Error: 418 Problem with floating mean value formation

[[Za...]]

Hello all,

I've been getting this 418 error lately and I suspect something is wrong with the CMM, does anybody have any information regarding this error?

I also get a "CMM error 479: Using OSIS folder of a prior revision, 6201618074000#01 - C:\BC\KMG\osis\0x1011 Zeiss\" but I think that's related to something that needs to be updated.

Also, if we do need somebody from Zeiss to come look at the machine, what is the fastest way to achieve that? We only have one machine (until the spring) and the parts are starting to pile up 😱

[[Za...]]

The floating mean value error happens during the calibration of one of our styli as well as during program runs. So far I've only seen it with one of our styli, but I can't be sure that the problem is just with one stylus.

[[Ri...]]

First try rebooting both the controller, and the PC.

If there error persists, try recreating the Stylus System.

[[La...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

Have you ran Device Activator? Device Activator can be downloaded here:

https://www.zeiss.com/metrology/pages/d ... vator.html

I suspect that will handle your OSIS error.

Error 418 means that the probe head is having a hard time reaching a probing point. Check the tightness of your components, clean the machine. To put it very simply, when you touch your surface with your stylus tip, the machine is not just taking 1 point, but it's reading a steady stream of data within a very small window to ensure that the point being taken is stable. Receiving this error message suggests that there is instability somewhere. Check your styli and extensions, clean your machine, and make sure you don't have any movement of the parts themselves. I've seen this error occur when trying to take points on a flimsy sheet metal casing that wasn't fixtured correctly. Factors like loose styli, too little measuring force, flexible parts, can cause this. I'm not in service, so I don't know if there are hardware factors that can also contribute to this, you may want to ask a ZEISS certified service technician.

With respect to booking a service call, call the hotline at 1-800-327-9735 and they will be able to arrange a visit from a technician.

[[Za...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

I can't run executables, what all will I have to do once I'm able to get IT to open the device activator? I have a few styli with newer adapter plates that will probably need to be activated. I was just wondering how I go about doing this since I'll probably have to talk our IT guy through it.

Also, I have a support ticket opened up to get a technician out here to look at the CMM about the floating mean value error.


When you say check the "tightness" of my components, you just mean the styli and extensions? I ask because I noticed this part of the sensor was loose after a collision and I tightened it a bit. Is there a certain tightness that this needs?

[[La...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

In the link I sent you, below the download link, are instructions. Download Manual_EN_DeviceActivator.pdf. The first section walks you through the prompts. Essentially, launch the app, confirm the IP of the controller (which is more than likely 192.4.1.200) and then select your CMM from the list of connections. Then press next to start the upload of the new files to the controller. That's about it.

I was referring to your styli and extensions, but yes the collar for the XXT should be tightened up. I don't know if there is a particular specification on that, you'd have to ask ZEISS service. Please note that I'm not ZEISS service, and was just offering some suggestions (cleanliness, connections, vibration, poor fixturing, flexible parts, not enough measuring force) that could contribute to this error. There may actually be something hardware related that could have been affected by your collision.

ZEISS service will be able to take a look at the logs in the controller / perform diagnostics to confirm your hardware is in working order.

[[Za...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

Perfect, thank you very much for your help 😃 I'll try to come back here and update once I find out what is going on. I'm just waiting for a technician to get in touch with me at this point.

[[Za...]]

Okay, so I finally talked to a Zeiss tech and they had me run the miniCmd.exe in the /bin folder. My mN values were higher than they should have been so they determined that my XXT sensor was bad.

However, after I got off the phone with them, our IT person finally was able to update my controller firmware to get rid of the OSIS error and the pressure values changed back to something reasonable.

So I'm going to try to recalibrate my styli and run a part in the morning to see if we're still going to have to shell out big bucks for a new XXT sensor.

I'll update in the AM

Thanks again for everybody who chimed in to help 🙂

[[Za...]]

Well, my styli did not finish calibrating as it errored out with the same 418 message.

