TECHNICAL SUPPORT

The VCA Tracer application takes frame shape data from any OMA compliant tracer and saves it to a file that can be uploaded to Shamir Online and used to create a remote-edge or precal order.

After VCA Tracer has been installed you will need to configure the program to work with your tracer. If you have not used VCA Tracer before, we strongly recommend that you use the User Manual to guide you through the configuration process.

VCATracer needs to be installed on the computer that is connected to your tracer, and this computer needs to be connected to the Internet. Programs that communicate with a tracer need exclusive access to it, so you must close any running tracer programs before starting VCATracer—and, for the same reason, you must close VCATracer before starting another tracer program.

VCATracer Installation Requirements

Before installing and configuring VCATracer there are a few pieces of information that you need to have to hand:

• Make sure you know which of your computer’s serial ports the tracer is connected to. It will very often be COM1 but this isn’t guaranteed, especially if you are using a USB-to-serial converter.
• Make sure you know the baud rate your tracer uses. It is very likely to be 9600 but, depending on the model, it could also be 19200 or 38400. Nidek tracers supplied by Shamir are set to 38400 baud, and Shamir Star tracers are set to 115000 baud.

If you already have another tracer program installed, you can find the correct serial port and baud rate by checking the setttings for that program.

This is an older version of ActiveTWin than the one that you can download from Shamir Online. The latest version does not always work well with Tess tracers, so this version can be used instead if you have experienced problems with the newer version.

If you have been having problems with the latest version of ActiveTWin, don’t forget that you need to uninstall it before you attempt to install version 3.0.0.0.

Following installation, ActiveTWin will have a new ClientID, so you will need to copy and paste the new ID into Shamir Shape Manager.

Credit Application Form

If you are not an existing customer you can apply for a credit account by downloading and completing the application form.

Please complete, print, sign, and return to us by mail. We need the original signed document: we cannot accept faxed or scanned copies.

If you prefer, we can send you a pre-printed form. Please contact our Customer Services department on 01954 785 100.

Non-Tolerance Claim Form

The Shamir Satisfaction Programme allows lenses to be returned to us for credit in the event that a patient is found to be non-tolerant of any of our progressive or occupational lenses.

Please download and complete the non-tolerance claim form and return it along with the lenses.

The conditions under which we accept lenses returned for patient non-tolerance are shown below.

• The Shamir Satisfaction Programme is available to practices registered with the General Optical Council.
• The terms of the Shamir Satisfaction Programme apply only to cases where the Shamir lenses match the prescription and have been correctly glazed within the recommended fitting parameters
• Only one Shamir Satisfaction Claim form will be accepted per patient.
• The Shamir Satisfaction Programme covers all glass or plastic ‘cut’ Shamir progressive and degressive lenses.
• Shamir will regularly review claims under its Shamir Satisfaction Programme and reserves the right to remove the facility from an individual or practice without notice or explanation.
• Claims must be made within 90 days of the original order.
• Credit vouchers will only be issued on receipt of the lenses when accompanied by a fully completed Shamir Satisfaction claim form.
• Claims made under the Shamir Satisfaction programme will only be considered for practices operating within the agreed trading terms.
• The Shamir Satisfaction Programme is in addition to your statutory rights.

Download PDF format manuals for the Shamir Star tracer and for the Nidek LT-900 and LT910 tracers.

Shamir Star Quick Reference

This guide was created to assist with setting up and provide a basic understanding of how to operate the Shamir Star tracer.

The topics covered are:

1. Supplied parts
2. Initial setup
3. Tracing full-rim and supra frames with a Star
4. Calibration
5. Daily calibration check

Original Nidek manuals for LT900 and LT910

If you have lost the user manual originally supplied with your Nidek tracer, you can get a replacement copy in PDF format here. We have the manuals for the LT-900 and LT-910 models.

The LT-900 manual has 35 pages and was originally published by Nidek in March 2006. The Nidek part number for this manual is 41971-P902E.

The LT-910 manual has 44 pages and was originally published by Nidek in March 2010. The Nidek part number for this manual is 41971-P972B.

This page explains how to carry out the following operations on Nidek LT-900 and LT-910 tracers:

• Trace a nylon supra shape
• Standard calibration routine
• Torque calibration routine

Tracing a nylon supra frame

Tracing the dummy lens from a supra requires some care to avoid the lenses being off-axis when mounted. It is also somewhat counter-intuitive in that the LEFT dummy lens is used in order to obtain a RIGHT eye trace.

• While the dummy lenses are still in the frame, carefully mark the HCL on the LEFT dummy lens. Take special care that the line is horizontal with respect to the frame.
• Remove the left dummy lens from the frame.
• Apply a double-sided adhesive pad to the Nidek lens cup.
• Block the CONVEX side of the dummy lens. Take care to ensure that the lens is centred and aligned accurately.
• Fit the lens cup into the Nidek pattern-setting unit.
• Attach the pattern-setting unit to the tracer, fitting the two pins into the holes on the tracer.
• Attach the pattern-setting unit to the tracer, fitting the two pins into the holes on the tracer.
• Press the R button to trace the dummy lens.

Please take special care with step 7—as noted in the opening paragraph, tracing a supra frame involves using the LEFT lens in order to obtain a RIGHT eye trace.

Standard calibration

The tracer has an auto-calibration program that will automatically reset the size and axis to that of the standard reference frame. To calibrate the tracer:

• Place the standard 45mm calibration jig into the tracer. Make sure that the engraved measurement (162.83) is facing up.
• Press and hold the L button.
• Press and then release the R button.
• Release the L button. The light on the middle button will start blinking.
• Press the middle button. The tracer will start performing the auto-calibration program. The stylus may trace and retrace each side of the standard frame several times during the calibration process.
• When calibration has been completed successfully, the stylus will return to its idle position, the frame clamps will open and a single beep will sound. If you hear a triple beep, the calibration has failed and you should repeat steps 2-5 above. If calibration still fails after a third attempt, try preforming a torque calibration. If the tracer calibration fails after performing a torque calibration, contact your tracer supplier for support.

When calibration has been completed successfully, the stylus will return to its idle position, the frame clamps will open and a single beep will sound.

If you hear a triple beep, the calibration has failed and you should repeat steps 2-5 above.

If calibration still fails after a third attempt, try preforming a torque calibration. If the tracer calibration fails after performing a torque calibration, contact your tracer supplier for support.