Geopak Manual
Geopak Manual
1 MCOSMOS
PartManager
Administrator
ProtocolManager
DialogDesigner
Scheduler
GEOPAK
CMM system manager
Scanning
Mafis
ROUNDPAK
PatchScanningGenerator
SurfaceDeveloper
DMIS-OUT
CAT1000PS
GEARPAK
MI-Worm
Bevel-Hypoid
STATPAK
Formula
TASK-EDITOR
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GEOPAK Contents
2 GEOPAK Contents
1 MCOSMOS ........................................................................ 2
2 GEOPAK Contents ........................................................... 3
3 General Information ....................................................... 29
4 Hints for Help .................................................................. 30
5 Part Program Editor ....................................................... 31
5.1 Introduction Part Program Editor .......................................... 31
5.2 GEOPAK Editor: Contents...................................................... 32
5.3 File Management ..................................................................... 33
5.3.1 Create a New Part Program................................................... 33
5.3.2 Open Part Program ................................................................ 34
5.3.3 Edit Several Part Programs Simultaneously ....................... 34
5.3.4 Store as................................................................................... 34
5.3.5 Change Name of Part Program............................................. 35
5.3.6 Export Part Program (ASCII/DMIS)....................................... 35
5.3.6.1 Export in ASCII Format ...................................................... 35
5.3.6.2 Export in DMIS Format....................................................... 36
5.3.7 Delete Part Program .............................................................. 36
5.4 Settings .................................................................................... 36
5.4.1 Input Characteristics ............................................................. 36
5.4.2 Properties for Dialogue Selection ........................................ 37
5.4.3 Co-ordinate Mode .................................................................. 39
5.4.4 Change Unit of Measurement ............................................... 41
5.5 Edit Part Programs.................................................................. 42
5.5.1 Mirror Part Programs............................................................. 42
5.5.2 Search Facilities..................................................................... 42
5.5.2.1 Search Part Program Command ........................................ 42
5.5.2.2 Search Marked Part Program Command ........................... 43
5.5.2.3 Search Variable.................................................................. 43
5.5.3 Find Programming Error ....................................................... 44
5.5.3.1 Error Messages: Overview ................................................. 44
5.5.3.2 Check Branches ................................................................. 44
5.5.3.3 Found Unexpected Command ........................................... 45
5.5.3.4 Branch in a deeper Loop .................................................... 45
5.5.3.5 Open Loop.......................................................................... 45
5.5.3.6 Branch in/from an Element................................................. 45
5.5.3.7 Missing End-Instruction ...................................................... 46
5.5.3.7.1 Blank of Else Instruction............................................................ 46
5.5.3.8 Blank of Else Instruction..................................................... 46
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7 Window Management..................................................... 88
7.1 Cascade Windows................................................................... 88
7.2 Tile Windows Vertically .......................................................... 88
7.3 Tile Windows Horizontally...................................................... 88
7.4 Arranging Minimized Windows .............................................. 88
7.5 Customize Toolbars................................................................ 88
7.6 Toolbars ................................................................................... 90
7.7 File Toolbar.............................................................................. 91
7.8 Element Toolbar ...................................................................... 91
7.9 Inclined Element Toolbar........................................................ 92
7.10 Contour Toolbar ...................................................................... 92
7.11 Measurement Toolbar ............................................................. 93
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25 SCANPAK...................................................................... 562
25.1 Scanning-Contents ............................................................... 562
25.1.1 CNC Scanning ...................................................................... 562
25.1.2 Laser Probe .......................................................................... 564
25.1.3 Scanning with Rotary Table................................................ 564
25.1.4 Scanning with "MetrisScan" (Laser) .................................. 564
25.2 Introduction ........................................................................... 564
25.3 Measurement Methods: Overview ....................................... 564
25.4 Start of SCANNING ............................................................... 565
25.4.1 Symbols ................................................................................ 565
25.4.2 Scanning from the toolbar .................................................. 566
25.5 Manual CMM .......................................................................... 566
25.5.1 Scan manually: Touch Trigger Probe ................................ 566
25.5.1.1 Closed Contour ................................................................ 566
25.5.1.2 Compensation of Probe Radius ....................................... 566
25.5.2 Scan manually: Fixed Probe ............................................... 567
25.5.2.1 Closed Contour ................................................................ 567
25.5.2.2 Compensation of Probe Radius ....................................... 567
25.6 CNC Scanning ....................................................................... 568
25.6.1 CNC scanning: "Automatic Measurement" On ................. 568
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General Information
3 General Information
GEOPAK
registers and calculates the geometric data of your parts
records program runs for the following measurements
provides, among others, all data (nominal-actual comparison) for
statistical programs
is the basic program for the 3D nominal-actual comparison of surfaces
(CAT1000S)
Copyright (c) 2017 Mitutoyo
Neuss, June 2017
Mitutoyo Europe GmbH
Borsigstrasse 8 - 10
D - 41469 Neuss
Phone ++49 - 21 37-102-0
Fax ++49 - 21 37-86 85
E-mail: [email protected]
International copyright laws protect the program itself as well as this online help.
It is not allowed to copy or pass to third persons the total or part of it. The
copyright is exclusively at Mitutoyo Europe GmbH.
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Hints for Help
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Part Program Editor
You can also click on a tool of your machine tools, which has not yet been
measured. You get a dialogue window to this tool (e.g. "Automatic Element
Measurement Cylinder"). Depending on the mode you selected before –
overwrite or insert – you overwrite the activated line or insert a new line.
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Part Program Editor
Important Instructions
Rights to write
If you want to change a part program or create a new one, you need the
corresponding user right. The administrator assigns these rights (cf. also User
Rights). You can see by the pen symbol in the status bar, lower left corner,
whether you are actually allowed to change the program or not.
Insert/Overwrite
You have two possibilities to toggle between Insert/Overwrite. You can see the
mode in the status line on the right below.
You toggle with the insert key of your keyboard.
You can change via the menu bar "Edit / Overwrite". The "Overwrite" gets
a tic, or the tic is removed.
Copy/Insert
You can also copy one or several command (program lines) by marking
them with the mouse; if you want to mark several lines, keep - as usual - the
<CTRL> key pressed when selecting. Thus the lines are put to the clipboard;
from there they can be inserted into the same program at a different place, or
even inserted into another part program. You deactivate the lines with the mouse
or the <Shift> key.
Undo
If you want to copy lines, use the icon of the editor tool bar. If the tool bar
is not displayed, you can undo all changes you have made, until the beginning of
your editor session. Cancelling of any action can be achieved in two ways:
Click on the backspace arrow of your editor tool bar, or …
Choose the menu bar "Edit / Undo".
Settings
Input Characteristics
Change Unit of Measurement
DialogDesigner
Search Facilities
Facility according to Function Selection
Search marked Function
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Part Program Editor
Branches
Programming of If Branches
Programming of an Alternative Branch
Start of Branch
End of Branch
Definition of Branches without Fail
Goto Label
On Error Goto
On Error Goto: Introduction
Error Handler: User Defined
Before and While Error Handler
Error Handler: Dialogue
Throw Error
User Defined Errors
Example: User Defined Errors
Example: E-Mail Message
Example: On Error Goto
Sequential Control
Statistical Data Rejection
Output
"Graphics for Template" in the Editor
Export Part Program (ASCII/DMIS)
Settings for Export to DMIS (Function)
Export Settings (DMIS)
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Part Program Editor
Input the name of the program into the "Name of Program" text field.
You have the possibility to create several part programs in one part, e.g. if you
require a part program for the position of the part and another one for measuring
the part.
In the new window of the GEOPAK Editor, you find the name of the part
program in the title bar and in brackets the name of the part.
All GEOPAK functions you edit, are listed in this window.
Select the "File" menu and in the pull-down menu the "Open"
function.
You get a new "Open" window.
In the parts list (upper text field), the parts opened in the GEOPAK editor
are displayed. From this list, select the part for which you want to see the
part programs. If you click on one of these parts, part programs which are
not opened are displayed in the lower large text field.
Now you can edit the part program you want.
5.3.4 Store as
New name
You want to record an existing part program under a new name.
Click on the „File/Save As" functions via the menu bar.
In the „Save As” window, open the parts in the parts' list.
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Part Program Editor
The name of the part cannot be changed with this function. This is only
possible in the PartManager.
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Part Program Editor
The deleting of the last part program is not directly possible in the
GEOPAK editor. This automatically takes place if all lines are deleted from
the last part program.
5.4 Settings
5.4.1 Input Characteristics
The settings that you choose in the "Input characteristics" dialogue may have
effects on the following functions:
marked part program commands
new part program commands
new part programs
Setting a part program command
Select one or several part program commands in the GEOPAK editor.
Choose "Settings" from the "File" menu. In the "Settings" submenu
choose "Input characteristics" to open the "Input characteristics" dialogue.
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Part Program Editor
Entries in the "Upper tol." text box appear automatically in the "Lower tol." text
box with the opposite sign.
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Part Program Editor
Note
When you select an element in GEOPAK learn mode you are directly in
the element measurement.
Open element dialogue
When the "Skip element dialogue" function is selected and you want to make
further adjustments in the element dialogue box, open the "Element" menu.
Display warnings
Select the check boxes if you need the following warning messages when
working with GEOPAK:
Co-ordinate not changed.
Intermediate point not set.
CNC is not on.
Variable is already defined as local.
Start up Wizard settings
With the "Init. Dialogue" setting, you can either use the "Probe data
management" dialogue box or the "Change probe" dialogue box when you start
GEOPAK learn mode.
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Part Program Editor
To use the selection possibilities under "Init. dialogue", select the "Initialisation
dialogues" option button in the "Configure Start Up Wizard" dialogue box.
XY plane
YZ plane
ZX plane
XY Plane
If XY is selected as work plane the X axis becomes the first axis, Y the
second and Z the third. Thus for cylindrical mode the radius and polar angle are
measured in the XY plane with the height along the Z axis. Spherical mode
parameters are given as polar angle in the XY plane and azimuth angle off the
positive Z axis.
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Part Program Editor
YZ Plane
If YZ is selected as work plane the Y axis becomes the first axis, Z the
second and X the third. Thus for cylindrical mode the radius and polar angle are
measured in the YZ plane with the height along the X axis. Spherical mode
parameters are given as polar angle in the YZ plane and azimuth angle off the
positive X axis.
ZX Plane
If ZX is selected as work plane the Z axis becomes the first axis, X the
second and Y the third. Thus for cylindrical mode the radius and polar angle are
measured in the ZX plane with the height along the Y axis. Spherical mode
parameters are given as polar angle in the ZX plane and azimuth angle off the
positive Y axis.
Cartesian mode
In a drawing, a three dimensional workpiece is usually represented on a single
plane using an elevation view, a plan view, and a side view. A CMM represents
these planes of different dimensions with the X, Y, and Z-axes.
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Part Program Editor
If variables are used in the part program, these should be checked. When
using constant lengths, these are to be divided by the variable SYS.UF
(SYS.UF is in the mm mode 1,0 and in the inch mode 25,4). If this variable
only contains e.g. element components (diameter, xyz co-ordinates), no
further internal message is required.
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Part Program Editor
Because the editor does not know the content of a variable, it cannot be
inverted. If the component, of which the mirror must be realized is a
variable, it is not possible to realize a mirror. You get a warning message.
You have already programmed, e.g. the part program for a right-side door
handle. You named this part program " Right Door Handle".
For safety reasons, you should copy this part program and save it under the
name 'Left Door Handle'.
If done so, continue as follows:
Select the "Edit" menu and in the pull-down menu the "Mirror part
program" function.
Select a plain from which you want to mirror and press the "Ok" button.
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Part Program Editor
If you search the same part program command that you have found
with the function "Search function forward" or "Search function backwards", click
the "Search marked function forward" or "Search marked function backwards"
button.
Also refer to
Search marked part program command
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Part Program Editor
Via the symbol in the GEOPAK toolbar, open the "Error List
(branch)" dialogue. Or select the path via "Edit"/"Check Branches".
In this dialogue, all branch errors of the part program are displayed. In the
part program, the first error is marked.
The number before the error means the line number in the part program,
the number after the error message is the error number.
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Part Program Editor
5.5.4 Branches
5.5.4.1 Programming of If Branch
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Part Program Editor
You can only use this option if you have started the part program via a manager
program or via the Remote Manager.
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Part Program Editor
But, he may also enter an IO Condition when defining the part program.
The target is that, in case of an error, a red lamp is lighting up at the
CMM.
Standard Error Handler
GEOPAK calls this kind of error handler. It allows to manually interfere in the
program run.
You only can use this option if the user has directly started the part
program, e.g. via a click on the GEOPAK icon in the toolbar of the
Partmanager.
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Part Program Editor
If GEOPAK carries out a special error handler, this error handler will be
deactivated. That is why in case of an error during the error handler, this one will
not be called again but the control is transferred to the superior error handler,
respectively to the standard error handler.
If a subprogram has been finished, the error handler of the calling program
is automatically valid again. Thus, it is not possible to deactivate the error
handler of the calling program through a subprogram.
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Part Program Editor
A part of this command can also be whether a still open element must be finished
or not. In this case, the element will be deleted because there is no guarantee
that this element can be calculated.
See also the following topics:
On Error Goto: Introduction
User Defined Errors
Example: On Error Goto
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Part Program Editor
See also:
On Error Goto: Introduction
Example: User Defined Errors
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Part Program Editor
In the course of the error handler, an e-mail will be sent and the standard
error handler of GEOPAK is called.
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Part Program Editor
If the safety plane has been reached, the user will be asked in line 24 to correctly
place the part.
After that, the alignment check will be realized again.
If the part is correctly aligned, the error handler in line 18 will be
deactivated and in line 26 the branch to the actual measurement is carried
out.
Get a general overview under the topic:
On Error Goto: Introduction
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Part Program Editor
In case the statistical data has been generated during a repeat run and this
command is called up, then no request dialogue and no error dialogue will
show up.
Restrictions
You can use this function in the editor only.
The dongle option "Statistics Output" in GEOPAK is absolutely required.
It is necessary that the rights of use have been assigned accordingly in
the PartManager. In fact, in the default setting, this right is assigned to
user level L5.
The right of use is checked in the Edit mode only.
In other words: In the Repeat mode – the command has already been
programmed - this right of use is no longer required.
The "Statistical Data Rejection" command can be used only if the setting
"Immediate Output of Statistical Data" de-activated. If this is not the case,
you will get an error message.
Once you have obtained rights covering this function for a part program,
you can transfer said right to other part programs just by copying. Then
there will be no further inquiry about these rights.
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Restrictions
The maximum length of the part name is 40 caracters.
During data transfer the command "Set Part Name for Statistics" is
inactive and cannot be choosen.
5.5.8 Output
5.5.8.1 "Graphics for Template" in the Editor
In the GEOPAK Editor, the "Graphics of Elements" window with the "Print or
Store Graphic" option (as with the GEOPAK learn mode) is not available. In the
editor you are therefore required to use the function "Store Graphics for
Template".
The function and the corresponding dialogue (picture below) is accessed through
the menu bar and the "Output" menu.
This dialogue combines the "Learnable Graphic Commands" dialogue and the
"Flexible Graphic Protocols" dialogue.
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Part Program Editor
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Learn Mode
6 Learn Mode
6.1 Learn Mode: Contents
Introduction Learn Mode
Getting Started Learn Mode
Start-Up-Wizard
DialogDesigner
Compensation Temperature
Temperature Coefficient: Select from List
Temperature Compensation: Manual CMM
Reference Position
Volume Compensation
Volume Compensation for Carbody Measurement
Confirm Probe Configuration
Learn Mode Main Window
Windows and Tools
Window Positions
Exit Learn Mode
Relearn from Repeat Mode
Measurement Window / Measurement Time
Settings GEOPAK: Contents
Using GEOPAK, you can obtain the geometrical data of your parts by a
measurement procedure. To prepare the measurement program, you are
automatically guided until all conditions for a smooth program run are fulfilled:
Check of the connected devices
Definition of the probe data
Alignment of the part
Usually, you want to compare certain features of your parts against their nominal
values shown on the drawing (e.g. diameter, straightness, and parallelism).
GEOPAK offers elements (circle, plane etc.) that can be used to get these
features.
Example:
You want to measure a diameter (cf. drawing below) and to check whether its
size is within the specified limits (here: 30mm diameter, the limits defined by a
table value of H8).
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Learn Mode
In the main window of "CMM learn mode", click the circle in the icon bar on top.
Then you get a window to define how your circle must be constructed:
the type of construction (measurement, intersection, etc.)
the type of calculation, if made from single points or not (Gauss, minimum
circumscribed, etc.)
further measurement parameters (e.g. automatic measurement, graphic,
tolerancing),
for measured element, the number of points,
give also a name and a number to each element,
After confirmation, you may only concentrate on the measurement.
In the next step, - if you have activated tolerances via the symbol, you can
input:
• the tolerance values, e.g.: +-0.100 or
• e.g. with H8 the tolerance field according to DIN/ISO.
This measurement sequence is automatically stored. The data registered and
stored in the learn mode is the prerequisite for any subsequent or later repeat
mode.
If you have changed the program in the meantime with the editor,
it happens that the stored data do not correspond any more with the
program run. The editor changes the part program but has no influence
on the data!
You can overwrite the existing part program if you do not use it any
longer
You can create a New Part Program if you want, e.g. determine a
position program for a part and a separate CNC-operational sequence.
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Learn Mode
• Enter your new part program into the text field and confirm
(OK).
• When starting the repeat mode, you can select from a part
program table, which part programs you want to execute.
6.4.2 Procedure
Start the part program like usual in the PartManager.
If your CMM supports the temperature compensation, the "Expansion coefficient"
dialogue box appears.
After the "Expansion coefficient" dialogue box, the "Start up Wizard" dialogue box
appears.
In the first dialogue box of the Start up Wizard make the following settings:
Determine the probe that is to be used.
Click "Next" to get to the co-ordinate system.
Click "Next" to get to CNC-Parameter and CNC on.
Click "Next" to get to the print and protocol settings.
Click "Next" to finally get to the selection of the protocol.
