4 ms·

It might be possible to revitalize it by spying on what it is doing on the wire. Although if 3M has dropped the API then it might be tough. What's the machine?

jaimebw 3y ago
Hi jgrahamc, this is the machine(https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/984589O/3m-true-definition-scanner-brochure-cart-edition.pdf https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/984589O/3m-true-definiti...). It is a mouth scanner. The mouths scanner works but when it has to upload the results to the PC, it fails. My main guess is that there must be some shady connection to 3M that is rejecting the operation. About what you told me, thats my main guess, try to spy on the connection and fake it in some way but idk where to start.
- GianFabien 3y ago
  Is the machine is connected to the PC and then the PC to the internet? I'm guessing the PC is running Windows - what version? Anyway, the first step might be to install WireShark on the PC and look at what sort outgoing message is being sent. And whether anything is coming back from 3M, or just no response. Would you be in the position to place a Linux system with 2 NICs into the connection, so that various forms of spoofing could be attempted? Of course, the biggest problem is that the snooping would have been best done back when the connection to 3M was working and you were able to upload to the PC. Looking at the data plan descriptions, I suspect that the scanned data was transformed by servers hosted by 3M and not by the PC. Of course, that is my guess. At $200 / mth, 3M could be expected to perform some sort of on-going service. BTW the brochure shows the price as $17,000 but you said it cost $30,000. Perhaps you are including the cost of the data plans. As I see it, 3M planned on the machine having an 8 year life. As a business the machine was expected to be amortized 12.5% p.a. with an OPEX of $2400 p.a. Good value considering how much dentists charge.
  - jgrahamc 3y ago
    Of course, the biggest problem is that the snooping would have been best done back when the connection to 3M was working and you were able to upload to the PC. Yeah, I agree. That's the hardest part. Unless it was doing something super trivial (like check a license or something) then it would be hard to reverse engineer.

jaimebw 3y ago

Hi jgrahamc, this is the machine(https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/984589O/3m-true-definition-scanner-brochure-cart-edition.pdf https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/984589O/3m-true-definiti...). It is a mouth scanner. The mouths scanner works but when it has to upload the results to the PC, it fails. My main guess is that there must be some shady connection to 3M that is rejecting the operation. About what you told me, thats my main guess, try to spy on the connection and fake it in some way but idk where to start.

GianFabien 3y ago
Is the machine is connected to the PC and then the PC to the internet? I'm guessing the PC is running Windows - what version? Anyway, the first step might be to install WireShark on the PC and look at what sort outgoing message is being sent. And whether anything is coming back from 3M, or just no response. Would you be in the position to place a Linux system with 2 NICs into the connection, so that various forms of spoofing could be attempted? Of course, the biggest problem is that the snooping would have been best done back when the connection to 3M was working and you were able to upload to the PC. Looking at the data plan descriptions, I suspect that the scanned data was transformed by servers hosted by 3M and not by the PC. Of course, that is my guess. At $200 / mth, 3M could be expected to perform some sort of on-going service. BTW the brochure shows the price as $17,000 but you said it cost $30,000. Perhaps you are including the cost of the data plans. As I see it, 3M planned on the machine having an 8 year life. As a business the machine was expected to be amortized 12.5% p.a. with an OPEX of $2400 p.a. Good value considering how much dentists charge.
- jgrahamc 3y ago
  Of course, the biggest problem is that the snooping would have been best done back when the connection to 3M was working and you were able to upload to the PC. Yeah, I agree. That's the hardest part. Unless it was doing something super trivial (like check a license or something) then it would be hard to reverse engineer.