Rename the coordinates of a wokpiece coordinate system

[[We...]]

I’ m new in this comunity, with low experience of the Calypso Measuring Software.
I would like to start with a simple question regarding the coordinate system of a workpiece alignment.
Is it possible with calypso to rename the coordinates of a Workpiece coordinate System ?
We are interested to implement the coordinates of our milling machines in the measuring report.
It would be easier for our employees to make the correct adjustments at the milling machines when the coordinates of Measuring Reports and Milling machines have the same direction and names. Certainly it’s only possible for X;Y;Z if whe have no rotation table on our measuring machine.
Thank you for your feedback 🙂

[[No...]]

You can't rename coordinates, but you could use an additional coordinate system that reflects the desired directions of the axes. That would be the easiest way if you're a beginner in Calypso.
Basically you would insert the coordinate system, leave all datum features blank and instead only flip the axes as desired by entering rotations in the special functions. Then assign it to the features in question (it's best to recall them first and assign the coordinate system there).

But just for completeness: Calypso basically allows you to orient your part and base alignment freely on the CMM. However, this is advanced stuff and to make it work you need to take care of a number of things first. Not to mention it can be quite confusing at times if you're not used to it.

[[De...]]

It sounds like what you are more interested in is a method to report results in the same co-ordinate system as the machine is using.

One way of doing is this to make a new alignment which is found in the menu under Resources -> Utilities -> Alignment

By creating a new alignment and choosing features which align you the same as the part is aligned in the machine, your co-ordinate system for this alignment will match the one in the machine and your X Y and Z numbers will match the ones in the machine. The measuring strategy for any features using this alignment will ALSO be aligned in relation to your alignment based on the nominal feature locations, so be aware of this.

One thing to take note of, is that all features used in the alignment will need to be scanned prior to any features being scanned that use the alignment - this can cause extra probe changes so it is usually helpful to try and keep alignments to only one stylus system and if possible use the same stylus system that is used in the base alignment so as to minimize probe changes necessary to completely measure the features needed for the alignment.

Once you have created the alignment, you can then assign it to any features you wish by choosing it in the dropdown menu for each feature (make sure keep position is NOT checked if doing it this way). Another option is to Open the 'Preassignment for new features' window from the Resources menu and choose the alignment you have created - then leave the window open while you create all the features you want this alignment applied to.

Now looking at any of these features, they will have X Y and Z values in the same co-ordinate system as the alignment you created and thereby in the same co-ordinate system as the milling machine.

For some simple checks you may be able to report the X Y or Z co-ordinates from the features themselves, keep in mind however that although this can be useful in some cases, it can't help in cases where the co-ordinate system is specifically called out on the print such as True Position, Profile etc.

[[Ow...]]

Aside from Derek and Norbert's well described solutions that would definitely make it easier to match the coordinates on LARGE programs with many characteristics, on smaller programs with not a lot characteristics, you could just right click on the characteristic and rename it to fit the xyz of the machining coordinates system. i.e. if it's named x-value, rename it to y-value ect. ect.

[[Me...]]

Hi Derek,

What is the function of Keep position? when to checked off and when not to?

Thanks,

[[De...]]

Good question, in my opinion its one of the most useful though semi-hidden features in Calypso.

When you do not have keep position checked, it modifies the nominal values so that the position of the feature does not change, however the nominals are converted to the coordinate system of the new alignment.

When you do have keep position checked, the nominal values do not change, but the feature itself is moved to the location relative to the new co-ordinate system.

To see this in action, create a new alignment from Menu -> Resources -> Utilities -> Alignment

Leave all features blank, and hit the special button, under special add an offset along the positive X axis of 1 inch / 25 mm (depending which unit of measure you are working in)

Now for the sake of an example, create a cylinder at X0 Y0 Z0 with a diameter of 1 and a height of 1

Now with the feature open, choose the new alignment with keep position off, you will see that the feature's nominal coordinate for X has changed to -1.0, because the co-ordinate has been translated to the new co-ordinate system of the alignment you create.

By choosing Base Alignment again you will see the feature nominal will change back to 0.

Now once again choose the new alignment, but this time check the keep position box. This will keep the nominal x value as Zero, but move the feature to the new coordinate system.

I use this functionality a lot to move copy features and move them, for instance sometimes I do not want a pattern, but individual features, however I do not want to re-create the same feature multiple times, I can use this to make a copy of the original feature and then 'move' it to the new location by shifting it to a new alignment (co-ordinate system), using rotation I sometimes mirror faces on shafts to avoid re-creating complex polylines that are used to scan around a variety of features.

When doing this I always make sure to move my features back to the base alignment after I am done moving them, this requires first checking and then unchecking the box or vice versa depending what you are doing, but its never a good practice to leave features tied to unnecessary alignments, and FYI never remove an alignment that a feature is assigned to. If you do the feature will automatically be changed back to the base alignment and the feature will be moved. This can be VERY dangerous and can result in machine crashes.