The number of dialogue boxes of the Start up Wizard depends on the settings in
the Start up Wizard dialogue boxes and on the Presettings in the PartManager
(Settings / Defaults for programs / GEOPAK / Menus). Here you can see that, for
example, five additional menus are preset. This is indicated in the title bar
between the brackets. If you have selected patterns for alignment for example, an
additional dialogue box appears in which you enter the patterns for alignment.
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Learn Mode
6.4.3 Configuration
If you want to change the configuration, in GEOPAK on the "File" menu, click
"Settings", and then click "Configure Start up Wizard". In the following dialogue
box choose the options:
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Learn Mode
Another button
Use this button to decide that you want the part program automatically learnt
as per your configuration definitions. That means that the system learns without
queries.
CAT1000PS Settings
When working with CAT1000PS click the "CAT1000PS Start up Wizard settings"
button. This procedure is identical to the procedure of the "Standard Start up
Wizard settings".
Working without Start up Wizard
If you want to work without the Start up Wizard choose one of the following
options:
Initialisation dialogues
No "Start up Wizard" or "Init. dialogues"
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Learn Mode
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With a click on this option you get to the dialogue window "Settings at
Temperature Sensor".
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Learn Mode
In the dialogue you have to assign the sensor numbers (1-8) to the tasks. The
temperature sensors of the scales are integrated in the CMM. As a general rule
the settings correspond to the example dialogue above. In the illustration below
you see the left hand part of a sensor on the green workpiece. In the centre of the
picture you see the "Thermal Compensation System" (Hardware-Box) to which all
temperature sensors are connected. As the device is not capable of
differenciating as to which temperature sensor is connected where, the
assignment described above must be done.
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Learn Mode
Compensation and rotary table When using a rotary table, the machine co-
ordinates themselves are not suitable for a temperature compensation. Example:
a square workpiece on a rotary table is measured from one side. Then, the
workpiece is rotated by 180° and measured from the other side. As both
measurements take place at the same machine position, a compensation would
indeed not take place. Define peference position Therefore, the compensation is
performed in machine co-ordinates, but you can also enter a reference point for
the compensation. When working with a rotary table you should use the
measured rotary table position as the reference point for the compensation.
Proceed as follows
When measuring with a rotary table, take the centre of the rotary table.
If a reference point is given, use this reference point as the datum. E.g.,
the workpiece is positioned at a stop or it is screwed on. In this case you
will use the point which is always at the same position despite a change of
size (temperature change).
For other cases than the two named above, take (0/0/0) as the datum.
The datum is subtracted from the machine co-ordinates. Then, the offset with the
factor described above is performed. Subsequently, the co-ordinates are
transformed into the workpiece system.
If you do not input the correct values (Z offset to Z-spindle will always be
negative), this dialogue will appear with each new software initialisation of
the machine. You must enter these values correctly; otherwise the
measurement will not have the specified accuracy.
When producing our CMM, Mitutoyo does not know the probe systems
used from customers during the measurement; therefore Mitutoyo has
determined and stored the compensation values of the Z-spindle. In order to
execute compensation at the actual measurement place, the program must know
the offset from Z-spindle to stylus tip. You must enter these values.
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Learn Mode
In fact, you can enter the offset to any axis. For detailed information, refer again
to the topic Volume Compensation.
Hint
You will not get to this dialogue in the repeat mode if the offset data have
already been changed in the ProbeBuilder or in the probe data
management.
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Learn Mode
This only refers to machines that are equipped with a probe changer
system.
After starting learn or repeat mode, you get the window "Which probe tree is in
use?". This dialog is a safety question. Meanwhile, the probe configuration may
have been manually changed. Therefore, you should examine the "real" probe
tree and then confirm. If the probe configuration has been changed, you should
enter the number of the configuration, which is active now.
If you do not enter the correct configuration, your measurement data will be
wrong. Furthermore, while executing a part program, there are collisions
when working with the wrong probe data. Last but not least, there will be
problems as soon as you change the probe configuration; GEOPAK would
try to record the probe configuration into an occupied port.
After confirmation, you get the "Change Probe" window. In the status bar, you
find the number of the probe configuration. Now, you continue as you did in
Probe Selection .
You want to realise a measurement and have created a new part in the
PartManager (see Create New Part). Activate the part and come to the main
window of the GEOPAK learn mode, either via the pull-down menu or by a
clicking the button. Then you see...
a series of buttons (icons) along the screen margins. These icons make a
quick and easy access to the corresponding functions possible.
an activated dialogue window to the probe selection; you find details
under "Probe Selection ".
When using an automatic probe tree changer system, some more items must be
taken into consideration. Cf. details of these items under Change Probe
Configuration .
The layout of the main window
You activate the measurement process from the main window. Mitutoyo offers a
series of menus, pull-down menus, and icons with functions, which make working
as simple as possible.
In the upper part of the screen you can see the title bar. In this example
the title bar is named "GEOPAK CMM learn mode", and it includes the
version number and name of the part which you have selected in the parts
list in the PartManager.
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Learn Mode
Below the title bar, you find the menu bar with the different menus from
"Element" to "Help". If you activate one of these, pull-down menus appear.
Most of the functions can be activated both ways, either by the icon or by
the pull-down menus. The way you select is just a matter of personal
preference.
In the menu bar on the left you will find the "File" menu. Clicking this
menu offers several possibilities for the program management. Choose
inch or millimeters for the measurement, determine the printer settings,
choose measurement with/without sound and others.
Below the menu bar and on the margins of the main window there are
toolbars that can be configured individually. After installation of the
program you can see the Element toolbar horizontally next to the "Exit"
button. How to work with the toolbars is described in the topic "Adjusting
toolbars".
The status bar at the bottom of the main window gives information about
the status of the program.
Here, for example you find information about the actually connected
devices, and the unit of measurement (mm or inches).
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Learn Mode
In this dialogue box the selection of part program commands and functions in the
toolbar can be adjusted
In the "Available toolbar buttons" box highlight the "Idealize contour"
command.
Click the "Add" button.
The command appears in the "Current toolbar buttons" box and in the
"Contour toolbar".
Moving buttons
If you want to move individual buttons within a toolbar, highlight the requested
button in the "Current toolbar buttons" box. Either click the "Move up" or the
"Move down" button.
Note
When clicking the "Reset" button, the last action or actions are undone.
When clicking the "Close" button, the "Customize toolbar" dialogue box is closed.
Adding or deleting toolbars
If you want to add a toolbar within the toolbar range, click "Window" on the
GEOPAK menu bar to open the shortcut menu. Click on the menu item "Toolbar"
to open a submenu including all available toolbars. If you want to add a toolbar,
click an entry without check mark. If you want to delete a toolbar, click an entry
with a check mark.
You will find a list of the available toolbars and their commands in the topic
"Toolbars".
Note
The screen appears to be more clearly arranged with fewer buttons.
When using keyboard shortcuts, for example, for cut and paste you will
not need the buttons for cut, copy and paste in your toolbar.
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Learn Mode
Your adjustments of the toolbars are not yet stored. If you exit GEOPAK
they will be lost.
On the menu bar, click "Window" and then click "Store positions and
status".
The adjustments to the toolbars are stored. Additionally, all positions and
current window sizes of the open GEOPAK windows are stored.
Changing the size of the buttons
You can change the size of the buttons. Choose between small, normal and large
buttons.
On the menu bar, click "Window" and then click "Toolbar".
Click one of the commands:
• Small toolbar size (16 Pixel)
• Normal toolbar size (24 Pixel)
• Large toolbar size (32 Pixel)
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Learn Mode
Default
The "Default window positions" command offers three styles considered by
Mitutoyo for being convenient. Independent of your individual window positions,
this command gets you back to a position from which you can continue working.
"Split screen" mode
With the function "Split screen mode" it is possible to have, for example, the
GEOPAK and CAT1000 windows displayed on the screen at the same time.
Note
The windows are displayed in normal mode by default. Only when
selecting the command "Split screen mode" on the submenu, all windows
are displayed in the "Split screen mode".
The store, recall or default commands are valid for the normal mode as
well as for the "Split screen mode".
Make sure to finish the measurement of each element before you exit the
learn mode.
If measurement of an element has not been finished and you exit the learn
mode with the "Store part program" option, problems will occur during
"Relearn".
If, despite this, you should have an unfinished element, you have to remove this
element from the part program. Only then you can use the "Relearn" function. For
more detailed information refer to "Remove Unfinished Element".
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Learn Mode
The GEOPAK-Learn Mode is called up using the part program processed last.
The "Start Relearn" function, however, is not possible unless there is
relearn data existing for the current part program.
The repeat mode is closed.
Relearn is automatically started without any dialogue at the beginning of
the learn mode.
Of course, you can also "relearn" in the learn mode. For this, click the option
"Store data for relearn" in the dialogue "GEOPAK" (see ill. below). If you start the
learn mode for this part out of the PartManager, you can select "relearn".
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Learn Mode
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Learn Mode
Entries in the "Upper tol." text box appear automatically in the "Lower tol." text
box with the opposite sign.
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Learn Mode
Note
When you select an element in GEOPAK learn mode you are directly in
the element measurement.
Open element dialogue
When the "Skip element dialogue" function is selected and you want to make
further adjustments in the element dialogue box, open the "Element" menu.
Display warnings
Select the check boxes if you need the following warning messages when
working with GEOPAK:
Co-ordinate not changed.
Intermediate point not set.
CNC is not on.
Variable is already defined as local.
Start up Wizard settings
With the "Init. Dialogue" setting, you can either use the "Probe data
management" dialogue box or the "Change probe" dialogue box when you start
GEOPAK learn mode.
To use the selection possibilities under "Init. dialogue", select the "Initialisation
dialogues" option button in the "Configure Start Up Wizard" dialogue box.
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Learn Mode
UMAP tab
Start with predefined CNC parameters is selected
For more detailed information about the handling and the buttons refer to
"Change CNC parameters".
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Learn Mode
XY plane
YZ plane
ZX plane
XY Plane
If XY is selected as work plane the X axis becomes the first axis, Y the
second and Z the third. Thus for cylindrical mode the radius and polar angle are
measured in the XY plane with the height along the Z axis. Spherical mode
parameters are given as polar angle in the XY plane and azimuth angle off the
positive Z axis.
YZ Plane
If YZ is selected as work plane the Y axis becomes the first axis, Z the
second and X the third. Thus for cylindrical mode the radius and polar angle are
measured in the YZ plane with the height along the X axis. Spherical mode
parameters are given as polar angle in the YZ plane and azimuth angle off the
positive X axis.
ZX Plane
If ZX is selected as work plane the Z axis becomes the first axis, X the
second and Y the third. Thus for cylindrical mode the radius and polar angle are
measured in the ZX plane with the height along the Y axis. Spherical mode
parameters are given as polar angle in the ZX plane and azimuth angle off the
positive Y axis.
Cartesian mode
In a drawing, a three dimensional workpiece is usually represented on a single
plane using an elevation view, a plan view, and a side view. A CMM represents
these planes of different dimensions with the X, Y, and Z-axes.
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Learn Mode
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Learn Mode
To access the functions in the GEOPAK learn mode click the icons or choose
"File / System" from the menu bar and choose one of the three options.
Online machine
The real CMM is used.
Offline machine
Measurements and CMM movements are simulated. You can test your
part program, e.g. to recheck the variables.
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Learn Mode
In the input field "Group size", dialogue window "Statistics", you enter a value
between 1 and 25 for the group size.
Using the group size
You can only enter the group size in the GEOPAK learn mode because the
features for the statistical evaluation are usually created in the learn mode only.
This also applies for the statistical data evaluation in ASCII. Only then, the group
size is required.
Hint
To change the group size, you need the user right "Change group size".
The group size is not saved in the part program. Therefore it is better to
always check the currently set group size. You can use also use this
function for this check.
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Window Management
7 Window Management
7.1 Cascade Windows
You can use this function to arrange the windows, that are opened in the
GEOPAK editor, one after the other so that the title bars of the individual windows
are visible.
On the menu bar, on the "Window" menu, click "Cascade windows" to
open the function.
The windows are arranged in a row from upper left to lower right.
You can change the size of the overlapping windows or move them as usual.
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Window Management
In this dialogue box the selection of part program commands and functions in the
toolbar can be adjusted
In the "Available toolbar buttons" box highlight the "Idealize contour"
command.
Click the "Add" button.
The command appears in the "Current toolbar buttons" box and in the
"Contour toolbar".
Moving buttons
If you want to move individual buttons within a toolbar, highlight the requested
button in the "Current toolbar buttons" box. Either click the "Move up" or the
"Move down" button.
Note
When clicking the "Reset" button, the last action or actions are undone.
When clicking the "Close" button, the "Customize toolbar" dialogue box is closed.
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Window Management
Your adjustments of the toolbars are not yet stored. If you exit GEOPAK
they will be lost.
On the menu bar, click "Window" and then click "Store positions and
status".
The adjustments to the toolbars are stored. Additionally, all positions and
current window sizes of the open GEOPAK windows are stored.
Changing the size of the buttons
You can change the size of the buttons. Choose between small, normal and large
buttons.
On the menu bar, click "Window" and then click "Toolbar".
Click one of the commands:
• Small toolbar size (16 Pixel)
• Normal toolbar size (24 Pixel)
• Large toolbar size (32 Pixel)
7.6 Toolbars
The individual toolbars include several buttons. Not all available buttons are
visible in the toolbars. As described in the topic "Customize toolbars" you can add
or remove part program commands and buttons in toolbars according to your
measurement tasks.
File toolbar
Element toolbar
Inclined element toolbar
Contour toolbar
Measurement toolbar
Scanning toolbar
Machine toolbar
Tolerance toolbar
Probe toolbar
Co-or.sys. toolbar
Output toolbar
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Calculation toolbar
Program toolbar
Branch toolbar
Graphic toolbar
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Window Management
Point
Line
Circle
Plane
Cone
Sphere
Cylinder
Step cylinder
Contour
Freeform surface
Gear
You can add the following buttons to the element toolbar:
Distance along probing direction
Ellipse
Automatic element recognition
Point cloud element extraction
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Window Management
Filter contour
FORMPAK-CMM
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Window Management
Stop scanning
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Window Management
Tolerance contour
Surface profile contour
You can add the following buttons to the tolerance toolbar:
Set control limits
Tolerance last element
Tolerance a variable
Tolerance multiple contour
Tolerance band editor
Tolerance band contour
Pass data to ROUNDPAK-CMM
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Window Management
Best fit
Align co-ordinate system
You can add the following buttons to the co-or. sys. toolbar:
Align axis by point with offset
Load table co-ordinate system
Store table co-ordinate system
RPS alignment
Load pallet co-ordinate system
Store pallet co-ordinate system
Store common co-ordinate system
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Window Management
I/O condition
In the status bar you will find, for example, information about the devices
connected or about the selected measurement unit (millimeters or inch).
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Probe
8 Probe
8.1 Probe Contents
Probe Data Management
New Input of Probe/Edit/Copy Probe Data
Save/Delete/Calibrate Probe Data
Probe Selection
Confirm Probe Configuration
Change Probe Configuration
Automatic Calibration (Menu Probe)
Automatic Calibration: Further Settings
Calibration from Probe Data Management
Probe Calibration: Limitations
PH9 Probe Clearance
Manual Calibration
Calibration of Scanning Probes
Calibrate Scanning Probe Systems
Define MPP / SP
Define Masterball
Z Offset
Maximum Difference
Archive Probe
Load Probe Data from Archive
Single Probe Re-Calibration
Re-Calibrate from Memory
Calibrate Probe: Display
Several Masterballs: Sequence
Masterball Definition: Dialogue
Define Masterball Position
Element Calculation with Different Probe Spheres
PHS1/3
PHS1: Servo Probe Head
Probe Change by Angle
Calibration of PHS1
ProbeBuilder
ProbeBuilder: Table of Contents
Combination of Racks
Combination of Racks / Introduction
Sub-Racks
Manual and Virtual Changer
Manual Change
Manual Tree Change with MPP
Manual Tool Changer with Following Rack
Definition of Sub-Racks
Probe Extension Module "PEM"
Rack Alignment
Convert Rack Data
Set Advanced MPP100 Data
Calibrate ACR 3
Numbering Method of Probe Configurations
Rack Definition
Options with the FCR25
General FCR25-Settings
Configuration with the SCR200
Configuration with the ACR3 and Two Times FCR25
Rack Specific Parameters and Positions
Port Settings
Save / Print Out Rack Configuration
Click the function "Select All" in case you want to calibrate all probes in
succession.
As a rule, you print the current probe list. If a probe-tree changing system is
used, the tree number will be asked for previously. The current tree number is
suggested.
Provided you have manually set the angles of your probing system using
the Renishaw Hand Control Unit (HCU), you just click on the symbol to accept
the angle values.
The HCU is suitable for all rotary-type probing systems (PH9, PH10).
8.4.2 Delete
Deletion is possible for any probe. The #1 probe (reference probe), however, can
only be deleted if it is the last probe in the list, or if all subsequent probes are
deleted at the same time together with the reference probe. Otherwise a fault
message will show up.
8.4.3 Calibrate
You always calibrate the active probe (for details refer to Automatic Calibration).
Further topics:
Probe Data Management
New Input of Probe/Edit/Copy Probe Data
If at least one probe is defined, you can see the window "change probe"
with the data of the defined probe(s). Select one and confirm; then this becomes
the actual probe used for measurement.
If there are no defined probes, you will see the window for probe management;
here you can define your probe(s). For details, cf. (Probe Data Management and
Automatic Calibration (Menu Probe)).
Even if there are probes defined, you can add new probes to the list. For this, you
use the function "Probe / probe data management" in the pull-down menu. You
can also access this function via the "probe" icon of the tool bar on the left margin
of the screen.
Further Information
The active probe is marked by an <*>; this one is used for measurement.
The menu "probe" can access the windows for "select probe" and "probe
data management".
You can easily change probe data by simply clicking any probe of the list
twice. The window "change probe data" immediately appears.
The new data are directly passed to the probe data management window (for
details, cf. Probe Data Management).
After changing, the following question appears: "Data have been changed; store
changes"?