New Vast XXT Sensor is on its way

[[Ri...]]

Sorry to hear that.

[[Za...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

Alright... so I received the new XXT sensor this morning and installed it. I'm running my passive qualification program on all of my styli with all of their angles and everything went pretty good on the first 5 of my styli. During the qualification of our last stylus, it was in the +X direction and on the final portion of the passive qualification (where it takes the final points before moving on to the next angle), and it gets stuck on the sphere and it's making this vibrating/buzzing sound. If I turn the speed knob down, it will finally register the hit on the sphere and move to the next point, but this has happened a handful of times already and then I finally get to a styli direction that causes it to give me the 418 error, yet again...

I tried swapping out for a different adapter plate and the same buzzing/vibration noise happened on the +X angle as well as others. I'm trying to run it through the calibration again, but I fully expect the 418 error to appear again when I get back from lunch.

Any new ideas?

[[Ri...]]

Did you ever try to create a new stylus system in the software?

You can also try to create a new machine tab to see if that corrects your issue as well.

Please call the hotline for support, and they can walk you through these things if needed.

[[Za...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

Yeah, I'm going to have to call the hotline. Thanks

[[Za...]]

Just updating in case it helps anybody else...

The technician had me move my reference sphere all the way to the right side of our grid that sits on top of the granite and re-reference the sphere with the master probe. Then he had me try to qualify the same stylus that was hanging up (200MM carbon fiber in the +X direction). The calibration was successful and this caused the technician to say there's an air bearing that needs to be replaced. I'm just waiting for a quote to get a technician out here now as the pile of parts that need to be inspected continues to grow 🙄

[[Ri...]]

What kind of machine is this?

The XXT doesn't support that long of a stylus system unless you have a TL2, and that is only in the -Z direction. Axial length is limited to 65mm.

[[Za...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

Contura and it's a TL3. We've literally never had any issues running the CMM with this stylus as one of our main customers runs the exact same setup. Also, I told the technician over the phone about the stylus and he said it was fine.

[[No...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

Sorry for the OT interruption, but what exactly does this device activator do?
When I view my CMMs in the portal, two of them are listed as having incomplete system information (unknown Sensor), despite the fact that I have generated and uploaded a machine info file.
Could that possibly be remedied with device activator?

[[La...]]

The DeviceActivator updates the data on the C99 controller of the CMM for new components such as probes and rotary tables. This is comparable to a driver update for components in electronic instruments. Data can be updated for new components and components used as spare parts for older components.

With respect to the portal, you can call customer care and ask them about that. They handle all things portal related, and unfortunately I don't know much about that side of things.

[[Za...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

Richard,

Do you have any references for the limitations of styli length/weight/etc for the Contura? We're about to purchase another CMM and I want my boss to have that data before they make a decision.

[[Ri...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

Here you go. The machine doesn't matter in this case, it is the sensor that matters.

The lateral length of 65mm is in reference to the perpendicular distance from the head. You can build up to 150mm parallel to the head. 250mm is way over spec. You virtually have no probing force at that length.

[[Ri...]]

If you need length, it is best to go with an active head as you can build stylus systems up to 500mm in length in any direction. Weight is the key point of the active sensors, so a lot of times you can go longer if needed as long as it is balanced, and within the weight specs.

[[Za...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

Thank you for the reference Richard!

[[Me...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

This is amazing man, thank you. I just received a new adapter plate that requires me to use the device activator and I stumbled upon this in reference.

I have a TL3 XXT & will have an issue with the 160MM stylus I use based on this information. Currently we have no other option and nor does our customer when it comes to inspecting parts that we need it for.

[[Ri...]]

It is sometimes a possibility to deviate from these limits, but you just have to understand the risks.

I've used some longer than recommended probes before, and been OK, but how long the head will hold up to that is the bigger question. On the XXT it's even more of a grey area as the probing force is directly tied to the length of the probe, so your probing force will be virtually non-existent at that length.

[[Me...]]

By saying "head will hold up", do you mean actual damage to the head? If so, that worries me.