what are you going to use to lay out the tops on granite slabs ?

The final step before any top goes out to a job site is usually to match the top up with the template that was made for that top. If the top does not match the template, modifications might be possible in the shop. Without that physical template, there is nothing to check to ensure that the top will actually fit on the cabinet. The only way to check is to go to the job site see if it fits.