This only refers to machines that are equipped with a probe changer
system.
After starting learn or repeat mode, you get the window "Which probe tree is in
use?". This dialog is a safety question. Meanwhile, the probe configuration may
have been manually changed. Therefore, you should examine the "real" probe
tree and then confirm. If the probe configuration has been changed, you should
enter the number of the configuration, which is active now.
If you do not enter the correct configuration, your measurement data will be
wrong. Furthermore, while executing a part program, there are collisions
when working with the wrong probe data. Last but not least, there will be
problems as soon as you change the probe configuration; GEOPAK would
try to record the probe configuration into an occupied port.
After confirmation, you get the "Change Probe" window. In the status bar, you
find the number of the probe configuration. Now, you continue as you did in
Probe Selection .
If you have worked, before, with an indexable probe, you get an additional
message "Attention: Probe will move!". Make sure that the probe can be
rotated without collision (see above).
Additional information
If the probe configuration has not been calibrated yet, you get the error message
"Probe # 1 not Defined". After you confirm it, you get the window for "Probe Data
Management" (the number of the configuration appears in the headline). General
rule: all probes have a common reference probe. This is "Probe no. 1" of "Probe
tree no.1". This probe must be calibrated first. For more detailed information refer
to the Probe Data Management.
The probe tree no. corresponds to the port no. of the rack.
Numbering for two racks
If you dispose of two racks of the same type (e.g. two SCR200), the ports in the
respective rack must be exactly specified. In the first rack numbering starts with
number 01 and in the second rack numbering starts with number 11.
Ancient kind of counting
The following counting can still be used because of the compatibility with
GEOPAK 3 in connection with your part programs from this version:
If you use a second rack the probe tree number is the sum of the port number of
the second rack and the number of ports of the first rack. Example: The first rack
has six ports and in rack 2 you use tree number 2, then the calculation is as
follows: 6+2=8.
If the rack has not been determined yet, you get an error message.
For more detailed information refer to " Combination of Racks / Introduction ".
After this function, you must again move to a defined probe if you want to
continue the measurement.
The offset is made by the reference probe, i.e. the machine moves as if the
reference probe would be active. The angle position is taken either from the
probe number or correspondingly from the angle you entered.
The calibration of "Probe 1" defines the masterball because only then its position
is known. To determine this position, securely fasten the masterball on the
measurement table, for example with a screw-in foot. Access to the masterball
must be provided from all sides during calibration of indexing probes.
When you select this button you can determine the position by
manual probing. For this, probing to the top of sphere in direction of the
probe is sufficient (picture below).
See also
Automatic Calibration: Further Settings
Calibration from Probe Data Management
Probe Calibration: Limitations
When you enter the number of a non-defined masterball and then click
"OK", the error message "Masterball has no data" appears.
CNC parameters
You can change the CNC parameters for calibration. However, you should carry
out all following measurements with the specified parameters.
When you start GEOPAK, you normally enter the values of your workpiece
in the "Temperature coefficient" dialogue box. For the calibration of a
probe, however, you have to enter the values of the masterball. Otherwise,
a wrong probe diameter will be obtained.
See also
Automatic Calibration ("Probe" Menu)
Calibration from Probe Data Management
Head Calibration
Probe Calibration: Limitations
Define Masterball
Manual calibration
In extension of the dialogue "Automatic calibration", you can also perform the
calibration manually.
Metris laser probes are calibrated by software of the manufacturer. WIZ laser
probes and PHS1/3 probe systems are calibrated by other GEOPAK functions.
Optical probes are calibrated with part programs. MPP10 probe systems can only
be calibrated manually.
See also the other topics for "Calibration":
Automatic Calibration (Menu Probe)
Automatic Calibration: Further Settings
Calibration from Probe Data Management
For the following functions and the corresponding dialogues, you will always have
to enter the number of a masterball that has already been defined:
Manual calibration
Re-calibrate single probe
Re-calibrate from memory
The diameter, however, is shown depending on the number of the masterball
defined previously.
You will get an error message if the masterball is not defined.
Master ring
Also when using a master ring for manual calibration, you first need to define its
diameter via the function "Define masterball".
In the dialogue "Manual calibration", click the symbol (left) and enter the
number of the master ring in the text box for the number of the masterball.
Confirm and the calibration can be started.
Select the "Point on top of sphere" button. In this case only one
circle is measured.
Make all further entries in the "Calibrate automatically" dialogue box as
described in "Automatic Calibration: Further Settings".
With a cylindrical probe, you have to make sure that the probe centre in Z height
is not at the lower edge of the probe but in the centre of a "notional" sphere. This
"notional" sphere has the radius of the probe and is flush with the lower edge of
the probe.
During calibration of the spherical disc stylus make sure that the disc stylus
contacts the masterball in the region of the equator. This way the disc
stylus does not contact the masterball with its lower or upper edge. If there
is a contact with the lower or upper edge, this may lead to incorrect
calibration results.
In the "Zenith angle 1" and "Zenith angle 2" combo boxes type a value
that ensures that the disc stylus does not contact the masterball with its
lower or upper edge. You can determine the optimal angle values as
described below.
How to determine the optimal zenith angles
To determine the optimal values for zenith angle 1 and zenith angle 2, the angle
α of the disc stylus is required. This angle depends on the dimensions of the disc
stylus.
Disc stylus
Required angle α
Diameter of the disc stylus (side adjacent)
Height of the disc stylus (side opposite)
Hypotenuse
Use the arc tangent (arctan) from the aspect ratio of the disc stylus to calculate
the angle α: α = arctan = side opposite/side adjacent
Example
Diameter of the disc stylus: 25,0 mm (the value can be found in the probe system
configuration)
Height of the disc stylus: 3,0 mm (determine the value by means of a caliper)
Angle α = arctan(3,0/25,0) = 6,843° = 7,0°
By adding or subtracting the calculated angle α to 90° you determine the
optimum values for the zenith angles 1 and 2.
Note
To ensure that during calibration the masterball does not contact the lower
or upper edge of the disc stylus, the zenith angles are adjusted by 2,0°.
Zenith angle 1 = 90,0°-7,0°+2,0° = 85,0°
Zenith angle 2 = 90,0°+7,0°-2,0° = 95,0°
As a result (ill. above) you receive two different probe diameters, one for touching
measurement and the other for scanning measurement. The values of the
scanning probe are always the lower ones. Always only the offset of the touching
measurement is used.
For the probe radius compensation of scanning commands (e.g. CNC scanning),
always the diameter of the scanning probe is used. This also applies to the case
that the measurement procedure was changed during the element measurement.
For more detailed information, refer to "Re-calibrate from Memory".
The definition of the factors is always realized for the current probe. For this, you
can also use the number of a previously defined masterball. If you want to call
this command in the part program ("Menu Bar / Probe / Define MPP Factors"),
the following conditions must be fulfilled:
The probe must have been calibrated before.
In CNC operation, the probe must be moved over the masterball with the
program.
In the manual mode, a dialogue is displayed prompting the operator to
manually move the probe over the masterball.
When using a previously defined masterball, the CMM automatically
moves over this position.
Note
When using scan probe systems (SP600, SP80 and SP25), the MPP-
factors and the relevant probe diameter are automatically calculated.
If you execute a probe configuration without a star probe, the probe
calibration is automatically called up in the learn mode.
For a probe configuration with a star probe, you must first write a part
program.
Define the probe configuration including the star probe with the
ProbeBuilder.
8.19 DefineMasterball
Problem and Solution
Situation
You have started GEOPAK in single / learn mode and want to calibrate a new
probe in the probe data management window. When clicking the "calibrate"
button, you get the warning "Position of masterball not defined; continue?"
Reason
The reference probe has not been calibrated yet, and you try to calibrate a probe
with a number different from 1. This warning tries to prevent you from getting
wrong results. If the position of the masterball has been changed in the
meantime, or a different masterball is used. In these cases, the probe calibration
would result in wrong probe data, because the differences to probe #1 would be
wrong.
Solution
Calibrate probe #1 as new. However, if you are sure that the masterball position
has not been changed since you have calibrated probe #1 the last time, you can
opt for "continue" when you get the warning.
8.20 Z-Offset
Usually during probe calibration, the masterball is probed using a circle along the
equator, and a point on the pole. If you actually use a small tip, probing of
equator may not be possible (cf. drawing below). In such a case, you can input
an offset in Z; this means the height above the equator where the masterball is
touched.
A = maximum distance
B = maximum distance
C = maximum difference
The value can only be obtained if an element is measured with more than the
minimum number of points required for that element. If an element has been
measured with only the minimum number of points, it is defined exactly through
the points; there are no distances from the element to the points. For a sphere,
you need at least 4+1=5 measurement points to get the value for the maximum
difference.
Now the program calculates the "maximum difference". From this value, you can
evaluate the quality of the measurement, the higher the value, the worse
measurement.
You may get a high value for the "maximum difference". This can be an indication
that either your probe is defective, or has not been tightly screwed.
Or, in the "Probe data management" dialogue box, click the "Archive
probe data" button.
The "Archive probe data" dialogue box is displayed.
Or, in the "Probe data management" dialogue box, click the "Probe
data from archive" button.
Related topics
Probe data management
Load probe from archive
You can display the archived probe data before loading them.
If you wish to calibrate a probe of any number of the list, the probe with the
number 1 must be calibrated first (you will find more detailled information in
chapterAutomatic Calibration (Menu Probe)
The probe data are calculated anew. These new data are stored to the disc
immediately, if no error has occurred. The correlation between the probes and
measured spheres must be exact.
The sequence number only does the correlation of the measured spheres
and the probes. This means that the sequence numbers of the probes
must not have interruptions, as otherwise a wrong correlation is done, and
wrong probe data are stored.
For the following functions and the corresponding dialogues, you will always have
to enter the number of a masterball that has already been defined:
Manual calibration
Re-calibrate single probe
Re-calibrate from memory
The diameter, however, is shown depending on the number of the masterball
defined previously.
You will get an error message if the masterball is not defined.
For calibrating single probes and re-calibrating from memory it is possible to
define the type of calibration (touching or scanning).
For the probe types SP600, SP80 and SP25, the scanning is already defined by
determining the MPP Factors.
Use the buttons to select the functions "Delete" and "Element ready".
Note
The options "Delete" and "Element finish" are not available for the automatic
calibration.
When the MPP/SP factors are determined, the window with the display of the
measurement points shows a progress bar in percent. The percent value is also
shown when the scan radius is determined with the probe heads MPP2, MPP4,
MPP5, MPP100 and MPP300. This is also the case when the control does not
support scanning by known contour with the SP600.
In the centre of the window you find instructions as to which action is currently
being performed (see example below).
Instruction example
...the results of former calibrations in case that you have calibrated more than just
one probe,
Note
To set the font type and size according to Windows conventions, click the
right mouse button - separately in both window parts.
This method cannot be applied but for learnable part program commands used
for calibration (for details refer to Define Masterball Position).
With a click on this symbol, the input field for the diameter of the
masterball gets editable. The diameter of the masterball is stored when
you have activated the symbol (left). Otherwise, the system will use the
diameter that you have defined in the dialogue "Masterball Definition".
Number of masterball
Further hints
The maximum number allowed for the masterball is 100.
Gaps are permitted among these numbers.
Where the position of the reference masterball is not defined, the
definition of other masterballs will not be possible. In this case you will get
an error message.
For details refer also to the topics Re-Calibrate from Memory, Re-Calibrate Single
Probe and Manual Calibration.
After you have clicked this option, the element dialogues of GEOPAK will
show the symbol (top left). Activate this symbol with a mouse click. There are no
restrictions regarding the calculation modes.
8.30.2 Background
Elements can be calculated from measured points. This method is unproblematic
as long as the points are measured with probe spheres of the same diameter.
Then the element is calculated with the centres of the probe spheres and
subsequently corrected by the probe sphere diameter. If, however, the
measurement has been executed with probe spheres of different diameters, this
method is not possible.
These contact points are now used to recalculate the element which leads to an
improvement of the first result. The program repeats this procedure until the
result remains unchanged.
This procedure is realised for all elements and is used when the probe diameters
for an element to be measured differ by more than 5 µ.
Reliable results but no certification yet
As opposed to the standard algorithm, the results of this method are not
PTB-certified and therefore Mitutoyo not uses this method basically. As is
known, the algorithms for the individual calculations are certified so that
the user may well use this method. The end results are therefore reliable.
There is no method for certification available yet by PTB.
As the UMAP-system and the QVP belong to a probe tree in physical terms,
GEOPAK must be able to differentiate, which one of the two probe systems shall
actually be used for measurement. So if, for example, you wish to define the
probe fort he UMAP-system, you must click the option "Use for UMAP" (see ill.
above).
For a probe change, these options are evaluated and the respective CNC-
parameters are sent to the CMM.
Hint
There is a special command for setting the CNC-parameters of UMAP. To
get to this command, use the menu bar "Machine / CNC-parameters for
UMAP". In the following dialogue you also have the possibility to set the
joystick parameters.
See also:
Change Probe by Angle
PHS1/PHS3 Calibration
Re-Reference
Click the "Read current angles" button if you want to take over the
current probe position into the text boxes.
Probe number
In the "Probe number" text box enter the number of a probe that is available in
the probe data management. When using an L-shaped probe together with the
PHS3 probe system, two probes are defined in the probe data management.
Input of direction
Select the "Probe direction" group box.
Select the current co-ordinate system or the machine co-ordinate system.
Enter the direction vectors.
Click the "Change direction vectors" button if you want to reverse the
direction of the defined direction vectors.
See also
PHS1 and PHS3 Probe Head with Servo Drive
Articulating Probe Head PH10-iQ
Head Calibration
Re-Referencing
8.31.2.4 Re-Referencing
Use this method with the PHS1 already active. You should call up this dialogue
when the GEOPAK learn or edit mode has been started and a PHS1 has been
installed. The dialogue is called up via the menu "Probe" (learn mode) or
"Machine" (repeat mode) and the function.
The procedure corresponds to the procedure described for "Head calibration".
Further topics:
PHS1/PHS3: Servo Probe Head
Probe Change by Angle
Calibration of PHS1/PHS3
The inferred calibration cannot be used with a scanning probe and a star
stylus.
The PH10-iQ is suitable for a CMM with horizontal and vertical mounting
orientation and for a bridge-type CMM with horizontal mounting orientation.
Depending on the measurement requirements you can optimize the accuracy of
your system by increasing the number of positions during calibration.
The calibration starts. During calibration, the following steps are carried
out:
• The probe approaches the surface of the specimen until the
touch signal is triggered.
• The surface roughness of the specimen is measured.
• SURFPAK creates a report of the calibration data.
• The roughness probe moves back to the start position.
See also
Roughness Measurement
Perform Roughness Measurement with SURFTEST PROBE
Perform Roughness Measurement with Surface Finish Probe (SFP1)
In cases where you have connected a swivel-type probing system, you first
get a safety query.
Output
Going back in the part program causes ...
the data in the result box to be deleted.
Depending on the new settings, the CMM position is updated.
The status line is updated with the current, correct probe number (probe
tree number).
Performance limits
When you have deleted an intermediate position, the CMM is not moved back
into the previous position.
8.33 Racks
8.33.1 Racks: Introduction
It is often not possible with a single probe to record a measuring point at every
place of a workpiece. Complex measurement tasks require the use of different
probes. Therefore, it is basically possible to exchange star styli, probe modules
and complete probe systems.
See also "Change Probe Tree".
A changing system is required to exchange the individual components of a probe
system. This is a kinematic connection with which the individual components of
the probe system - probe head, probe, adapter, extension and star stylus - are
linked with each other. A kinematic connection is an automatically separable, not
screwed, positive fit connection.
Installation
All racks must be installed in parallel with one of the machine axes.
The ACR1 is installed within the working area of the CMM. Depending on the
probe head used (turn/swivel head or rigid probe head), the rack can be installed
horizontally or vertically.
Note
A detailed description for the installation of the ACR1 can be found in the
operating manual of the manufacturer Renishaw.
Related topics
Racks: Introduction
ACR1 calibration
Installation
All racks must be installed in parallel with one of the machine axes.
The modular design of the ACR2 allows several pairs of ports to be installed in
the working area of the CMM on one stand.
Note
A detailed description for the installation of the ACR2 can be found in the
operating manual of the manufacturer Renishaw.
Related topics
Racks: Introduction
ACR2 calibration
Installation
All racks must be installed in parallel with one of the machine axes.
The ACR3 is installed within the working area of the CMM. The ACR3 can only
be mounted horizontally.
Note
A detailed description for the installation of the ACR3 can be found in the
operating manual of the manufacturer Renishaw.
Related topics
Racks: Introduction
ACR3 calibration
Installation
All racks must be installed in parallel with one of the machine axes.
The SCR200 is installed within the working area of the CMM. Depending on the
probe head used (turn/swivel head or rigid probe head), the rack can be installed
horizontally or vertically.
Note
A detailed description for the installation of the SCR200 can be found in
the operating manual of the manufacturer Renishaw.
Related topics
Racks: Introduction
SCR200 calibration
Rack SCR600
Alternatively, individual ports (SCP600) can be mounted on the MRS modular
mounting system.
Installation
All racks must be installed in parallel with one of the machine axes.
The SCR600 is installed within the working area of the CMM. Depending on the
probe head used (turn/swivel head or rigid probe head), the rack can be installed
horizontally or vertically.
Note
A detailed description for the installation of the SCR600 can be found in
the operating manual of the manufacturer Renishaw.
Related topics
Racks: Introduction
Calibrating SCR600
Port SCP80
SCP600
Port SCP600 changes the styli of the scanning probe SP600.
Port SCP600
Installation
Rack SCR6 and the ports SCP80 and SCP600 mounted to the MRS are mounted
within the working area of the CMM. The mounting can only be performed
horizontally.
Note
The installation of rack SCR6 and of the ports SCP80 and SCP600
mounted to the MRS corresponds to the installation of the ACR3. A
detailed description can be found in the operating manual of the
manufacturer Renishaw.
