Part placement?

[[Lo...]]

Good morning all,
A few months ago when I first started out on this CMM, I never setup a permanent fixture for some parts that I had to check. Now I have the same part to check but I do not remember the location that i had the part on the table. Is there a way to use the same program just in a different location than originally setup?

Thank you,
Lou

[[Ju...]]

Yes, just use your manual alignment option on your first piece so that it knows where it's at on the table. Then you should be good to go.

[[SH...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

Try to place the job in the centre of the surface table, checking your program you can understand which direction is X +, Y +, Z+, fix the job in the same direction. If you have cad model it is very easy. All depends upon your experience.

[[Am...]]

Yes you run manual alignment.

[[SH...]]

No need of Manuel alignment , it is more time consuming. First you check the clearance planes, you can understand which direction probe moves. If your program is smooth then it will run well, you can control the speed.

[[Gr...]]

What I have done which works pretty good is as follows.
Open program to get visual of part orientation. Make sure the interface is set up to reflect position is relative to base alignment.
Load the stylus used for the base alignment then under Plan>Travel to nominal position I will enter 0,0,0 then activate it using the
icon next to then coordinates that were entered. The CMM will now travel to the part location when program was last used.
I has worked well enough for me that I can run the program without doing doing a manual alignment.
Greg Kozera

[[SH...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

This is a new idea to me I will try it, in the stoplight window I have to change it to base element instead of machine co-ordinate system, correct??

[[Gr...]]

Yes that is what you have to do

[[Gr...]]

Yes that is what you have to do

[[Ma...]]

Honestly - make a documentation first ( photos, setup list )

[[Am...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

Less time consuming then having someone guess where the part was and crash, doing a manual alignment should not be time consuming if your alignment is something slow then you should make a quick start alignment that is easy and quick to manually probe. I actually can't believe people are recommending trying to figure out how the part is supposed to be lined up on the table instead of running manual alignment. Unless i am completely misunderstanding what is being asked.

[[Is...]]

I assume that's the reason why the start alignment exists...

[[Ri...]]

This is the reason for being able to either perform a manual alignment on the Base Alignment, or a manual alignment on the Start Alignment.

As long as the measurement plan was written with an actual Base Alignment, then this will be a simple task of performing a manual alignment.

[[Gr...]]

I agree with Martin Jánský about documenting with pictures and verbiage how to set up apart.
I will create a word document and save it. After that is done I would open program and go to Plan>Measurement info for CNC start>select. Pick the document you created and now it is embedded in program. It can be accessed as described above or under User Information in Start Measurement.
My previous post is for one of those times were you are told by the owner "Don't waste your time doing all that setup info. We will not see this part again". On More than one occasion we got a large order for parts two years after we were told we will not see it again. Since most of the components are small in size we will have more than one setup on the CMM table. By opening up the program and sending it to the original base alignment 0,0,0 we can see if we have to move fixtures or will be able to run it without any changes.

[[Lo...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

Thanks Amel P. I have tried doing the manual alignment but it didn't. I got pulled away while trying it again, so i will give it another shot. I am not worried about time. And I didn't think it took long at all to do the manual alignment. I am still a rookie and learning as much as possible. The E-stop and speed adjustment knob have been my best friends. Thank you

[[Am...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

Does your part have a solid model?

[[Lo...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

No it does not.

[[Am...]]

That makes it hard to figure out what needs to be touched off on the manua if its something a bit complex since you cant see it and there is no documentation, look at what is in the base alignment and maybe you can figure out what those features are on the part.

[[Lo...]]

Ok, Thank you.