microcmm

Python library + CLI for reading positions from a MicroScribe-3D digitizer arm over its RS-232 serial port. Speaks the Immersion HCI protocol directly (no Windows DLL) and does the forward kinematics on the host using the arm's own EEPROM calibration. Millimeters everywhere.

Install

pip install microcmm
# or
uv add microcmm

Usage

from microcmm import MicroScribe

with MicroScribe("/dev/cu.usbserial-XXXX") as ms:
    # You should be homing right now: arm in its home pose (stylus seated
    # in the holder and vertical, counterweight against the stylus holder).
    ms.home()
    # (Advanced: ms.assume_homed() if the arm is already homed this power cycle.)
    print(ms.info.serial_number)
    p = ms.pose()
    print(p.x, p.y, p.z)

CLI

microcmm <command>

With pip, the microcmm command should be on your PATH. Inside a uv project, use uv run microcmm <command>, or use uvx microcmm to try it without installing anything.

• info - identify the arm, dump its calibration constants
• point - read one stylus position
• stream - continuously print positions
• capture -o points.csv - capture points on keypress, write CSV
• dist - measure distances between captured point pairs
• home - set the home position (arm must be in its home pose)
• ports - list serial ports

Notes

• Homing is mandatory. The arm only reads correctly if it was in its home pose (stylus seated in the holder and vertical, counterweight pressed against the bottom of the stylus holder) at power-on or when home was sent. This is lost at every power cycle. The library refuses to return positions until you call home() or explicitly assume_homed() - an unhomed arm produces garbage that looks plausible.
• Only tested on a MicroScribe-3D model D (5-DOF). The library refuses other models by precaution, not because they can't work - if you have one, run with allow_untested_models=True and report back, we'll add it.
• Pedals are not implemented because we don't have one. The raw button byte is exposed on every packet if you want to try.
• 5-DOF arms have no roll about the stylus axis; the reported orientation (XYZ-fixed roll/pitch/yaw) reflects that.
• Accuracy validated with a 45-point single-divot pivot test: 0.66 mm RMS. Avoid poses with the stylus aligned with the forearm (singularity).
• Not implemented, on purpose: analog channels, baud switching, EEPROM writes (SET_PARAMS / SET_HOME / RESTORE_FACTORY), motion-report streaming, custom tip offsets (MSTIP.DAT). Ask if you need one.

Dev

Install dependencies with uv sync, then:

uv run pytest
uv run ruff check src tests
uv run mypy src tests

Tests run without hardware: the kinematics is checked against golden joint-angles-to-XYZ values captured from a real arm.