See also
Racks: Introduction
Rack SCR600
SCR6, SCP80 and SCP600 Alignment
Rack MCR20
Probe systems supported by the MCR20
Probe head: PH10M, PH10MQ, PH10T and PH6M
Probe: TP20, TP20NI
Probe module: 6W, EF, LF, MF, SF, EM1 and EM2
Installation
All racks must be installed in parallel with one of the machine axes.
The MCR20 is mounted within the working range of the CMM. Mounting is
performed vertically as the MCR20 is not suited for horizontal operation.
If two MCR20 are required, these must be mounted so that there is no gap
between the two racks. This restriction is necessary as otherwise the suppression
of the probe signal (this avoids unintentional probe signals during the change of
the probe modules) is deactivated by the gap and a collision message appears.
If several MCR20 are used in combination with a TP20NI (NI: without
suppression of the probe signal) there is no restriction as to the mounting of the
racks. Pay attention to the fact that this is only possible with controllers from
UC200S. If you do not have such a controller, you cannot use the TP20NI in
combination with a MCR20.
Note
A detailed description for the installation of the MCR20 can be found in
the operating manual of the manufacturer Renishaw.
Related topics
Racks: Introduction
MCR20 Calibration
Installation
All racks must be installed in parallel with one of the machine axes.
The FCR25 is installed within the working area of the CMM. When using the
independent rack, it can be installed horizontally or vertically depending on the
probe head used (turn/swivel head or rigid probe head).
Note
A detailed description for the installation of the FCR25 can be found in the
operating manual of the manufacturer Renishaw.
Related topics
Racks: Introduction
FCR25 calibration
The MRS mounting system is installed within the working area of the CMM.
Note
A detailed description for the installation of the MRS can be found in the
operating manual of the manufacturer Renishaw.
See also
Racks: Introduction
Rack SCR600
Rack SCR6, Ports SCP80 and SCP600
The MRS2 modular rack system is mounted within the CMM working volume.
Note
For more information about the assembly of the MRS2, see the user
manual of Renishaw.
See also
MRS2 Builder
Create or Change MRS2 Modular Rack System
Racks: Introduction
Rack SCR600
Rack SCR6, Port SCP80 and SCP600
Problems with the timing can occur in the case of a manual probe change on a
CNC CMM. This is the case if difficulties occur during manual release/clamping. If
this results in delays while the commands for the change have already been sent
to the CMM controller by the system, this can result in errors.
Therefore, an automatic probe change is generally recommended for CNC CMM.
MSR1
The MSR1 is a manual rack with 6 ports for mounting various TP20 and TP200
probe modules.
Note
A virtual rack is only defined. It does not have to be calibrated.
Related topics
Racks: Introduction
If you use the TP20 probe modules 6W, EM1 or EM2, take the offset for
the length of the stylus into account. The offset is the difference in length to
the probe modules LF, SF, MF and EF.
With the ACR3, use the length of the probe tree instead of the stylus extension.
The overall length of the probe tree is the real length and not the current
length of the CMM system manager.
If you want to calibrate individual ports only, select the "Measure stylus
change ports individually" check box. This function in only available for the
racks SCR6, SCR600 and SCR800.
For more information, see " Rack SCR600" and "Rack SCR6, Ports
SCP80 and SCP600".
Start the alignment with "OK".
After confirmation you will be guided through the alignment independent of the
language by the help of pictures. You will find detailed information about the
individual alignment routines under the following topics:
ACR1 Alignment
ACR2 Alignment
ACR3 Alignment
SCR6, SCP80 and SCP600 Alignment
SCR200 Alignment
SCR600 Alignment
MCR20 Alignment
FCR25 Alignment
The completion of the alignment is shown on the screen.
Offset for change cycle positions
After rack alignment, it is sometimes necessary to make a fine adjustment of the
change position.
Click this button to make the "Offset for change cycle positions" box
active.
Enter the values for the offset in X, Y and Z direction in the corresponding
boxes. If, for example, during probe tree change the probe moves 0,7 mm
too high into the port, then enter an offset of X = 0,0 Y = 0,0 and Z = 0,7.
Click "OK" to start the fine adjustment.
The following conditions are valid for the fine adjustment:
The value entered for the offset affects all positions of a change cycle.
The offset can be entered individually for each rack, but is then valid for
all ports of the rack.
If a new value is entered for the offset, the former value is replaced with
the new value.
If the rack is measured again, it is necessary to repeat the fine
adjustment.
Note
The command "Rack alignment" is not available in learn mode.
See also
Racks: Introduction
Rack Definition: Introduction
Combination of Racks: Introduction
Move the lids at the ports backwards and lock these in position using
clips. Remove all probes from the ports.
Manually measure the point shown above the joint key screw in the first
port.
Then, the automatic measurement starts. All ports are measured one
after the other.
Manually measure the point at the top of sphere of the alignment ball of
the rack. Then, the automatic measurement starts.
Touch the alignment ball on the rack with the probe adapter. Then, the
automatic measurement starts.
Move the ports to the upper position and open the lids.
Remove the probes and push back the ports to the lower position.
Manually measure a point on the upper pin. Then, the other points are
automatically measured.
Sequence
On the modular rack system, move the rack to the right into the locking
position.
Move the lids at the ports backwards and lock these in position using
clips. Remove all probes from the ports.
Manually measure the point shown above the joint key screw in the first
port.
Then, the automatic measurement starts. All ports are measured one
after the other.
After completion of the automatic measurement remove all clips and close
the lids. Reinsert the probes into the ports.
If the actual probe tree is from another ACR3, move the rack on the
modular rack system to the left, back into the unlocking position.
Manually measure a point on the left upper side of the first port.
During alignment of the SCP80 and SCP600 repeat this procedure for all
ports.
Reinsert the styli into the ports and close the lids.
Measurement of the SCR6 alignment ball
After the SCR6 alignment the position of the alignment ball on the modular rack
system must be determined.
For more information, see "Set Additional MPP-100/300 Data".
Sequence
The SCR200 alignment requires Port 1 and the port configured last. This is
generally Port 6. If less than 6 ports have been configured in the "CMM
SystemManager" the number of the last port changes.
Make sure that the mode selection switch is on the left. Open the lids of
Port 1 and of the port configured last and remove the probe modules.
Measure one point each on the left and on the right above the Hall effect
sensor. Then, the automatic measurement starts.
Manually measure a point on the left of the first port. You can also
measure with the probe stem. Then, the automatic measurement starts.
Then, the automatic measurement starts. All ports are measured one
after the other.
After completion of the automatic measurement, reinsert the styli into the
ports and close the lids.
Note
These instructions only include the pictures necessary to understand the
procedure. During rack alignment all pictures are displayed on the screen,
step by step.
Sequence
The MCR20 alignment requires Port 1 and the port configured last. This is
normally Port 6. If you have configured less than 6 ports in the "CMM
SystemManager" the number of the last port changes, too.
Open the lids of Port 1 and of the port configured last and remove the
probe modules.
Measure one point on the left of Port 1, seen from the front.
With the probe stem measure one point on the inner left side of Port 1.
Then, the automatic measurement starts.
Measure one point on the left of the port configured last, seen from the
front.
With the probe stem measure one point on the inner left side of the port
configured last. Then, the automatic measurement starts.
It is necessary to determine the offset of each individual probe tree. The reason is
that the probe trees have different weights and consequently a different pre-
deflection. This means, that the docking height into the ports is varying. This
difference is called offset.
The MPP-100/300 offset is automatically determined after measurement of the
rack.
The steps will be shown on the screen.
Lift the stylus and press the "START" button on the joystick box.
Release the stylus and press the "START" button on the joystick box
again.
Note
If the probe configuration changes it is necessary to redetermine the
offset.
Related topics
SCR6, SCR80 and SCR800 racks
SCR6, SCR600, SCR80 and SCR800 alignment
Before a probe tree change, you have to move all ACR3 racks to the
correct position.
The "Check ACR3 left/right position" dialog box is linked with the "Which probe
tree is in use?" dialog box. Only when the "Which probe tree is in use?" dialog
box appears at the start of GEOPAK, also the "Check ACR3 left/right position"
dialog box appears.
You activate the confirmation prompt "Which probe tree is in use?" in the
PartManager, in the "GEOPAK Settings" dialog box, in the "Dialogues" tab. For
more detailed information refer to "Dialogues".
Check ACR3 position while GEOPAK is running
While GEOPAK is running you can check if all ACR3 racks are in the correct
position. For this purpose, open the "Check ACR3 left/right position" dialog box
described above.
On the "Probe" menu, click "Check ACR3 left/right position".
The "Check ACR3 left/right position" dialog box appears.
Related topics
ACR3 Rack
ACR3 Alignment
Note
If you combine different racks with each other, e.g. an SCR200 and an
SCR600, you also need a rack where a change of the probe system
(TP200 to SP600) is possible: an ACR1, an ACR3 or a MAPS.
In order to illustrate how you define combinations of racks, we give you two
typical application examples:
Combination of ACR1 with MCR20 and SCR600
Combination of ACR3 with SCR200 and FCR25
Related topics
Racks: Introduction
Define racks: Introduction
Calibrate racks: Introduction
Display with information for the mounting of the individual racks with different
probe trees.
Display with information for the mounting of the individual racks with different
probe trees.
9 Workpiece Alignment
9.1 Workpiece Alignment
Clicking on the topics in the below list, you will obtain the required information
about this topic.
Define Co-ordinate System
Store/Load Co-Ordinate System
Store/Load Table Co-Ordinate System
Pattern for Alignment
Alignment by Single Steps
Create Co-ordinate System through Best Fit
Align Base Plane: Overview
Align Base Plane by Plane
Align Base Plane by Cylinder/Cone
Align Base Plane by Line
Align Axis Parallel to Axis
Align Axis through Point
Align Axis through Point with Offset
Create Origin
Move and Rotate Co-ordinate System
Origin in Element
Alignment by RPS
Direction of a Plane
Element List
Type of Co-ordinate Systems
Polar Co-ordinates: Change Planes
Set Relation to CAD Co-ordinate System
Before you start to measure the elements for alignment, you should make
sure that the part is fixed to the machine in such a way that it cannot move.
You have selected the necessary probe and get the dialogue window
"Define co-ordinate system".
The upper part gives an option of three methods:
Alignment Patterns
If you need a co-ordinate system from the archive, just click the symbol shown
above. Now you can either input the number directly, or get a list of all stored co-
ordinate systems by a click on the arrow symbol of the input field. Then you can
select from the list, too.
The third possibility is to use one of the alignment patterns to construct a co-
ordinate system.
New co-ordinate system
In the dialogue window "define co-ordinate system", you find eight patterns
frequently used for the initial alignment of a part. In the upper line, a plane
determines the axis in space; in the lower line, axes in space (cylinder or cone)
are used to create the direction in space.
If none of these patterns applies to your case, first measure single elements, and
then align your part using them by the co-ordinate system functions of the menu
bar (for more details, see Alignment by Single Steps).
Hint
Before you opt for the pattern, you should inform yourself about details of
the possibilities regarding Patterns for Alignment .
In this window, GEOPAK suggests the elements and a way of measuring. The
suggestion for the number of measurement points is always the minimum number
required for the element plus one; this gives you an indication about the quality of
the alignment. You can either accept the suggestions, or input your own data
for...
the name of the element,
the memory number of the element,
the number of measurement points and...
the memory number of the co-ordinate system.
The co-ordinate system which is constructed this way can be immediately stored.
Just click the symbol, input the selected number, and confirm.
If you do not store at this point, you can do so later via the menu bar "Co-ordinate
system / Store co-ordinate system".
The results, i.e. the measured elements, are listed in the result window. They can
be used later for all types of further evaluation.
If you want to measure parts on one or more pallets, refer to details of "Pallet Co-
Ordinate-System" and the following subjects.
Beginning from Version 2.2, there will be separate functions with their own
dialogues provided for the options "Save/Load Table Co-Ordinate System".
A table co-ordinate system relates to the origin of the CMM. Thus it determines a
position on the CMM table, which, for instance, may be provided with stops.
Great importance is attached particularly to the table co-ordinate systems with
the manager programs, e.g. where several workpieces are clamped at different
positions on the CMM. In these cases, already in the manager program the
workpieces can be related to a table co-ordinate system from the archive.
In a pallet-based operation, the table co-ordinate system determines the position
of the pallet. The pallet co-ordinate system, in turn, determines the position of the
(different) workpieces on the pallet. For further details see "Pallet Co-Ordinate
System".
In GEOPAK, you access these functions through the menu bar "Co-ordinate
system / Save/Load table co-ord. system".
Regarding this topic, refer also to "Save/Load Co-Ordinate System" .
The pattern "Plane, Line, Line" defines the axis in space by the
measured plane. The first line gives the direction of the x-axis; the origin is the
intersection of the two lines.
The pattern "Plane, Circle, Circle" defines the axis in space by the
measured plane. The line gives the direction of the x-axis from the first circle
centre to the second; the origin is the centre of the first circle.
The pattern "Plane, Circle, Line (origin in circle)" defines the axis in
space by the measured plane. The line gives the direction of the x-axis; the origin
is the centre of the circle.
The pattern "Plane, Circle, Line (origin on line)" defines the axis in
space by the measured plane. The line gives the direction of the x-axis; the origin
is on the line; it is the centre of the circle projected to the line.
The pattern "Cylinder, Point, Point" defines the axis in space by the
measured cylinder. The origin is on the axis of the cylinder; the first single point
determines the Z-height of the origin. The direction of the x-axis is from the origin
through the second measured point.
The pattern "Cylinder, Circle, Point" defines the axis in space by the
measured cylinder. The origin is on the axis of the cylinder; the single point
determines the Z-height of the origin. The direction of the x-axis is from the origin
through the centre of the circle.
The pattern "Cylinder, Line, Point (origin on the line)" defines the
axis in space by the measured cylinder. The origin is on the axis of the cylinder;
the single point determines the Z-height of the origin. The measured line gives
the direction of the x-axis. The origin is projected to the line.
Then, measure the elements; the measurements are recorded in the result
window (cf. also Define Co-Ordinate System ).
Click this icon if you wish to store the co-ordinate system. In the
corresponding drop-down list enter the number of the co-ordinate system.
Choose one of the buttons below and confirm with "OK". Proceed as
described:
9.8 Leapfrog
Leapfrog makes is possible to extend the measurement range of a portable CMM
beyond its physical range. Leapfrog is achieved by the fact that the object to be
checked can be measured from different positions. Move the portable CMM from
one position to the other.
A co-ordinate system for the entire leapfrog is required. The so-called leapfrog
co-ordinate system is created with a special alignment routine.
Condition
A portable CMM, for example a SpinArm or an API laser tracker, is defined in the
"CMM System Manager" in the "MachineBuilder".
Create leapfrog co-ordinate system
Build the leapfrog co-ordinate system of two normal co-ordinate systems. When
mounting an alignment tool, make sure that access is possible from different
positions. Then place the portable CMM on two different positions and create a
co-ordinate system for each. You can use all GEOPAK commands to do so.
See also
Principles of Leapfrog Calculation
1 – Alignment tool
2 – Position of portable CMM
3 – Leapfrog offset
4 – Vector of co-ordinate system
First leapfrog
Two co-ordinate systems are built on the alignment tool (V1, V2): one
from the initial position (0,0,0), the other from the second position of the
portable CMM (3000,0,0).
If the position of the alignment tool is not changed, a leapfrog offset can
be calculated (3000,0,0).
Second leapfrog
Two co-ordinate systems are built on the alignment tool (V3, V4): one
from the initial position (3000,0,0), the other from the second position of
the portable CMM (6000,0,0).
If the position of the alignment tool is not changed, a leapfrog offset can
be calculated (6000,0,0).
Note
The first leapfrog system (3000,0,0) is not reset before the co-ordinate
system on the first position is determined. The stored vector V3 of the co-
ordinate system contains the calculated leapfrog offset.
Before the co-ordinate system on the second position is determined, the
leapfrog co-ordinate system and the machine co-ordinate system are
reset. The vector V4 only contains the offset from the portable CMM to the
alignment tool.
When the leapfrog co-ordinate system is calculated, the previous leapfrog
offset (3000,0,0) – contained in V3 – is added to V4.
See also
Leapfrog
For the most ordinary cases, GEOPAK proposes the Patterns for
Alignment. However, there are cases that cannot be matched with one of these
patterns; therefore GEOPAK has also the possibility to align by other means.
Basically, you proceed in three steps.
Align base plane; you create the axis in space, or in other words a
reference plane (usually XY plane).
Axis alignment; you need to determine an axis in the reference plane
(mostly the x-axis).
Origin; you take a point in space and declare this the origin.
The determination of the origin can be independent of the two other steps, and
made before these steps.
In many cases, however, you use elements, which determine as well the rotation
in space as one or two components of the origin. Now you can decide your
procedure according to the actual measurement task (drawing, position of the
part on the machine, etc.). Here you must define your measurement strategy.
For the alignment of a base plane, you can use following elements:
Align Base Plane by Plane
Align Base Plane by Cylinder/Cone
Align Base Plane by Line
You should also know:
• The elements are stored in the Element List with a symbol,
memory number, and the number of points each.
• The simplest way is to use one of the Patterns for Alignment .
However, if this is not sufficient, you can measure the elements
for alignment manually, and then afterwards align your co-
ordinate system by these.
• You should start with the element necessary for the plane
alignment, and then activate "alignment".
• If the window "Align base plane" is displayed, and you measure
the element then, the list of elements in the selection box is not
yet updated. You must close the window and open it again.
Proceed as follows:
Click the Menu "Co-ordinate system" and then the part program
command "Align Base Plane".
By the arrow key of list box, you open a list of elements. This is not
the complete list as it only contains elements, which can be used for align
base plane, not e.g. circles or spheres.
Click the button "Origin in Element", if you want to move the origin
into the selected Element.
Example 2: The cylinder axis (cf. drawing above) is used for the axis in space,
here the xy plane. In this case "Origin in Element" means that the origin in x and
y is set to the cylinder axis; the z height of the origin is still open and has to be
determined by some other element afterwards. Normally, the example for the
cylinder axis is also valid for the axis of a cone. This is also true for the Patterns
for Alignment.
