How do you program ?

[[Da...]]

What percentage of your programs were made from a model?

We are a job shop, so honestly only about 5 percent of our jobs have solid models. The vast majority are programmed from a roughed part and a print. I wish we could get models, but sadly most of our customers aren't that advanced.

[[Mi...]]

Almost everything from a model on an offline seat as the CMM time is at a premium.

I hate programming without a model so much that if I only have a simple 2D Drawing I will generally create the solid model myself in Solidworks because it usually faster to do that and program from CAD than it is to program without CAD.

[[Je...]]

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At least 85% of my programs include CAD models and those that do not often include digitizing a workpiece so that a CAD model can be created.

It's nearly a necessity for what I do, because the features in medical manufacturing are so small and the tolerances so tight that they cannot be reliably probed manually.

The real power in CMM lies in ultra-precise cnc movement driven by glass scales and active sensor technology, and these are best utilized with a CAD model.

[[Ri...]]

I get models, and I don't get models.
When I started with Calypso (circa 2001) and no models, I learned how to generate geometry so well, that when done, it sometimes resembles the model.
I have even created a 3D Model of a 3-jaw chuck that is parametric in Calypso (around 2013). I can open and close the jaws to exact size, flip the jaws for OD or ID holding.

[[Da...]]

I program mainly off-line but without a CAD model. Takes a bit of imagination but works quite well.

[[Er...]]

When I started it was 60/40 with models. Now it's probably 98% with models.

[[Cl...]]

We report surface profile and use PCM a lot for families of parts, so a CAD model for programming is
necessary. I'll add that when I worked for a German company, they would send me a program (no model).

They would also have their base and secondary alignments in something other than following machine coordinates.
I would at least expect to see a base alignment with Y+ running Y+ and so on. I never understood why they did that.

[[Da...]]

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Those little features (the ones you can't probe) are the ones we program from print, then proceed carefully!

[[Ün...]]

I never program without a model.

New projects come in advance and all departments make preliminary preparations until the part is produced. We usually ask for the model from our customer. If our customer does not have it or does not want to share it, the drawing technician models the part.

We use this in CNC machining and Calypso. CNC programming is also done through the model.

I also use the models to create many part-specific graphics and reports.

[[Ke...]]

Some basic parts I program without a model.
I use CAD for most (probably 90%) of my programs.
Of course I have to ask for CAD 90% of the time... but as soon as I tell them that I can complete the programming in half the time, they are pretty quick to come through. lol.

[[To...]]

At a former employer, we would ask for a model at the quoting stage. If we got told "there is no model", we would add a $150 model development charge. The customer would ask "what's this model development charge?" and we would explain, all of a sudden there was a model....

[[Ke...]]

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It's amazing how CAD is suddenly available, as soon as it costs extra time/money 🤣

[[Ro...]]

Dang, we're a job shop (prototype) and every single one of our jobs has a cad model.
Like i can think of 2 or 3 jobs in the past year that were literally sent in on a hand drawn sketch, and those were the only jobs that didnt have a model.

[[Ow...]]

90% of my work in R&D on the CMM is one-on, one-off type of work.

I’d say 85% of my programs are done without a cad model.
To aid in programing, I will often create a cad model for complex geometries using cad software (Solidworks is my choice), a print, digitized points or laser scanned mesh files; the Cad model takes a while to develop to say the least.

Sometimes (technology is advancing quicker than ever) I’ll just laser scan a part, use the scanned mesh surface to create a quick dumbed-down quad surface (you can’t accurately create features with it) that can be saved as an ACIS (.sat) file and then aligned and used in Calypso to create an easy-to-understand 3D rotating presentation of the results like shown below.

[[Je...]]

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Owen, that is so cool! You have a very smart workflow. I like the way you leverage laser scanning to create functional CAD objects, at least to aid in navigation.

You seem to have mastered a repeatable R&D process. You make Calypso work for your needs and to those of your customers. I hope your employer rightly values your skill and contributions.

#Genuine_Measuring_Hero 🦸‍♂️📏

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[[Cl...]]

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Owen. Which type of laser scanner do you use. Can it be retro-fitted to a Contura or an O-inspect?

[[Pa...]]

For decades we've programmed almost exclusively off the part itself without CAD models. but about a month ago I found out from talking to our head engineer that he had CAD models for every part number at every operational stage. 😱

I was like "...uh what!?"

so needless to say, we have access to CAD models now to start programming with and we're testing running the Calypso offline planner with simulation to see how this could change our workflow. But man was i blown away to find out our engineering department has been hoarding CAD models for years and never bothered to mention it haha.

[[Ju...]]

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-You've had a pair of extra gloves this whole time?
-Chyeah. It's the Rockies.

😂

[[Je...]]

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On-screen, digital visualization of geometry is the most powerful aspect of metrology. CAD makes this possible. Showing customers GD&T in Calypso helps me communicate so much better than simply reporting a number.

This is complimented by the Industry 4.0 emerging trend of digital twinning, where we store a measured copy of the actual component. I'm exporting .dxf and other point containers on a weekly basis that engineering uses to make CAD models for new tooling or to correct existing tooling.

The reason I believe Calypso is still not only relevant but has the potential to once again lead the metrology industry is because of how well it syncs the CMM to customer requirements.

Zeiss would do well to modernize Calypso's UI and maximize its potential for on-screen visualization.

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[[Du...]]

Jeff, does that space mouse work within calypso? I'm on the fence about getting one.

[[Je...]]

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Dustin,

My SpaceMouse "kind of" works in Calypso. Although Calypso doesn't have native in-software support for it, I can tweak its functionality using the 3Dconnexion software that comes with the SpaceMouse.

A few months ago, I gave up trying to assign basic third-angle projection views to it, since Zeiss doesn't provide name lists for all of Calypso's functions. I know that there are name/function/shortcut lists, but these are incomplete and were not able to help me complete this task.

The other function I would LOVE to get my SpaceMouse to do in Calypso is scroll through features and characteristics, but no dice.

I mainly use my SpaceMouse for Solidworks and other software.

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[[Ow...]]

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Jeff, I’m flattered by your comments, and I appreciate them. In my small-town field of work, my biggest challenge/hindrance is always having to develop everything the most inexpensive way possible but, a challenge makes things interesting right. 🙄

[[Ow...]]

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Clarke, I use a small Simscan-30 hand-held laser scanner with 30 lasers built into it that records 2 million points per second to create mesh-models with up to 0.030mm accuracy, really no need to strap it to a CMM unless you wanted to inspect parts with it using Calypso.
It (the scanner) is made by a Chinese company called Scantech (you wouldn’t believe who they make scanners for) and a Solidworks add-in software called Scan2Surface for converting mesh-models into fully parametric Cad Models.

[[Je...]]

Spoiler Alert: Wait until you see what is possible with a LineScan 2-XX and an RT using CALYPSO 2024 (very very VERY soon)... I promise, you're all going to want one 😃

You heard it here first. If you have an RT and RDS (or MASS), I'd put in the purchase req for a LineScan 2 sensor now... 😉

[[Ch...]]

Jeff,

Including Gear Pro ?

Im excited ...