Probe Qualification hitting hardware end position

[[Ma...]]

So I have a program to qualify my probes, I have a 3mm x 100mm probe that when I built, I was able to do a full qualification on it no problem. But now, for some reason whenever I do the requalification, it hits the hardware end position on the X- axis. The sphere is a standard sphere provided from Zeiss and I have it dead center of the table.

[[SH...]]

Did you tried to qualify by fixing the reference sphere in different location.

[[Ro...]]

This can happen when the probe length forces the machine really close to the end position. A work around is to copy the reference sphere, shorten the clearance distance for the axis' approach distance, and assign that sphere to that probe. If you alter the clearance distance of the sphere it will apply to all probes assigned to it, so use caution when testing it out.

[[To...]]

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Nowadays, the practice of writing a program to qualify your probes, most often does not use a sphere, base alignment or clearance planes. I believe it's necessary to do this in autorun, but a straight out Calypso program only uses Probing Qualifications, using current alignment and position points.

[[To...]]

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Do you have a CNC End Park Position in your program?

[[Ro...]]

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I'm not following you. How do you qualify your probes without a sphere? I must be misunderstanding.

My experience is that you can create a long probing system and qualify it the first time and it's fine during that initial qualification process. But if it's pushing the limits of the end position, sometimes it won't qualify again later because it adds extra approach distance when it calibrates to the sphere, which faults the end position. Something happens, because I've had it happen numerous times. I don't know why it moves further from the sphere than the initial qualification. But it can happen.

[[Ro...]]

I think you misunderstood my post. Here's what I'm referring to...

[[To...]]

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Yes, it was me. 🫣

[[Ro...]]

I forgive you. Even with the Tom Brady jersey. 😜

I actually think Brady is amazing. I just root against him whenever he's playing my team.

[[No...]]

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No, it's not 🤠

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Not even that is needed (Autorun or not) if you use a loaded base alignment right from the start.

[[To...]]

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Please correct me if I am wrong (again), but using the current methodology for probe qualification programs, you don't use any alignment. By simply using "current alignment", the program remembers the last known position of the reference sphere. Typically, I include the MasterProbe in my program, so the reference sphere position does get updated. We use a pallet to hold our Reference Sphere, so it is always within a few thousandths of the same location when we place it on the table. Load the program and run.

When it comes to AutoRun, I don't believe there is an option to use "current alignment", so you have to use a base alignment, which could be loaded.

[[Ma...]]

Indeed on Autorun there is no "current alignment" - only manual.

Probe qualification programs are same as other programs - they use base alignments. But there is some security in Calypso, which prevents calibrating probe after finding qualification sphere out of stored position.

About current alignment in editing - i did not tried this yet, but i think it is not predictable if it will go well or crash.

[[To...]]

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I was a Calypso Basic and Advanced trainer for 10 years, and this comes right from the Probe Qualification training manual.

Create New Program
Insert desired number of Probing Qualifications and edit each to the appropriate stylus system
Open Run window.
Select Run from Characteristics List (there are no features)
Select Navigate using Position Points (there is no clearance cube)
Tick "Clear Existing Results", not necessary but makes sense logically.
Use Current Alignment
Start.

This assumes Reference Sphere position is already known, or Master Probe is first item and reference sphere is mounted at same location, i.e. pallet location described previously.

The above program can't be run in AutoRun, so an alternate methodology is required, which does involve using some form of base alignment. Haven't tested this in a while so I am sure of the options.

[[Ma...]]

To be honest - i am only programmer in our company - 11 years of machining on CNC, 1 year of some knowledge on designer post and now almost 2 years of programming on Accura.
Only experience for Calypso was 2 months of training from quiting colleague. No courses from Zeiss yet. No collisions or broken tips yet 😱
So some info are comming from my experience and reading manuals 😃

For current alignment - if it was previously touched, then it can be OK, but i am too scared for telling - just do it 🤣

[[Ma...]]

Sorry I never responded, I thought I was signed in, and come to find out, I wasn't lol So it only was erroring out but doing a geometry re-qual....I corrected it by having to do a full qualification each time. Not sure why that is, but it worked!