The direction of a cylinder is determined by the sequence of probing; the positive
direction runs from the first to the last measurement point. The positive direction
of a cone always runs from the apex into the cone.
You measure - e.g. via the symbol - the plane; the result of the
measurement is stored in the element list. Then you activate the "align base
plane". In the dialogue window, select the measured plane. After you confirm, this
plane is made the base plane of your co-ordinate system.
After the Align Base Plane by a plane, the axis in space always points out of the
material, if it is a measured plane. Different from the alignment by a cylinder,
cone or a line, the sequence of measurement does not affect the result.
By clicking the symbol or via the menu bar (elements / cylinder), you define
the element as usual (measure or construct). The resulting element is stored in
the element list.
Then, click and select the cylinder as the axis in space. When applying the Align
Base Plane, the axis of the cylinder becomes the z-axis of the co-ordinate
system. The positive direction is determined by the probing sequence of the
cylinder: from the first to the last measured point.
If a cone defines the axis, proceed accordingly. When applying the Align
Base Plane for a cone, the positive direction is always the direction from the apex
into the cone.
By "Align Base Plane by Line" you will get a not projected line (see symbol).
Take care that the elements, you need for creating the line will be measured not
projected.
Activate the element line by the icon. Then you get the element definition window.
For the align base plane, you can only use a line in space. Therefore you cannot
use a measured line; a measured line is always projected.
Using the icon or the menu bar, you activate the element line. In the
subsequent window, you can select
You can use intersection lines of two planes (cf. example below); symmetry lines
of lines in space, and lines connected from points in space, e.g. the centre points
of two circles or ellipses.
1 = plane 1
2 = plane 2
3 = intersection line
You can choose between four alignment elements each of which with a
defined axis.
To choose an element click the corresponding button.
In the "Co-or.-Plane-Axis" group box determine the axis (X or Y) you wish
to align with the element at a click the corresponding button.
The selected element will be projected into the X/Y plane.
The co-ordinate system will be rotated around the Z axis until the X axis
or Y axis is positioned parallel to the element.
Origin on axis
Click this button if the axis should not only be aligned parallel with the
element but should be positioned exactly on the element. In this case the co-
ordinate system is rotated and afterwards moved until the origin is positioned on
the element.
Click this icon in the GEOPAK toolbar to open the dialogue box of
this part program command or choose "Co-ordinate system / Align axis
through point" from the menu bar.
Choose an element type of the five available types of alignment elements.
The available elements of the selected element type are listed in the
drop-down list.
Choose an alignment element.
In the "Co-ordinate system plane axis" box click one of the icons to
determine if the X axis or the Y axis should pass the point of the element.
The selected element will be projected into the X/Y plane.
The co-ordinate system will be rotated around the Z axis until the X axis
or Y axis passes this point.
Offset alignment
Click this icon and enter a value if the axis should not pass the point but
should be positioned in a certain distance to the point. The co-ordinate system
will be rotated so that the point is positioned with the determined distance to the
axis.
In our example (see ill. below), you can go by the plane axis to be the Z-axis.
First, capture the alignment element, i.e. either point, circle, ellipse or
sphere (measurement, theoretical etc.).
You will find the four elements with a defined point each as alignment
elements.
Define the element type with which you want to work. The list contains the
elements of this type.
Click the symbol to select an element (in our example for the XY-
plane)
The selected element is projected into the X/Y-plane.
The co-ordinate system is then rotated around the Z-axis until the relation
of the x- and the y-co-ordinate of the selected element corresponds to the
entered offset values.
Click this icon in the GEOPAK toolbar to open the dialogue box of
this part program command or choose "Co-ordinate system / Create
Origin" from the menu bar.
In the dialogue box choose the type of alignment element.
The text box indicates the element measured last.
If you wish to choose another element click on the arrow of the list box
and make your selection from the elements listed.
Note
To create a co-ordinate system use the standard elements (point, line,
circle, etc.) as well as the hole shape elements.
With these icons you determine in which axis the element co-
ordinate is set to zero. This can be done for each axis individually. For some
elements (circle), however, two axes are available only.
GEOPAK sets all selected axes to zero. It may occur that the position of
the origin may be changed accidentally.
Example:
You have selected all three axes and have determined the X/Y plane by a
measured plane. The origin is positioned in this plane. If you measure a
circle below this plane (Z=-3) the program would position this co-ordinate
on the measuring height, i.e. Z=-3.
In this case the Z axis should not have been selected.
In the text box enter the angle and click on the icon of
the axis (axes) you wish to rotate.
If you wish to move and to rotate and you have entered the requested
values in the dialogue box the co-ordinate system will always be moved
first and then rotated.
If you wish to rotate first and then move, proceed as follows:
Example 2: The axis of the cylinder (cf. above) determines the z-axis in space, in
other words the xy plane. In this case, "origin to element" means that the x and y
co-ordinates of the origin are set to the axis of the cylinder. The z-value of the
origin must be defined distinctly.
9.20.1 Pre-conditions
For a proper alignment the six degrees of freedom have to be determined, i.e. 6
values are generally required.
The values can be realised in different ways, the two extreme cases are the
following:
each point only determines one value, i.e. that 6 points are necessary,
or...
one point (e.g. centre of a circle thanks to a created plane) determines 3
values, another 2, and the third determines one co-ordinate value, i.e. that
only 3 elements are necessary.
GEOPAK can handle as well the two extreme cases as all the others in between.
However, this makes the operation somewhat complicated.
General Rule
For a proper alignment, the 6 degrees of freedom have to be removed, i.e. that
normally 6 values must be given. The distribution is such that one co-ordinate
has 3 known values, the second only 2, and the last only one value. As this can
be any of the x, y, or z, this has to be transmitted to GEOPAK by buttons.
9.20.2 Operation
In a practical application, you have to distinguish two cases:
Case 1: Mechanical drawing and known RPS points
Usually, the points are designated on the mechanical drawing, and the co-
ordinates written in the lower right corner. Furthermore, the mechanical drawing
specifies which co-ordinate the point, e.g. Fxy for a point defining x and y, fixes.
In addition, the tolerance for this co-ordinate is given as 0.0.
In this case, proceed as follows:
Measure the positions indicated in the mechanical drawing with GEOPAK
as usual (compensated point, circle, intersection, etc.).
Select "Co-ordinate System" / "RPS Alignment" from the menu bar.
Select either the first reference point, and enter the three nominal co-
ordinates from the drawing, or ...
click this button and the values of the measured element will be
copied in the RPS-point-fields (right side in the dialogue).
If you want to take the values of other elements for specific RPS-
point-fields, click the "Use co-ordinates from element" button.
Press the button(s) for those co-ordinates, which have to be exactly
determined (the drawing states "Tolerance = 0.0"; usually, the label is
something like 'Fz' for a z-value, etc.).
Enter the other values as well, even if they are not relevant for the
alignment, because they are needed internally.
Repeat the last 3 steps for the other references. For each reference, you
must activate the input by the button on the upper part of the input field.
After all references have been input, check the input: the number of
pressed co-ordinate keys must be exactly 6; 3 for one of x, y, or z; 2 for
the next, and 1 for the last. Then press 'OK'.
Case 2: Only data set given
In this case - which happens frequently during demonstrations for customers - it
is necessary to first determine the nominal co-ordinates.
For this, proceed as follows:
Load the mechanical drawing in CAT1000S.
Use the function "Search Border Points" to find the nominal co-ordinates.
Send these points to GEOPAK by pressing the corresponding button in
the window.
Now measure close to your designated points in GEOPAK.
Then proceed as in the case of given RPS points (cf. above). For the
input of the co-ordinates, you can either take these values into variables
(by the "formula calculation") or write them down and key them in.
Note
When using the "Alignment wizard for RPS" in CAT1000S, the nominal
values do not have to be entered manually, they are automatically
transmitted to the GEOPAK dialog box.
For the RPS alignment you can use the standard elements (point, line,
circle, etc.) as well as the hole shape elements.
For more detailed information refer to the documentation under the title
"si_rps_e.pdf" on your MCOSMOS CD. This document also contains details
about the net parallelism.
Cartesian
Cylindrical
Spherical
Cartesian co-ordinates
Here, the values of the X-, Y-, and Z-axes define the position of a point in space.
1 = X-co-ordinate
2 = Y-co-ordinate
3 = Z-co-ordinate
Cylindrical co-ordinates
In this system a point in space is defined by
the projected distance from the origin,
the angle Phi with the first (x-) axis, and
the value of the z-axis.
If you have used an axis different from Z to make the alignment of a base plane,
the definitions are slightly different. The X-axis corresponds to the first axis of the
selected plane. This means for the Y/Z-plane the Y-axis, for the Z/X-plane the Z-
axis.
1 = angle Phi
2 = radius to origin
3 = Z-co-ordinate
Spherical co-ordinates
In this system a point in space is defined by
the distance from the origin in space,
the angle Phi with the first axis, and
the angle Theta. In GEOPAK, the angle Theta is the angle between the z-
axis and the vector to the point.
1 = angle Phi
2 = angle Theta
3 = (angle Theta)
4 = radius to origin
In literature, some take also the view that the angle Theta is the angle between
the base plane and the vector.
Requirement
Before using the function make sure that the co-ordinate system in CAT1000PS
is conform to the GEOPAK co-ordinate system.Also refer to "Virtual alignment of
the workpiece" and "Define co-ordinate system".
Start
In GEOPAK/CAT1000 on the "Co-ordinate system" menu, click "Set
relation to CAD co-ordinate system".
The "Set relation to CAD co-ordinate system" dialogue box appears.
Option "Not yet defined"
Do not use this option for new part programs (from version 3.0).
Example
You want to move the origin of the co-ordinate system of circle 1 (in the CAD
model the origin is in circle 1) to circle 2.
Create the co-ordinate system in GEOPAK. The origin is in circle 1.
In GEOPAK select the option "Defined; ignore future co-ordinate system
changes" to ignore the changes of the co-ordinate system.
Measure circle 2 with CAT1000. The workpiece co-ordinates of circle 2
are (50.1; 0.02; 0.1). The CAD co-ordinates of circle 2 are (50; 0; 0).
In GEOPAK define the origin in circle 2.
The co-ordinate systems in GEOPAK and CAT1000 are different. In
GEOPAK the origin of the co-ordinate system is now in circle 2. In
CAT1000 the origin of the co-ordinate system is still in circle 1.
In CAT1000 click circle 2 to obtain the nominal values (50; 0; 0).
Click circle 1 to obtain the values (0; 0; 0), because the origin of the co-
ordinate system in CAT1000 has not been moved.
The measurement values of circle 1 are not automatically converted in
CAT1000. The measurement values of circle 2 are shown at the position
of circle 1 in CAT1000.
Definitions
The table co-ordinate system (table position) determines in which position the
pallet is situated on the CMM table.
The pallet co-ordinate system determines, at which position the part is placed
on the pallet.
As different types of pallets are possible, you must assign numbers to the pallets.
The pallet co-ordinate systems are separately stored for each type of pallet. You
may assign the same pallet co-ordinate system numbers for different types of
pallets.
Connection to Manager Programs and Q-PAK
As for each single part exists a part program, the same way exists for each pallet
a manager program, which is calling the single part programs. This manager
program
includes information about which part program must be executed at which
pallet position and ...
gets the information from Q-PAK, on which table position the pallet is
situated.
Condition
First of all, you must have stored as table co-ordinate system the positions at
which the pallets must be situated (refer to "Store/Load Co-Ordinate System").
You proceed in the following way
For each position on the pallet, you define a co-ordinate system.
Store this co-ordinate system as a pallet co-ordinate system (menu bar
"Co-Ordinate System / Store Pallet Co-Ordinate System").
Window "Store Co-Ordinate System"
In this window, you enter the pallet co-ordinate system no. at the top. This
number is used for the pallet co-ordinate system in the manager program.
In the middle field, you enter for which type of pallet this co-ordinate
system is valid.
Below, you enter at which table position the pallet was situated when
defining the co-ordinate system.
So, you have all information for using the pallet co-ordinate system in the
manager program.
The "Load Pallet Co-Ordinate System" command is exclusively used for
tests.
11 Elements
11.1 Geometric Elements Contents
Elements: Overview
Measurement and Probe Radius Compensation
Point: Conctructed Points (Overview)
Sphere
Circle
Constructed Circle: Overview
Inclined Circle
Contour
Ellipse
Cone
Cylinder
Probing Strategy Cylinder/Cone
Line
Constructed Lines: Overview
Plane
Step Cylinder
Selection of Point Contour
Surface
Angle Calculation
Calculation of Distance
Distance along Probe Direction
Type of Construction
Type of Calculation
Enveloping or Fitting-in Element
Positive Direction by Vector
Re-calculate Elements
Free Element Input
Pre-define Nominal Values for Elements
Nominal Values: Three Options
Element Gear
Calculation
Calculation according to Gauss
Minimum Zone Element
Enveloping Element
Fitting in Element
Spread / Standard Deviation
Graphics of Elements
Graphics of Elements Contents
Carbody Elements
Hole Shapes: Introduction
Line
Circle
Inclined Circle
Ellipse
Plane
Cone
Sphere
Cylinder
Step Cylinder
Contour
Calculation of Angles
Calculation of Distance
Activate one of these elements either by a click on the icon or the pull down
menu, and come to the corresponding dialog window.
Skipping of "Element Dialog"
To carry out measurement the most quickly, you can skip the "Element Dialog".
To do this, click on "Settings / Properties for Selection Dialog" in the menu. In the
following window, click on the option "Skip Element Dialogue". Then, when calling
up the element via the symbol, you immediately come to measurement.
When you call up your element using the menu bar and the function, you come to
a dialogue window whose basic structure is identical for all elements (see
example shown below "Element Circle").
Note
Constructed Elements: Contents for this topic catalogue.
Regardig the input of nominal values, find detailed information in the
topic Input of Nominal Values for Elements.
On the left side, you find the icons for Type of Calculation (Gauss,
minimum zone element etc.)
On the right hand side, you can see the icons for the Programming Help
(measure automatic, tolerance etc.).
For CMMs with a fixed probe, you have to take into account that after the
first measured point of an element you drive in the opposite direction of the
material because otherwise the probing direction will not be correctly
recognized and an incorrect compensation is realised.
Using this part program command you create a new element of the type
"Point".
Click this icon or choose "Element / Point" from the menu bar.
In the "Element Point" dialogue box all types of construction of points
allowed by GEOPAK are summarised (for more detailed information refer
to Elements: Overview).
Symmetry element: Click this icon to calculate the symmetry point of two
elements. Confirm and the Symmetry Element Pointdialogue box is displayed.
Point (uncompensated): At this the co-ordinates of the probe mid point are
indicated. Compensation of the probe radius is later carried out by GEOPAK
automatically, e.g. during the calculation of distance.
Use this function for calculations with individual points of a contour. Click
this icon to open the "Min. max. of contour" dialogue box. For more detailed
information refer to Minimum and maximum point.
Intersection element
This function is available only with the GEOPAK part program editor.
In the "Element Point" dialogue box in the GEOPAK part program editor
click the "Intersection element" button if you wish to edit an intersection of a
cylinder with a hole shape element.
Refer also to the topic "Intersection cylinder with hole shape element".
Nominal values
The cooperation between CAT1000S and GEOPAK makes is necessary
that GEOPAK administers and works with these nominal values from CAT1000S.
For more detailed information refer to Predefine nominal values for elements and
Nominal values: Three options.
11.6 Sphere
Using this part program command you create a new element of the type
"Sphere". A sphere can be calculated only from a minimum of four measured
points that must not be located on a plane.
Click this button or choose "Element / Sphere" from the menu bar.
In the "Element Sphere" dialogue box all types of construction of spheres
allowed by GEOPAK are summarised (for more detailed information, refer
to Elements: Overview).
11.8 Circle
Using this part program command you create a new element of the type
"Circle". A circle can be calculated from a minimum of three measured points that
must not be located on a line.
Click this icon or choose "Element / Circle" from the menu bar.
In the "Element Circle" dialogue box all types of construction of circles
allowed by GEOPAK are summarised (for more detailed information refer
to Elements: Overview).
XY-Plane
YZ-Plane
ZX-Plane
Set measuring level to zero: click this icon in cases where you intend to
measure the circles at different levels, without wanting to have any spatial
components, e.g. for distance measurement.
Note
If you do not activate this icon, the measuring level is maintained. Thus
you can connect several circles to form an axis in space.
For details regarding the options available in the icon block on the right of the
dialogue box refer to Programming Help.
Nominal Values
The cooperation between CAT1000S and GEOPAK makes it necessary that
GEOPAK administers and works with these nominal values from CAT1000S. For
more detailed information refer to Pre-define nominal values for elements and
Nominal values: Three Options.
The displayed direction vectors are reversed if you click one of the arrow
buttons. You specify the normal direction of the circle with the direction vectors.
Note
Displaying the roundness diagram is not possible with a theoretical circle.
The function Fit in Element Circle you use when working with a circle with
a pre-defined diameter or when you want to fit in this circle between two lines or a
contour.
In the window "Select points from contour", the co-ordinates of the points
are shown as blocks. A block number is assigned to each selection.
Select ranges
Sie können bestimmen, in welchem Koordinatensystem die Anzeige bzw.
Eingabe erfolgen soll.
For this, activate the following buttons:
Cartesian co-ordinate system
Cylindrical co-ordinate system
Spherical co-ordinate system
In the left columns, the start co-ordinates are shown or input.
In the right columns, the end co-ordinates are shown or input.
Below the line "Selected Blocks" you decide via the symbols which
blocks you want to use for the calculation.
Using this symbol you call up all contour points required for the
calculation of the element in question.
11.13 Ellipse
Using this part program command you create an element of the type
"Ellipse". An ellipse can be calculated only from a minimum of five measured
points. You can also have the ellipse calculated as intersection of a plane with a
cone or a cylinder.
Right-click the
toolbar if you want to add the "Ellipse" button to the toolbar
The "Customize Toolbar" dialogue box appears.
Under "Available toolbar buttons", select the "Ellipse" element.
Click the "Add" button.
The element ellipse appears under "Current toolbar buttons" and is added
to the toolbar.
