All sides in one program

[[Ma...]]

Dear readers,

For a while we are investigating the possibility's of measuring all sides of a product in one measuring program, see example below:

We make a product for a customer and the product is pretty complex with its geometry. For the measurement we mount this product on an Aluminium 'base'. In the current situation we have two programs, one for the top side of the product and one program for the bottom side of the product.

Our customer would like to have all measurement data in one raport, so we did this in Excel and combine the two Excel sheets afterwards. After doing this for a while it appears to be a time consuming proces to combine our measurement data and we think we can make this more efficient. So what we tried is to make one program so we get one raport. This is both easier and less time consuming for the CMM- operator and the person who is processing the data.

I tried to import two CAD models in Calypso face to face and one flipped 180 degrees so one product is facing up and one is facing down. I made the base alignment on the part facing up and the secundairy alignment on the part that is facing down. Because the parts are next to each other in Calypso the CMM thinks that the parts are realy next to each other. To manipulate this I put the secundairy alignment in manual mode so I can just flip the product and align this and that worked OK. But we would like to run this program completely in CNC. So the top side is measured we do a programmable stop that saids to flip the part and that the CMM runs an alignment for the other side and starts measuring all the features for the bottom.

Is this possible?

Thanks in advance.

Kind regards,

Mark Hoefsmit

[[An...]]

Hello Mark,

using the method you mentioned I measure many parts and according to this principle it works very well.

[[Ro...]]

I agree with Andreas and your method, it should work fine.

If you have PCM you can put in to the Presettings a clearCAD() and loadCAD command so at the start of the program it wipes out the current cad and loads in the Side1 cad model, then at the program stop itll wipe the cad model again and load the Side2 model.
I don't know your situation so i don't know if you have any free form surfaces that can be affected. they can be very cad dependent at times.

[[SH...]]

This look like very innovative method, but I have few questions
This is zeiss approved method, adding same CAD model one More time might cause malfunctioning software?? What would be the cad file data? Calypso considered as this single CAD model or two CAD model?

[[Ma...]]

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Thanks for your reaction, do you align your product always by hand? We are aligning the secundairy coordinate system by hand because the products are next to each other in Calypso. But we would like to do both alignments in CNC.

Do you do that aswel or is this not possible?

[[Ma...]]

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Thanks for your reaction! Unfortunately we do not have the PCM licence..

[[An...]]

Hello, Mark,

you have to create a coordinate system after the "programmed stop" where you can select the elements you need for the second alignment, just like you did in the base system.

[[Ma...]]

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yes, we already put in the secundairy alignment and put measurement elements to that secondairy coordinate system. But because we put 2 cad models, top and bottom next to each other in Calypso. But in reality we measure one part top and bottom on the same position on the CMM and flip the product on the mold. The CMM thinks that there are two parts and the parts are next to each other. But in reality there is one part but we just flip it.

So we have to align the secundairy alignment by hand to manipulate the postion. But I would like this to happen in full CNC mode instaid of doing this manually

[[An...]]

I have not yet found a solution for this problem, which is why I work with the implementation of parts without CAD

[[Er...]]

There are a couple of ways i have done this depending on whether i flip the part 180 degrees using the same fixture location, or if I flip and translate it to a second location.

1. If you flip it 180 degrees to a new location, I have found it easiest to create an "assembly" cad model that has the model in both positions, and translated exactly where it would be in the new location. You can then program the first part of the program, flip the part and pick up and alignment for the second part of the program. Add a programmable stop where needed to flip the part over to the second location.

2. If you are flipping the part in the same location, I program the first part. Then, flip the part over and manually picked up the alignment features. I then rotate the model within the program and translate it to the new alignment. I then use the model to the program the rest of the part. I add the programmable stops where needed, and then it should work fine.

I personally don't like using the second method as much, because you don't have the model for all the features, just one side or the other, but it has worked well for me.

[[Ma...]]

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Does implementing parts without CAD allow you to do both alignments automatically or do you still do the second one by hand?

[[An...]]

with me both alignments are automated

[[Öz...]]

Did you try merged measurement plan?
By this method you will create 2 measurement plans. Then you will merge them in another plan just for calculation. Then you will have all characteristic (also a characteristic whic has a feature measured in first program and which has a datum measured in second program) will be in one report.

merged mearuement plan.png

[[Ma...]]

Hi Özgür,

In the end we used this method to solve our problem. It was the fastest en less complicated solution. Thank you for posting this reaction.

[[Öz...]]

So if it works no need for repair 🙂 Good to hear you solved your problem.

[[Ky...]]

When you have two models in the same program is there a way to hide model one so you can work on the model two then hide model two so you can work on model one?

[[Ia...]]

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Cad->Modify Cad Entities-> Heirarchy

If you click the box with checkmark next to the model, it will hide that model. Just click the box again to bring it back.

[[Ky...]]

Thanks so much