PCM Applications

[[Qu...]]

Hello all,

I am trying to learn more about how PCM can help optimize programing.

Does anyone have some examples of how PCM can help speed up inspection or other useful applications.

I saw that there are conditional parameter, is it possible for Calypso to skip features base on certain conditions (not sure how this work exactly)?

 

Thank you!

 

[[DW...]]

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 The Calypso help file has tons of stuff on all of this. I would start there. 

[[Ke...]]

The PCM manual that is included in your Calypso install has a number of good examples of use cases. This manual can be found in C:\Program Files (x86)\Zeiss\CALYPSO X.x\userinfo\manuals. PCM can be an extremely powerful and flexible tool, but some basic examples of time and cost savings:
-Instead of writing a separate program for every individual size of a part family, use PCM to parameterize so you only write one program that can easily adapt to the sizes.
-Use PCM to check that the program selected is the correct one for the loaded part, and the part is loaded correctly, preventing crashes and thus reducing downtime and repair costs

-Some more complex examples can be found on this forum, of things like automatically rechecking failed characteristics, skipping certain checks based on criteria (for example, measuring first and last of a hole pattern, and if both are less than 50% of tolerance, skip the remaining holes).
In the end, how useful PCM can be is dependent on the parts that you need to measure, and the creativity of the programmer in applying it. 

[[Qu...]]

Thank you for the information. I will check it out

[[Jo...]]

We use it to do "Automatic QA" in that if a feature is out of tolerance with a quick check, it will automatically run an intensive scan and report with a plot.  (i.e. a Cylinder is checked with two circle paths. If out of tolerance, a double helix scan is ran of the entire bore and and straightness and roundness are reported with plots) 

We have some multi-hour programs that run on parts built around bolt hole circles.  If the bolt hole circle is out, production cant use the part.  So we can measure critical features first and skip the rest of the measurements entirely if its out. 

I am currently working on replacing a program that has rotational features repeated around.  The need to assign very specific CAA probe angles to each rotational position made us think we were stuck having 40 features per rotation, and 40 rotational positions. (1600 probe assignments!). Even worse, we make this product in a dozen sizes.   But with PCM I have been able to make a program with ONE rotational position and a rotational pattern, and use a master list of 40 probe assignments.   I will probably end up with a single program that can run almost all of our product sizes, and it will be smaller than a single size program used to be!

 

[[Cl...]]

Extremely helpful for family of parts programs. We make multiple sizes of the same part geometry. PCM streamlines the programming process.

[[Ke...]]

As an example of part families, a commonly used one is for checking ring gauges/masters. Load the part on a chuck (ensures the center is always in the same spot, making it easier), one program, usually very simple with a plane on top of the gage, and the center cylinder, then maybe a few individual circle scans. Operator hits start, a pop up appears prompting the operator to enter the height, nominal diameter, and grade, and from that PCM is used to update the feature size, location, and tolerances. No need to try and make a unique program for every gauge size, no need for the operator to try to hunt for the right program, etc. 

Edited August 7