Close the "Customize Toolbar" dialogue box.
Nominal Values
The cooperation between CAT1000S and GEOPAK makes it necessary that
GEOPAK administers and works with these nominal values from CAT1000S. For
more detailed information, refer to Pre-define nominal values for elements and
Nominal values: Three Options .
Open the "Element Ellipse" using the "Ellipse" button or using the
"Element" pull-down menu.
The displayed direction vectors are reversed if you click one of the arrow
buttons. You specify the axis direction of the ellipse with the direction vectors.
11.15 Cone
Using this part prgram command, you create an element of the type "Cone".
A cone can only be calculated from a minimum of six measured points which
must not all be located in one plane.
You either click on the symbol or use the menu bar ("Element / Cone").
In the dialogue window "Element Cone" there are summarised all the
types of construction of cones allowed by GEOPAK (for further details,
please refer toElements: Overview).
For details regarding the options available in the symbol block on the right-hand
side of the dialogue window please refer to Programming Help.
If you need also the radius or the diameter of the cone for the protocol of your
elements (cones), proceed as follows:
Use the symbol to the left to call up the dialogue "Define and
calculate variable".
Under "Variable name", enter in the text field opposite:
• For the radius: CO [x].R
• For the diameter: CO [x].D
To have these values also in the protocol, click in the dialogue "Print Format
Specification" on the option "formula calculation", if applicable also in "File
Format Specification".
Nominal Values
The cooperation between CAT1000S and GEOPAK makes it necessary that
GEOPAK managed the nominal values from CAT1000S. GEOPAK also works
with these data. You inform in detail under the themes Pre-define nominal values
for elements and Nominal values: Three Options .
Data input
Open the "Element Cone" using the "Cone" button or using the
"Element" pull-down menu.
The displayed direction vectors are reversed if you click one of the arrow
buttons. You specify the normal direction of the cone axis with the direction
vectors.
11.17 Cylinder
Using this part program command, you create an element of the type
"Cylinder". A cylinder can only be calculated from a minimum of five measured
points which must not all be located in one plane.
You either click on the symbol or use the menu bar ("Element / Cylinder").
In the dialogue window "Element Cylinder" there are summarised all the
types of construction of cylinders allowed by GEOPAK (for further details,
please refer to "Elements: Overview").
Hint
Automatic measurement is possible. The strategy is, however, limited.
Should this be not enough for you, we recommend that you carry out
single automatic element measurements.
For details regarding the options available in the symbol block on the right-hand
side of the dialogue window please refer to Programming Help.
Error message
The occurrence of the error message "Cylinder not calculable" or the calculation
of the cylinder in the wrong position can be caused by the algorithm not having
the starting value for the calculation. This situation can be remedied by the
function " Input of Nominal Data for Elements".
Directional sense
The directional sense for the cylinder is defined by the probing strategy in such a
way that the direction of the axis runs from the first measurement point to the last
one.
Should you want to define the directional sense independently of the probing
strategy, GEOPAK enables you to do that using in the "Element Cylinder"
dialogue the - symbol (see also picture below).
Data input
The displayed direction vectors are reversed if you click one of the arrow
buttons. You specify the normal direction of the cylinder axis with the direction
vectors.
Circular Plane
Hence it is the first approximation that is the critical issue in terms of iteration.
The direction is essential. In a "normal case" we recommend to place the first
three points on a circle which is approximately perpendicular to the cylinder.
GEOPAK then assumes the direction of the first circular plane as the first
approximation for the cylinder axis direction. As a result, itineration will start.
Surface of second order
If iteration fails to converge, then GEOPAK tries another assumption for the first
approximation, the calculation of a second order surface. In this case the values
are determined from the surface parameters. There is, however, a minimum of 9
points (an increased number is even better) required.
The calculation is the better the more irregularly the points are distributed
on the surface. For that reason you should not position the points on two
circles or along single surface lines.
So if you want to make use of the "second order surface" option, you should
capture as many meas. points as possible and distribute them evenly over the
whole cylinder surface.
Should both attempts come to no result, GEOPAK will try a third time. Assuming,
this time, that the two first points are located along a surface line. Should this
attempt equally fail, the message "..not calculable" will be output.
Predefine Direction
The fact that as from Version v2.3 the user is able to predefine the cylinder
direction can be regarded as a further remedy to overcome the problems
mentioned above. It is expected that this will distinctly increase reliability of the
calculations. For details refer to the topic Input of Nominal Data for Elements.
Hint
Up to Version v2.2, the order for the 2nd and 3rd attempt was inverted.
Starting from v2.3 it will conform to the present description.
11.20 Line
Using this part program command, you create an element of the type "Line".
A line can be calculated only from a minimum of two measured points.
You either click on the symbol or use the menu bar ("Element / Line").
The "Element Line" dialogue box contains all types of construction of lines
allowed by GEOPAK (for further details, refer to Elements: Overview).
Hint
The calculation of a line using the "No projection" setting is only
possible with the "Gauss" type of calculation.
Recognising the projection plane
As a rule, the program calculates a plane from the measured points and the
probe directions.
• It is then checked which base plane this plane comes closest to.
• This is the plane where the points are projected (Automatic
projection).
• The line is calculated.
Problem cases
If the line with its measured points is diagonal to space,
• automatic projection could take place in the wrong plane.
• In this case you can predetermine the projection plane.
• Regardless of the location of the measured points, projection
will then be realised in this plane.
XY-plane
YZ-plane
ZX-plane
For details regarding the options available in the symbol block on the right of the
dialogue box, refer to Programming Help.
Nominal Values
The cooperation between CAT1000S and GEOPAK makes it necessary that
GEOPAK managed the nominal values from CAT1000S. GEOPAK also works
with these data. See also Pre-define nominal values for elements and Nominal
values: Three Options .
You specify the direction of the lines with the direction vectors. The
displayed direction vectors are reversed if you click one of the arrow
buttons.
Setting "Start point - End point"
Perform the following actions in the "Theoretical Element Line" dialogue box if
you select the "Start point - End point" option under "Theo. elm. line" in the
"Properties for dialogue selection" dialogue box:
Set the coordinates mode.
Input the start point of the lines.
Input the end point of the lines.
The direction of the lines is defined from the start point to the end point.
Note
The labelling of the text boxes is adapted in accordance with your
selection of the coordinates mode.
Apply CMM position
The coordinates of the current CMM position are applied to the text boxes
when you click the "Position of machine" button.
Note
The current CMM position can only be applied during a measurement, for
example, in learn mode.
Displaying the straightnes diagram is not possible with a theoretical line.
Symmetry Element Line. The dialogue offers you for the 1st and 2nd
element the elements line, cylinder and cone respectively.
Shift-Element Line: Using this option, you create a line that runs
parallel to the selected line and through the selected point.
11.23 Plane
Using this part program command, you create a new element of the type
"Plane". A plane can be calculated only from a minimum of three measured
points or defined as a symmetry plane.
You either click on the symbol or use the menu bar ("Element / Plane").
In the "Element Plane" dialogue window are summarised all the types of
construction of planes allowed by GEOPAK (for further details refer also
to Elements: Overview).
Open the "Element Plane" using the "Plane" button or using the
"Element" pull-down menu.
The displayed direction vectors are reversed if you click one of the arrow
buttons.
Note
The theoretical plane element cannot be displayed in the graphics of
elements as its elongation is not restricted.
It is not possible to display the planarity diagram.
11.26 Contour
Using this function, you create a new element of the type "Contour". A
contour comprises a number of points in an ordered array. The GEOPAK
program can use the contour points for calculating an element (for details see the
example shown under Selection of Points Contour).
You either click on the symbol (see above) or use the menu bar "Element
/ Contour".
In the dialogue window "Element Contour" there are summarised all the
types of construction of planes allowed by GEOPAK (for further details
please refer also to Elements: Overview).
For details concerning the first two types of construction see Type of
Construction.
For further details see under
Contour Connection Element
Type of Construction
Load Contour.
Middle Contour .
In addition, you can use the icons to activate a sound output and a
graphical assistance.
There are two ways to create a new element, either
by measurement or
The material side is not known with points that have been measured
without compensation and with elements that have been calculated only
from contour points without probe direction (see example ill. below).
For more detailed information about the options in the icon block of the
"Element surfaces" dialogue box refer to Programming Help.
Click this button if you want a voice comment for each measurement point.
Tolerance
Under "Tolerance", two options are suggested:
"Mean value is best value" and
"Lower limit is best value".
Tip: Open the table of measurement points (CAT1000 menu bar, "Window"
menu, "Meas. points table") to see the differences of the options.
Note
The option "Mean value is best value" is normally used. The option "Lower
limit is best value" is suitable only in exceptional cases.
Mean value is best value
The mean value is calculated as follows:
Mean value = lower tolerance + (upper tolerance - lower tolerance) / 2
Furthermore, enter the tolerance values (upper and lower tolerance). Also one-
sided tolerances are supported.
Table of measurement points including the option "Lower limit is best value"
Sheet thickness
In the "Sheet thickness" drop-down list you can enter a value.
With this value you can add an individual offset for each element surface.
This is reasonable when different sheet thicknesses are to be found in
your CAD model.
Transferring statistic data
Select the "Attach point number to name" function if you want to add
a point number to the feature name. In this case, the deviation of each
measurement point is a single feature.
If the "Attach point number to name" function is not selected, all
measurement points of an element are measured as a single feature.
Note
The position label can be used if you want to use alphanumerical characters
instead of numbers for the position number (for example PKN1, PKN2, PKN3,
and so on). In the Mitutoyo initial sample inspection report the features are sorted
according to this position label before printing.
Note
The position label is sorted as text, that means the order of the position
labels 1A, 2A,...10A after sorting is 1A, 10A, 2A.
This can be avoided simply by adding a blank before single-digit position
labels (for example 1A).
Position number and position label in a part program
When position numbers and position labels are used in a part program and when
the first characters of the position labels are numbers, the position labels are
sorted as follows:
If you use the position labels, for example "1A", "1B", "1C" and a position number
1 in a part program, then the sort sequence is 1, 1A, 1B, 1C.
Leading zeros in a position label are also taken into consideration. That means,
position labels with leading zeros, for example 001 and 01, are always followed
by a 1, namely in the sequence 001, 01, 1.
Example: The position labels 001, 002, 003 and the position numbers 1, 2, 3 are
sorted in the sequence 001, 002, 003, 1, 2, 3.
You will find more detailed information about the priority of ASCII characters in
the Internet under the topic
" ASCII table".
For how to change the sequence of the measurement point table in the "Change
measurement mode" dialogue box, refer to
"Sort and Label Measurement Data".
For how to continue the surface measurement, refer to
"Freeform Surface: Further Measurement Steps".
For details regarding the options available in the icon block on the right-hand side
of the dialogue window please refer to Programming Help.
Explanation
If the resultant angle is a positive angle the second element is left
(counter-clockwise) of the first element.
For details regarding the options available in the symbol block on the right-hand
side of the dialogue window please refer to Programming Help.
Distance comprising calculation of radii
For circles, GEOPAK calculates the geometric distance between the circle
centres and includes the radii in the calculation of this geographic distance. The
resulting distance is decomposed into its components in a way that a²=
ax²+ay²+az².
Thus, the distance components (see sketch below) are defined by the points of
intersection of the "straight line through the circle centres" with the circles. In the
example of the sketch below, these are the components 1 and 2.
Note
You do not get the component 1a. For the Y-value, this statement applies
in exactly the same way.
= X-component
= Y-component
= component 1a
Further Information you will find under the topic "Possibilities of the distance
calculation".
Distance Description
Axis / Axis Line / Line The distance between two
Line / Cylinder elements that intersect (see
Cone / Line picture) is calculated from
the intersection point to the
Cone / Cone
centroid of the first element
Cone / Cylinder along the first element’s
Cylinder / Cylinder normal vector.
For parallel elements or for
elements in space the
smallest distance of the
elements is calculated.
Plane / Plane Plane / Plane
Axis / Plane Plane / Line
Plane /Cylinder
Plane / Cone
The distance along probing direction can be negative, as well. Material is lacking
in such a case.
For details regarding the options available in the symbol block on the right-hand
side of the dialogue window please refer to Programming Help.
If you select one of the projection planes, the third axis will
be set to zero.
The following table gives information about which evaluation methods is suited
for which replacement element:
Repla Gauss Minimum Minimum maximum Inner Outer
cemen zone circumscribed inscribed tangential tangential
t element element element element element
eleme
nt
Line X X X X
Circle X X X X
Plane X X X X
Spher
X X X X
e
Cylind
X X X X
er
Cone X
"Projected origin"
"Centroid"
With the circle and the ellipse, the "Positive Direction" always is parallel to the
direction vector of the projection plane. In our example below, the X/Y plane is
the projection plane. The "Positive Direction" is indicated by Z+'.
In case of a cylinder, the "positive direction" goes from the first to the last
measured point, along the axis of the cylinder.
In the case of a cone, the "positive direction" runs from the apex into the opening
of the cone (cf. picture below).
In case of a plane, the vector pointing out of the plane gives the "positive
direction". The vector of a measure plane always points away from the material;
the order / sequence of measured points does not affect the direction (cf. picture
below).
Using the symbol you mark in each case the point with the biggest
distance towards the inside (Min.) or towards the outside (Max.).
The marked points appear on the graphics in red.
Hints
In all supported elements, you get to the corresponding dialogues by
clicking the symbol (left).
Confirm to get back to your element dialogue.
The symbol is shown as pushed-in when you have selected a direction.
These nominal data can be defined in three different ways:
Input of direction by given element
Input of direction
Input of nominal data for the nominal element
For detailed information as regards the individual possibilities, go to the topic
"Three Input Options".
e.g. a plane with several holes. First, you would have to determine the hole axes
and use these axes to determine the direction of the cylinder.
Input of direction
The most used option is to define the direction by using angles. The X-, Y- and Z-
values are the smaller, enclosed angles between the direction vector and the
axes.
This input is possible whenever you see this sign [..] in an element list.
With a double click on this line (including the (..) characters), you open the
"Free Element Input" window.
This window is self-explanatory.
With this function, you measure the element "Gear". The element "Gear"
consists of entries you have realised in the input dialogues of GEARPAK.
In the GEOPAK learn mode, click the above button or on the "Element"
menu, select "Gear".
The "Element Gear" dialogue box appears.
The text boxes show the name of the element and the memory number.
Head data entries
The data in the "Designation", "Drawing number" and "Comment" text boxes are
output together with the toothed gear report. Your toothed gear report will be
automatically completed with the operator name and the time of measurement.
Report Output
Under "Report Output on", you determine how to output your toothed gear report.
The report output will be automatically realised.
When you select "Screen", the default browser (for example, Internet Explorer)
will be started after the toothed gear measurement, and the measurement results
will be displayed.
When you select "Printer", the system prints the gear report on your standard
printer as long as you have not changed the default printer.
When you select "File", it is necessary to indicate a file name and a directory.
You can save your report file as a PDF file or a HTML file.
Click the "Select File" button.
The "Select File" dialogue box appears.
Select a directory, in which your report file is saved.
Enter a name to save the report file.
On the "File type" drop-down list, select PDF file or HTML file when you
save the report file.
Click the "Save" button.
The "Select File" dialogue box will be closed and the file name of your
report file will be displayed on the left of the "Select File" button.
Start measurement
If the "Start measurement" check box is selected, the part program will be
automatically created according to your inputs in GEARPAK and the
measurement will start.
If the check box is not selected, the measurement will not start after
automatic creation of the part program,.
You can have a look at your part program in the GEOPAK Editor and realise the
measurement of the toothed gear later.
When you have finished your inputs and selection, click the OK button.
Your toothed gear will be measured.
If you have not selected the check box of the report output, no toothed
gear report will be output. This means that your toothed gear will only be
measured.
It is possible to output the report afterwards with the "CMM / GEARPAK /
Gear Evaluation" function in the PartManager.
Related topics
Start learn mode
Exit learn mode
Error during command execution
11.46 Calculation
11.46.1 Gauss
For your measurement tasks, there are four evaluation methods available in the
"Element" dialogue boxes (for example, Element Circle). For more information,
see "Type of Calculation".
The evaluation method according to Gauss offers the most stable measurement
results. If no other method is specified (for example, according to DIN ISO 1101
the Chebyshev method is valid for the definition of form errors), evaluation is
carried out according to Gauss.
The evaluation method according to Gauss calculates an average element. The
differences cancel each other out largely (compensation element).
The graphics also contain a value that is called standard deviation or spread.
Further topics
Symmetry Axis and Width
How to Work
Tolerance Comparison / Position Tolerance
Nominal Values
The cooperation between CAT1000S and GEOPAK makes it necessary that
GEOPAK managed the nominal values from CAT1000S. GEOPAK also works
with these data. You inform in detail under the themes
Pre-define nominal values for elements and
Nominal values: Three Options .
For the Element Inclined circle you can use the automatic inclined circle
measurement. You can also enter the number of measurement points.
Two different measurement courses are available for the measurement of other
hole shapes, for example, Inclined rectangle.
Note
When you select Machine/Finish element on the menu bar or the Finish
element button on the toolbar, GEOPAK automatically recognizes which
one of the two commands must be learned.
See also
Hole Shapes: Introduction
Hole Shapes: Symmetry Axis and Width
Hole Shapes: Tolerance Comparison / Position
Centre Point
The following is valid for the hole shape elements trapezium and triangle:
the centre point is the centroid. For all other hole shape elements the
centre point is positioned on the symmetry axis in the middle of the two
hole ends.
Further topics
Hole shapes: Introduction
Differences to Inclined Circle
Measurement course
Tolerance Comparison / Position Tolerance
When measuring slots and drop forms, be careful not to interfere with the
circle arcs when measuring the line with the measurement points as this
would lead to wrong results. The same applies vice versa, i.e. do not get
into the lines when measuring circle arcs.
The measurement display in learn mode shows where to probe (see example ill.
below).
See also
Hole Shapes: Introduction
Differences to Inclined Circle
Symmetry Axis and Width
Tolerance Comparison / Tolerance Position
You can only tolerate the position of the centre and the direction of the axis. To
tolerate the measurement of a hole shape, you can use a variable (for detailed
information, also refer to the topic GEOPAK Elements: Hole Shapes ).
