Foot Pedal
Hands-free point capture while both hands guide the stylus — smoother freehand traces, faster point-to-point work.
Get the Foot PedalSimple Trace™
No CAD? Good.
The ArcDroid™ features Simple Trace software, a self-contained system that eliminates the need for an additional computer. Trace your parts or hand-made templates, save them, and cut them — no external PC, no CAD skills required.
Trace It
Cut Anything With Simple Trace™
Simple Trace™ is an easy to use and intuitive interface. Point to point or free hand, trace your template and ArcDroid™ creates a cut file instantly. Simply use the ArcDroid™ arm to follow the contours of your template and high accuracy encoders map your every move. Now all your cardboard cut outs are functional cut files!
The Two Modes
Point-to-Point or Freehand — Mix Both in One Trace
Point-to-Point
For straight geometry: tap the corners and Simple Trace™ draws dead-straight lines between them. Perfect for brackets, gussets, flanges and bolt patterns — and for holes, one touch places a perfect circle. Simple rectangles and hole layouts don't even need a template: tap the dimensions in and cut.
Freehand
For curves: ride the stylus along your template edge at a steady pace and high-accuracy encoders record the path exactly. Organic shapes, artwork, scribed patches for repair work — if you can follow the edge, the machine can cut it.
Mixed Traces
Real parts are rarely all-straight or all-curve. Switch between modes inside a single trace: point-to-point the straight sides and holes, freehand the curved corner, finish the file. That's the everyday workflow — not the advanced one.
On-Screen Control
Everything cut-critical is set on the glove-friendly touchscreen: kerf compensation, pierce height, cut height, pierce and finish delays. Full mechanical Z probing runs before every cut, with auto level and Torch Height Compensation (50:1 divided voltage required) holding the standoff across imperfect plate.
For straight geometry: tap the corners and Simple Trace™ draws dead-straight lines between them. Perfect for brackets, gussets, flanges and bolt patterns — and for holes, one touch places a perfect circle. Simple rectangles and hole layouts don't even need a template: tap the dimensions in and cut.
For curves: ride the stylus along your template edge at a steady pace and high-accuracy encoders record the path exactly. Organic shapes, artwork, scribed patches for repair work — if you can follow the edge, the machine can cut it.
Real parts are rarely all-straight or all-curve. Switch between modes inside a single trace: point-to-point the straight sides and holes, freehand the curved corner, finish the file. That's the everyday workflow — not the advanced one.
Everything cut-critical is set on the glove-friendly touchscreen: kerf compensation, pierce height, cut height, pierce and finish delays. Full mechanical Z probing runs before every cut, with auto level and Torch Height Compensation (50:1 divided voltage required) holding the standoff across imperfect plate.
Save It
Every Trace Becomes a Part Library
Traces save on the controller as real cut files. Re-run them next week or next year — every part identical. Adjust kerf or heights per material without re-tracing. Export as G-Code by USB to share with another machine, or archive your whole library on a thumb drive.
Cut It
Precision Cuts Every Time
Use popular CAM programs like Fusion 360, SheetCAM and Pronest to create your G-code and load by USB. And it's not just your own files — Simple Trace™ runs DXF and G-code from any source: forum file shares, purchased design packs, a friend's CAD export. Free post processors live on the Downloads page.
What It Does
Simple Trace™, Piece by Piece
Trace Templates
Use the included tracing stylus to trace and digitize your parts or hand-made templates for easy repeated cutting.
Intuitive Interface
Navigate the software with ease, even with no prior CNC experience.
Precision Tracing
Achieve highly accurate cuts with advanced algorithms.
Integrated Operation
All file tracing and cutting operations managed directly by the Simple Trace™ controller.
Use the included tracing stylus to trace and digitize your parts or hand-made templates for easy repeated cutting.
Navigate the software with ease, even with no prior CNC experience.
Achieve highly accurate cuts with advanced algorithms.
All file tracing and cutting operations managed directly by the Simple Trace™ controller.
Level It Up
Accessories Built for Simple Trace™
Laser Stylus
Trace without touching — the laser dot follows drawings and templates you'd rather not press a stylus against.
Get the Laser StylusPLUS Controller
Larger screen, faster processor, and the newest Simple Trace™ line — the upgrade path when you want more.
See the PLUSLearn the Workflow
Step-by-step: trace your first part, from cardboard template to saved cut file.
Read the TutorialQuestions
Simple Trace
Trace a template, save it, cut it — Simple Trace turns hand tracing into precise cut files, no computer required.
Do I need a computer or CAD software?
No. Simple Trace™ runs entirely on the ArcDroid's controller. Trace templates or load files by USB — no PC required, ever.
How accurate is a trace?
High-accuracy encoders map the stylus path directly into the toolpath, and kerf compensation trues up the final size. Template edge quality is the biggest factor — a clean MDF template traces into a clean part.
Can I edit a trace after saving it?
You can adjust cut parameters (kerf, heights, delays) per run, re-trace individual features, or export the file as G-Code/DXF by USB and refine it in any CAD/CAM program — then load it right back.
Does it run files I didn't trace?
Yes — DXF and G-code from any source load by USB: Fusion 360, SheetCAM, QCAD, Pronest, Estlcam, or downloaded design files.
Is Simple Trace™ updated?
Continuously, and free forever. Grab the latest on the Downloads page — updates load from a USB stick in minutes.
Try It on Your ArcDroid
Simple Trace™ ships on every ArcDroid — nothing extra to buy, nothing to install.
Get the ArcDroid