Position Tolerance
You can execute a position tolerance with any one of the hole shapes (ill. below;
for detailed information, also refer to the topic Position).
To apply the Maximum Material Condition (MMC), select a label in the text box
next to the symbol.
Further topics
Hole Shapes: Introduction
Differences to Inclined Circle
Symmetry Axis and Width
How to Work
12 Constructed Elements
12.1 Constructed Elements: Contents
Connection Elements
Connection Elements, General
Connection Elements "From Measured Points"
Connection Element Point
Connection Element Line
Connection Element Circle
Connection Element Ellipse
Connection Element Sphere
Connection Element Cylinder
Connection Element Cone
Connection Element Plane
Connection Element Contour
Connection Element Freeform Surface
Intersection Elements
Intersection Element Line
Intersection Element Point
Intersection Point: Extras
Intersection Point: Contour with Circle, Line, Point
Intersection Element Circle
Intersection Element Ellipse
Intersection Cylinder / Freeform Surface
Symmetry Elements
Symmetry Element Line
Symmetry Element Line
Symmetry Element Point
Fit in Elements
Fit in Element Sphere
Fit in Element Circle
In the "Element Circle, etc." window, click on the icon (see picture).
Or adopt a different method and choose "Element / Circle, etc." from the
menu bar.
In any case, for the present example you have to confirm "Element Circle"
in the window.
Hint
To see how to proceed in the dialogue windows "Connection Element
Circle (Single and Group selection)", refer also to the subjects "Single
Selection" and "Group Selection".
"From Measured Points" (left symbol) refer to Connection Element "From
Measured Points".
Option active
You activate this option in cases where you wish to determine the connection
element from measured points instead of using centres.
Example: On a cylinder, you have measured several circles at different heights
(see picture below). Using these measurement points you can calculate a
cylinder.
In the learn mode you are therefore warned when two relevant probe radii
differ by more than 0.01 mm.
In the "Element Circle" dialogue you can decide for one out of four
calculating methods ("Type of Calculation").
1 = Line in ZX plane
2 = Line in YZ plane
Note
For the part program command "Connection element plane" use the
standard elements (point, line, circle, etc.) as well as the hole shape
elements.
All points are positioned on level 0.0. The co-ordinate axis providing
the level depends on the projection plane of the contour.
Connect contours
Due to the form of the workpieces to be scanned, it is sometimes impossible to
scan a 2D-contour in one single probe position. In this case, the contour needs to
be measured with several scans in different probe positions. Then, the contours
such measured need to be connected into one contour. We recommend an
overlapping measurement of the contours to avoid gaps between adjacent
contours. On the other hand, the areas of the duplicate contour points may
disrupt the subsequent evaluations at the contour. Therefore, the duplicate
contour points need to be deleted.
For further information, refer to the topic "Delete Contour Overlappings".
You can define the 3rd co-ordinate of all contour points on a general
level. The level may be 0.0 or it may be the approximated 3rd value of the mean
over the complete contour. This is, for example, useful when the contours are in
different planes and an overlapping area cannot be determined.
Note
In addition to the projections XY already supported by the system, the
projections YZ, ZX, RZ and Phi-Z can be selected.
To achieve good results you should adhere to the following conventions:
Only the adjacent contours within the selection field are checked as to a
joint overlapping area.
The sequence of sorting the contour points must be the same for all
contours selected. To reverse the sequence of the contour points, use the
function "Change contour/point sequence".
By activating the button "Closed contour" the check between the last and
the first contour is executed too. This also applies when only one (closed)
contour has been selected.
Note
If the level (3rd co-ordinate) of the connected 2D-contours varies, the
detection of the overlapping areas might not function reliably. In this case
you can adapt the third co-ordinate of the contour points.
Also refer to our "Application Example".
Measurement of the turbine blade from two sides with different probe
positions
1: Start
2: End
3: Shaft probing
When clicking the "Use automatic threshold" button, the text box is
deactivated and a calculated threshold is used.
Threshold
If you want to input the threshold yourself, deactivate the "Use automatic
threshold" button. Realistic values are values around 1.00 millimetres.
Note
If no overlappings are detected, increase the threshold. If the deleted
portion of the contour is too big, reduce the threshold.
The overlapping areas are detected, highlighted and removed.
Contours
If you want to use contours for the Connection Element Freeform Surface, these
may not be compensated contours, as the compensation is taken on from
CAT1000S.
See also
Connection Elements General
Connection Element "From Measured Points"
Ellipse - S/L - - L L - L
Plane L S S/L L - SMA L SM
A
Cone L M/CMM L L SMA M/CMM L M/C
MM
Sphere - L - - L L - L
Cylinder L M/CMM L L SMA M/CMM L M/C
MM
- = Intersection element impossible to calculate
S = Intersection
L = Perpendicular
S / L = Intersection or perpendicular, if there is no intersection (ill. below)
The line does not intersect with the circle. The perpendicular is calculated.
S o L = Intersection or perpendicular can be selected
SMA = Intersection with axis
SMA = Intersection with axis / CMM = Intersection with lateral surface (when
button available)
S / M = Intersection or middle, when there is no intersection (ill. below)
To create an intersection line from two planes, use the menu "Element"
and click on "Line" and in the subsequent dialogue onto the symbol (see above).
select one plane each in the First and in the Second Element and click on Ok.
The sense of direction of the determined line follows the "Right-hand rule" (see ill.
below).
If you click on the empty line (in the ill. above underlaid in blue), you get to the
dialogue "Free Element Input ".
For information about the topic "Loops " click on the term.
Use the "Intersection Element" function via the cone symbol when you
want to know
at which level the cone has a determined diameter
• Given diameter
You use the function "Intersection Element" via the sphere symbol when
you want to know
at which level the sphere has a determined diameter, or ...
which diameter a sphere has at a determined place.
• Given diameter
For an ellipse, the cylinder or the cone serves as an intersection element (2nd
element). Click onto the symbol and confirm.
In the result field and in the protocol you find, apart from the data about the
centre, the big and the small diameter, also the angles that include the big
semiaxis with the co-ordinate axes (see ill. below).
You can only use this function with the GEOPAK part program editor.
Start
You can only intersect contours with lines, circles or points. When
projecting a point onto a contour, inform yourself thoroughly under the topic
Intersection: Contour with Circle, Line, Point. In all other cases you will
receive an error message. Via the min./max.-symbols (ill. below), you
select the intersection points.
Hints
In case of more than one intersection point (e.g. also in case of
intersections of circle/line; circle/circle; circle/plane), you can select your
desired point of intersection via the symbols (ill. above). You can decide
on one point each with the biggest or smallest X-, Y- or Z-co-ordinate.
If you have entered a nominal value for the element "Point", the system
chooses the point of intersection with the smallest distance to the nominal
value. The symbols (see ill. above) are not relevant for establishing a
nominal value. For more information refer to the topic Enter Nominal
Values for the Elements .
Extra: Point / Sphere
Intersections are not possible for these elements. However, the perpendicular is
offered as results.
Extra: Intersection Circle / Plane
Up to version 2.2, the centre of the circle was automatically projected onto the
plane. As from v.2.3 you have the possibility to have the piercing points of the
circle circumference line through the plane calculated as intersections (see ill.
below).
For this, click on the symbol.
The symmetry line of two lines is their median line. The smaller angle is
bisected.
In the "Element Plane" dialogue window, click on the symbol and come to
the corresponding "Symmetry Element Plane" dialogue window. Enter the planes
under "First or Second Element" and confirm.
Hint
The symmetry plane is in the joint material or the joint gap between the
starting planes respectively.
In the above illustration, the symmetry planes are in the joint material.
In the above illustration, the symmetry plane is in the joint gap of the starting
planes.
In the above illustration, the symmetry plane is in the opening angle between the
starting planes.
In the above illustration, the symmetry plane is in the joint material of the starting
planes.
Exception
The above illustration shows the symmetry plane in the gap of the joint material
or in the joint material.
Possibly, both starting planes have been probed almost in parallel and from the
same direction. In this case you should call up one of the starting planes from the
memory and go the dialogue "Recalculate from memory" and click on the option
"Change direction" (symbol left). This is how you will get again two planes
with a joint mass or a joint gap respectively.
Symmetry Element of two Points
In the "Element Plane" dialogue window, click on the symbol and the
corresponding "Symmetry Element Plane" dialogue window appears. Enter the
points under "First or Second Element" and confirm.
Remember that a mouse-click on the area [..] allows you to change to "Free
Element Input".
Hint
The vector direction of the plane is defined by the direction from the first to
the second point.
The symmetry point between two points is the mid-point between the two
points.
As first and second element you can also use the elements circle, ellipse, sphere
and the hole shape elements. For the calculation of the symmetry point GEOPAK
uses the element mid-points.
The diameter of the elements has no influence on the result.
The four sectors are defined by the positive directions (+) of the lines. This
explains the symbols (picture below) in the "Fit in Element-Circle" window.
In case of a contour, you must select the range in which you intend to fit in the
circle (for details refer to "Selection of Points Contour").
With this option you create a line that runs parallel to the selected line
(first element) and through the selected point (second element).
12.6.2 Tangent
Via the button, you come to the "Tangent" window. First, select the circle
where the tangent must be placed. Then you decide...
whether the tangent is to be placed from a circle to one point, or
whether...
the line must be a common tangent of two circles.
Since in the two cases, more tangents are possible, you have
to select one via the buttons.
Tangent of one point to a circle
First element
Second element
Hint
In the case of “tangent point circle” the direction of the tangent always
runs from point to circle.
First element
Second element
The designation of the tangents results of the contact point with the second circle
out of direction of the first circle (see our example above):
Tangent inside right
Tangent outside left
Tangent outside right
Tangent inside left
If you want the invert the direction of the tangent, you have to invert the order of
the circles. You have to take into account that .
...tangent becomes the tangent right outside and...
...tangent becomes the tangent left outside.
With this function, you determine the point on the contour, which is
the nearest to the origin.
With this function, you determine the point on the contour, which is
the farthest to the origin.
To locate the co-ordinates already shown in the picture, you continue as follows:
Via click on the green point, you first get the point no. in
a rectangular box.
Through click on the right mouse button on this rectangular box, you get a
list from which you can, e.g. call your information (picture below).
Through click e.g. on the Y co-ordinate, you get the requested value
(picture below).
In case that a point has been measured that is positioned too far outside the
element being measured, the element that has been previously detected in the
part program is stored and this last point is disregarded (see ill. below) – this is
done in the manual mode as a manual command and accordingly in the CNC-
mode. You can either use this last point as your first point for the new element
search or you can stop the measurement.
In this toolbar, the symbols are activated or hidden. The symbols are operative
when an element can be calculated from measurement points.
Information box
An information box (ill. below) informs you what has happened or what needs to
be done respectively.
A click on this symbol deletes the last measurement point. This function
also applies for the last element that has been automatically learnt/stored.
With a click on this symbol you accept and store the recognised element
with all measurement points in the part program.
With a click on this symbol you store the recognised element with all
points excluding the last one. The last point is used for the next element. With the
automatic element recognition activated, this is also executed automatically.
With this symbol you can on or switch off the audio output.
13.4 Settings
The special options of the Automatic Element Recognition include
the automatic alignment
the automatic setting of a clearance height and
the automatic call-up of the tolerance comparison.
You can use all three options via the settings. To get to the respective dialogue,
use the PartManager via Settings / Defaults for programs / GEOPAK / GEOPAK
configuration / Automatic element recognition (see ill. below).
Activate or finish the function in the dialogue top left.
Capture Range
You use the capture range to determine the accuracy range within which points
of an element shall be recognised. Points outside the range (red arrow in ill.
below), initiate a new process for element recognition (for this, already refer to
Automatic Element Recognition ).
Angular Range
You use the angular range to determine the accuracy range of the probing
direction. The probing direction of each measurement point is very important for
determining an element. This is why points for which the probing direction is not
within the defined angle (red arrow in ill. outside angle "α") are no longer used for
determining the element. (see also already in Automatic Element Recognition ).
These points initiate a new process for element recognition.
Use the options for the tolerance comparison to decide for either
• no or
• a direct tolerance comparison (after storing an element) or
• the tolerance comparison of all elements after finishing the
functionality.
START =
Hint
When the display in the dialogue shows 0 and you push the START button, the
dialogue is closed and the functionality is finished.
14 Carbody Measurement
14.1 Carbody Measurement: Introduction
For a carbody measurement, two identical systems measure the workpiece (ill.
below).
Identical in this context means:
Two CMMs are working with our software MCOSMOS,
each CMM has an own PC, and
the PCs are connected via a network.
The fact that the measurement is performed by two CMMs means a considerable
saving of time for the body measurement.
The part programs can be learnt from either the Master CMM or from the Slave
CMM. Analogous, one of the PCs is declared the Master PC and the second
computer the "Slave PC". The programmes can be started either from the Master
PC or from a third PC using the RemoteManager.
The measurement results are – like known from MCOSMOS – measured. If you
wish to use the measurement results of both CMMs to create a joint protocol, the
data can be transferred between the PCs (for detailed information, refer to
Retrieve Element Data ). The protocol is output on the Master PC.
The part programs can be synchronised. The Synchronisation is partly
automatic. The two machine controllers that are linked with each other via
hardware components perform the collision control between the overlapping
measurement ranges of the two CMMs.
But also the software contains features to exclude the occurence of a collision.
After you have defined your probe system, a virtual cuboid is positioned around
the probe to prevent collisions. Only after a probe has left an overlapping section,
the second probe can move into this section.
14.2 Settings
Server or Client
To be able to work with a DualArm system, you must first adjust some defaults
(PartManager / Settings / Defaults for programs / GEOPAK / DualArm).
After a new installation, the DualArm functionality is not available. To activate this
functionality, use the option buttons of the dialogue and click on either "Server"
for the Master PC or on "Client" for the Slave PC.
When clicking on "Server", a preset port is displayed. The port number
must be the same on both PCs.
Always start the Master PC first and then the Slave PC.
Hint
In the "PartManager Settings" dialogue box, choose the "General" card
and choose GEOPAK repeat mode in the "Autostart" box. In this case the
repeat mode will automatically be started when starting the PartManager.
It is not necessary to select a part.
In fact, you can enter the offset to any axis. For detailed information, refer again
to the topic Volume Compensation.
Hint
You will not get to this dialogue in the repeat mode if the offset data have
already been changed in the ProbeBuilder or in the probe data
management.
Hints
Use the text box for "Number of elements" to retrieve measurement
results of more than one element. You would just need to enter a number
bigger than 1.
The dialogue furthermore provides for defining a timeout in
seconds. If you receive no feedback from the second PC during this
timeout period, an error message appears.
Hints
It is, however, a prerequisite that the spheres have been measured on
both CMMs in the same way and at the same positions. Otherwise, the
co-ordinate system would not be a "joint" co-ordinate system.
The co-ordinate system is stored in the GEOPAK learn mode, i.e. in the
corresponding menu to which you get via the menu bar / co-ordinate
system and with a click on the function "Send actual co-ord. system".
15 Graphics of Elements
15.1 Contents: Graphics of Elements
Task
Toolbar in the "Graphics of Elements" Window
Further Components of the "Graphics of Elements" Window
Graphic Limits
Changing the representation
Selelct Elements
Element Information
Rotate
Contour View
Display Subelements of a Contour
Circles as Partial Circle Display
Contour Point Selection by Keyboard
Multi-Colour Contour Display
Contour Display as Lines and/or Points
Learnable Graphic Settings
Display of Graphic Window
Options of the "Graphics of Elements"
Show Hidden Elements
Recalculate Straightness, Flatness and Circularity
Print Graphic during Learn and Repeat Mode
Store Section of Graphic Display in Learn Mode
Learn Graphics of Elements Printing with "Autoscale"
Learn Graphics of Elements Printing with a "Scale Factor"
Define Scaling
Print Graphic in Repeat Mode
Define Label Layout
Flexible Graphic Protocols
Calculate New Elements out of Contour Points
Compare Points
Parallelism Graphics
Reset zoom
3D- view
Element Graphics Options
With this function, you can change the representation of the graphics of
elements through further options. (See "Element Graphics Options Window")
Learnable graphic commands: If you click this symbol, you can store in
another window of the part program commands such as "Current View Settings",
"Print Window" and "Close Window". However, the commands in the learn mode
must not be imperatively carried out. This function is only in the single or learn
mode available.
Hint
If you click in the learn mode on the "close window symbol" of a
graphic window, the command "window close" will written into your part
program. If this part program runs off in the repeat mode, then this window
is closed automatically.
Print graphics: If you click this symbol, a printout of the current window
contents with the usual log data is created.
Hint
The "Reset Zoom" function is only possible if you’ve activated the auto
scale (see " Element Graphic Options").
Moving
When pressing the left mouse button, you can move the displayed
graphics clip in the window.
That means, the mouse pointer changes to a cross-hair and you can click
on the elements.
The function "select element" is only active, if you are in a function, which
expected an element as input (e.g. recalculate from memory, intersection
element, connection element, etc.).
Proceed as follows:
In the graphics, click on one element or more.
The selected elements are displayed in red in the graphics.
As soon as you’ve selected and confirmed, the "Select Element" mode of
the graphics of elements is automatically reset.
If you select two elements, you must note the following:
With the right mouse button, you determine whether the next element to
select should be the first or the second element.
The current option number (1 or 2) is indicated in the mouse pointer.
Hint
You can move the info-fields. Click on the info-field, keep pressed the left
mouse button and move the info-field.
The information-fields are only indicated for a moment. For example, the
information-fields get lost after rotation of the co-ordinate system.
Hide elements
Click with the right mouse button into the info field of the element you
wish to mask out.
The context menu is shown.
Click on the "Hide Element" function".
Show elements again
Masked out elements will be shown again, if you click on "Graphics / Show
Hidden Elements".
Delete all labels
If you want to delete all labels of the graphic window, click in the menu bar on
"Graphic" and activate the function "Delete all labels".
Hint
You can delete a single label, by clicking with the right mouse button into
the label and activate in the context menu the function "Delete label".
15.9 Rotate
In the 3D view, you can change to the "Rotate" mode.
Proceed as follows:
Click on the "3D-View" in the toolbar in the "Graphics of
Elements" window.
Hint
To generate an inlaid circle, use the button "Fit in Element" in the "Circle
Element" dialogue.
Using the "Partial Circle Display" function it is possible to display only that part of
a circle which runs on the contour. The part beyond is masked out. This is based
on the premise that the circle is a sub element of a contour.
Mask-out circle elements of contours
Activate the "Partial Circle Display" function, in order to mask-out those parts of
circles which do not run on the contour. This is generally based on the condition
that the circle in question is a sub element of a contour.
You get the following graphics of elements:
To open the "Point Selection Contour" dialogue, you use, for instance,
the "Element Circle" dialogue with "Fit in Element" activated. You confirm and
the dialogue "Fit in element Circle" will be opened. After your inputs in the
dialogue "Fit in element Circle" you confirm again.
Click with the mouse into the graphics of elements to make sure that the
following keyboard inputs do not apply to the open dialogue, but to the
graphics of elements.
This action has to be repeated, whenever you click with the mouse
into the dialogue, for instance, to undo the last point area selection, as all
subsequent keyboard inputs would again be related to the dialogue. At
the beginning, the mouse pointer is always positioned onto the first
contour point.
Use the arrow keys to move the mouse pointer to the desired contour
point.
Operate the Enter key to define the selected contour point as the starting
point of an area selection.
Use the arrow keys to move the mouse pointer to the contour point which
you wish to define as the starting point of the point area to be selected.
Operate the Enter key to define the selected contour point as the starting
point.
Key Mouse pointer movement
RH arrow key, Moves mouse pointer to the next contour point
Arrow key above
LH arrow key, Moves mouse pointer to the previous contour point
Arrow key below
Ctrl + arrow key, For fast mouse pointer movement on the contour
Page up,
Page down
Pos 1 Moves mouse pointer to the first contour point
End Moves mouse pointer to the last contour point
Enter (first time) Start of selection
Enter (second time) End of selection
In the "Point Selection by Keyboard" mode, you can use the mouse for an
additional functionality, e.g. for zooming into the graphics. That would provide you
a more detailed view while selecting points.
The list box "Reference elements" only lists elements that are used in the
part program and that can be used with the selected graphic type. In case
that multiple reference elements are possible, always enter either the
current or the nominal element.
To load "Define label layout" is only possible when working with the
element graphic and the airfoil analysis graphic (MAFIS). If you select
another graphic type (e.g. circular runout), this function is deactivated.
For more information about this topic, refer to "Define Layout of Info Windows"
and "Display of Graphic Windows".
Hint
The graphic origin is positioned in the left bottom corner of the graphic
window.
Setting of views
You can use the view buttons for setting the views, i.e. top view, side view, front
view or 3D view.
Co-ordinate mode
With the buttons "Co-ordinate mode" you determine if the co-ordinates of the
visual range are entered as cartesian co-ordinates, as cylinder co-ordinates or as
spherical co-ordinates.
Auto scale: With the auto scale it is possible to view every inch of the
graphics and in full size in the "Graphics of Elements" window. We suggest to
always work with the activated auto scale.
Grid: With this function, you activate the automatic grid display with scale
labelling.
Probe position: With this function, you enable the display of the position of
the probe. The probe is only displayed in the graphics if it is located in the actual
windowing of the "graphics of elements". The probe is represented as a red
sphere in non varying size and is always well displayed.
Probe radius: With this function, you enable the display of the position of
the probe radius. A thin red circumference around the probe shows the actual
diameter of the probe. If the actual probe diameter in the graphic display is
smaller than the symbolic representation of the probe, the actual probe radius is
indicated as a thin black line within the symbolic representation of the probe.
Option Settings: With this function, you can opt for a graphic selection of
elements. So you can click on elements in the "Graphics of Elements" window
and measure for example the angle or the distance between elements. If a
desired measurement task can’t be utilised appropriately, these elements are not
displayed at graphic selection.
Symmetry axis: With this function, you display the symmetry axes for the
elements such as circle, cylinder, cone and ellipse.
Co-ordinate system: With this function, you enable the display of the co-
ordinate system.
Flags: With this function, you get an information display for the elements.
Information for the actual element: With this function, you enable the display
of the status line (operator indicator line).
Reset zoom
Learnable graphic commands: If you click on this icon, you can store, in
another window, commands in the part program such as
• "Actual Graphics Settings",
• "Print Window" and
• "Close Window".
Hint
If you click in the learn mode on the "close window symbol" of a
graphic window, the command "window close" will written into your part
program. If this part program runs off in the repeat mode, then this window
is closed automatically.
Print graphics: If you click on this icon, a printout of the current window
contents with the usual log data is created.
Click on the "Print Graphics" symbol in the icon bar of the graphic
window you want to print.
Or use the menu bar:
Click on the graphic window you want to print.
The drop-down menu "Graphic" is displayed as active.
Now, the settings in the area "Define label layout for print command" are
important.
Activating the option "Current View Settings" causes the settings of the
"Elements Graphic Options"
to be stored as well.
To make sure that your graphic fits into the paper format you have set, you
should enter a scaling factor that is smaller than the "recommended"
maximum enlargement shown in the learn mode.
Do not use memory number 0. The biggest memory number is 65535. The label
layout can only be defined for the element graphic and the airfoil analysis
graphic.
Hint
In contrast to the GEOPAK edit mode, you need not select a graphic type,
because in the learn mode, the function "Store graphic for template" is
linked to the graphic.
For more information, refer to " Flexible Graphic Protocols in the GEOPAK Part
program editor" and "Flexible Graphic Protocols and Graphic in the GEOPAK
learn mode".
Details for the operation can be found in the topic "Tolerance Graphics in the
Flexible Protocol".
In the command "Open protocol”, always ensure that you have selected
the correct template. For detailed information, refer to the topic Templates
of Graphic Windows.
Details for the operation can be found in the topic "Tolerance Graphics in the
Flexible Protocol".
In the "Select Points From Contour" mode, single points are not marked and
selected. Now, you can mark and select blocks of points.
A block always has a start and an end point. Start points and end points are
labelled through little reticles. All points between the start and end mark are
selected and represented in red in the graphics. If you move a label, the points
are no longer displayed in red. The labels of the block are displayed in blue. In
the status line of the graphics of elements, the actual data of the point are
indicated under the moved label.
Proceed as follows
Set a block
You set the labels by clicking on a point.
This point is the start label.
The end label is set where you release the mouse button again.
It is also possible to re-utilize and move a label that has already been set
with the mouse.
Connect two blocks
If you move a label (tag) of a block to the label of a second block, both
blocks are connected.
Delete a block
You click on a label with the right mouse button. The block is deleted.
Further Buttons in the "Select Points from Contour" Window
If you this click on this button, you only delete one block. You always delete
at first the block that is next to the start point of the contour.
If you click on this button, an empty block is inserted. You can manually
input for example co-ordinates if you already know the exact values. Or you can
input e.g. variables. This function especially concerns a part program editor.
Reset zoom
3D view
Learnable graphic commands: If you click on this icon, you can store in
another window commands in the part program such as
• "Actual Graphics Settings",
• "Print Window" and
• "Close Window".
Hint
If you click in the learn mode on the "close window symbol" of a
graphic window, the command "window close" will written into your part
program. If this part program runs off in the repeat mode, then this window
is closed automatically.
Print graphics: If you click this symbol, a printout of the current window
contents with the usual log data is created.
You can realize further settings for the parallelism if you click the
"Further Tolerance Options" button.
Reset zoom
Learnable graphic commands: If you click on this icon, you can store in
another window commands in the part program such as
• "Actual Graphics Settings",
• "Print Window" and
• "Close Window".
Hint
If you click in the learn mode on the "close window symbol" of a graphic
window, the command "window close" will written into your part program. If this
part program runs off in the repeat mode, then this window is closed
automatically.
Print graphics: If you click this symbol, a printout of the current window
contents with the usual log data is created.
Hint
The parallelism is calculated out of the difference of the largest distance
minus the smallest distance to the reference line.
If the reference length has been selected shorter than the measuring
range of the line, only meas. points within the reference length are
calculated.
Exception: If the reference length = 0.0 had been entered, the gauge
length of the line is inserted.
Contours
General
Pitch
Comparison (Vector Direction)
Best Fit
Degrees of Freedom for Best Fit
Bestfit within Tolerance Limits
Graphic Display
Bestfit Values
Tolerance Width
Form Tolerance Contour
Tolerance Band Editor
Define ToleranceBand of a Contour
Edit Tolerance Band of a Contour
Tolerance Band Contour
Filter contour/element
Further Items
Example: Element Circle
Further Options
Origin of Co-ordinate System
According to ISO 8015, the MMC is to be applied where the appears in the
drawing. There exist, however, national standards (e.g. in the USA: ANSI Y
14.5M) that differ from this regulation.
If the stands on its own, the tolerance extension is taken only from the
element itself.
Activate
If the tolerated element has no own diameter, a reference mark must be
selected in the following text box.
This would be the case with a point but not with a circle.
Case 2: The MMC is allowed also for a reference element
Proceed as follows
Measure reference element
Tolerance diameter of reference element
Activate
Activate
In the subsequent text box you select, via the arrow, the datum label
from the list.
Last Element: You tolerance directly the element that was last.
Straightness
Flatness
Roundness:
Position
Concentricity
Coaxiality
Parallelism
Perpendicularity
Angularity
16.5 Straightness
16.5.1 Definition
Via the symbol (on the left) the "Settings for the Straightness Graphics"
window is displayed. Here, you can select any setting other than the default.
For details refer to the topic Scaling of Tolerance Graphics.
Further Options
Via this symbol, you come to the dialogue window "Further Tolerance
Options".
Using this symbol you control the functionality "Loops" (see detailed
information under this topic).
Connection of Points
"Connection of Points", that's what you normally do. When probing manually,
however, the connecting lines may cause confusion, particularly when the points
have not been measured in correct order. It is recommended that you do away
with the connections.
16.6 Flatness
16.6.1 Definition
Via this symbol (on the left), you come to the window "Settings for the
flatness graphics". Here you can select any setting other than the default.
For details refer to the topic Scaling of Tolerance Graphics.
Further Options
Via this symbol, you come to the "Further Tolerance Options" dialogue
window.
Using this symbol, you control the functionality "Loops" (see details this
topic).
Connection of Points
"Connection of Points", that's what you normally do. When probing manually,
however, the connecting lines may cause confusion, particularly when the points
have not been measured in the correct order. It is recommended that you do
away with the connections.
16.7 Roundness
16.7.1 Definition
The symbol (on the left) leads you the window "Settings for Roundness
Graphics". Here you have three options to choose from:
Actual roundness scaling
Tolerance zone scaling
Nominal value with
• Upper tolerance
• Lower tolerance
For details, refer to the topic Scaling of Tolerance Graphics.
Further Options
This symbol leads you to the dialogue window "Further Tolerance Options".
Using this symbol you govern the "LOOP" functionally (for details refer to
detailed information regarding this subject).
Connection of Points
"Connecting points" is the normal case for you. When probing manually, the
connecting lines, however, may cause confusion, particularly when the points
have not been measured in correct order. We recommend that you do away with
the connections.
In this graphics, however, you do not see whether the points are located within
the tolerance width. This is caused in the present setup by the fact that the points
with minimum and maximum distance define the green field.
Hint
This is applicable accordingly to straightness, flatness, runout tolerances
and parallelism, too.
Consequently, the points are always located within the green field, even if
roundness does not comply with the specification. The roundness figures can be
seen from the result box, the protocol or from data output.
By clicking on the symbol (on the left) in the "Further Tolerance Options"
window = you can report the roundness figures to a statistics program. This
applies equally to the following options.
Tolerance Zone Scaling
Using this option you establish that the green field in fact agrees with the
tolerance zone. The width of this tolerance zone is already entered in the
"Roundness" window. In the graphics you can realise whether the circle is
located within the roundness tolerance (see FIG. below. You can see that the P1
and P40 values are the same as in the figure above for "Actual Roundness
Scaling".
Hint
This is applicable accordingly to straightness, flatness, runout tolerances
and parallelism, too.
The green field is defined by the nominal value and the upper and lower
tolerance you have entered.
It is possible (see FIG. above) that one or more points are located outside the
green field, roundness, however, is in line with the specification. This can be seen
from the result box, the protocol or from data output.
Hint
This is applicable accordingly to straightness and flatness, but not to
runout tolerances and parallelism.
16.9 Position
With the "Position" function you can check if the positional deviation of a point is
still within tolerance.
Starting the command
On the menu bar, click "Tolerance", and then click "Position".
Consider that for points (for example, piercing point "Cylinder axis
through point") the material side is unknown and that therefore the
"Maximum Material Condition" (MMC) cannot be immediately applied.
Click the "Actual value" button to use the current value of the
element you want to tolerance.
The XYZ co-ordinates are automatically entered in the corresponding text
boxes.
Click "OK". Position check will be carried out.
Example 1
Case: "Point of intersection of cylinder axis and plane"
The cylinder diameter is toleranced.
In case of a flat tolerance zone - the button is not active - you can only
enter one co-ordinate.
In this case, you can enter the nominal position either in the cartesian or
the polar system.
Use the known buttons to select the type of co-ordinate system.
Further Options
Click this button and the "Further Tolerance Options" dialogue box appears.
Click this button for more information about "Calculate Absolute Position
Tolerance" with the "Calculate absolute" option.
You get the function via the “Tolerance” menu. In the following dialogue window
select the plane in which you want to realise a tolerance and
enter the width of tolerance.
You can only realise a tolerance of the position of an axis element that is
approximately parallel to one of the principal axes.
You get the function via the tolerance menu. In the following dialogue window
first, you decide whether the actual element is a line, a cone or a cylinder.
You can display the elements in the list.
The further parameters depend on whether you have a round or plane tolerance
zone.
Round Tolerance Zone: The example of a bore of which the axis runs
approximately parallel to the Z-axis, you look on the axis from top (see picture
below).
1 = Tolerance diameter
First, select the X/Y plane and then enter the X and Y co-ordinates.
Finally, enter the co-ordinates of start and end point (see picture below).
1 = Start point
2 = End point
If you select another plane, proceed in a similar fashion.
Plane Tolerance Zone: By means of the example of a line in the X/Y plane that
runs approximately parallel to the X-axis we explain, which parameters to enter
(see picture below).
1 = Start point
2 = End point
Click on the symbol left to find detailed information about the topic
"Determine Position Tolerance" with the option "Calculate absolute".
You activate the function "Use measured points only" via the check-box.
16.13 Concentricity
Definition
With the function "Concentricity" you check whether the location of the centre of a
circle match with the location of a reference circle (centre of circle).
Proceed as follows:
In the first
step, using the symbols, select the element of which position must be
toleranced.
Hint
For points (e.g. piercing point "Cylinder Axis through Plane") the material
side is unknown and therefore MMC cannot be directly used.
Click in the tolerance bar on the symbol (on the left) and the
"Concentricity" dialogue window appears. The structure of the top line
(below the header) follows roughly the one for the drawing entries. In
addition, help bubbles explain the individual symbols.
In the first text box, enter the diameter tolerance zone.
Example of a solution
For this purpose, we take the case "Cylinder Axis through Plane".
You tolerance the diameter of the cylinder.
With the elements circle, ellipse and sphere, the first symbol relates to the
element itself. This is why the input of a datum label is not required.
As for the rest, you proceed as described under the topic "Maximum Condition".
Further Options
Via this symbol, you come to the dialogue window "Further Tolerance
Options".
Using this symbol you control the functionality "Loops" (see detailed
information under this topic).
16.14 Coaxiality
Definition
With the "Coaxiality" function, check the position of two axes to each other. It is
important for the input that the axes are approximately parallel to a main axis of
the co-ordinate system.
Proceed as described in detail of the topic "Concentricity" and "Maximum
Material Condition".
Click in the tolerance bar on the symbol (on the left) and come to
the "Coaxiality" dialogue window. The structure of this line roughly follows
the one for the drawing entries. In addition, help bubbles explain the
individual symbols.
Hint
As start or end point enter one co-ordinate, each of the range of which
checking must be performed (see picture below).
This is what applies for our example (the reference axis shows as the Z axis
upwards):
Start point =0
End point =5
The direction of the reference axis influences the signification of start and
end point.
If the reference axis, opposite to the Z axis shows downwards, the following input
is correct:
Start point = -5
End point = 0
Further Options
Via this symbol, you come to the "Further Tolerance Options" dialogue
window.
Using this symbol, you control the functionality "Loops" (see details of this
topic).
You activate the function "Use measured points only" via the check-box.
16.15 Parallelism
With the function parallelism you check the location of two axes to each other. It
is important for the input of the reference lengths that the axes or planes are
approximately parallel relative to a main axis of the co-ordinate system.
In the tolerance bar you click on the symbol (on the left) and come to the
"Parallelism" dialogue window.
First, you have to select your actual and your reference element. The subsequent
inputs depend on these elements. Thus, we differentiate between four initial
situations:
The parallelism of an axis relative to a reference axis
The parallelism of an axis relative to a reference plane
The parallelism of a plane relative to reference axis
The parallelism of a plane relative to a reference plane
For the four cases, proceed as follows:
First, select your actual or reference element in the window "Parallelism".
The next line is adapted to suit for the drawing entry. Here, in this line you
enter the figures from your drawings.
If MMC is allowed, see details under "Maximum Material Condition".
By a mouse click on this topic, you obtain the latest information about each of the
four initial situations.
Graphical Representation
If the actual element is a measured line, you can have parallelism also
graphically displayed. The procedure is similar to the one described in detail of
topic Parallelism Graphics.
You inform yourself about this theme with click on Parallelism: Example .
Further Options
Via this symbol, you come to the "Further Tolerance Options"
dialogue window".
Using this symbol you control the functionality "Loops" (see
details of this topic).
You activate the function "Use measured points only" via the
check-box.
The parallelism results from the difference between biggest and smallest distance
to the reference line. If the selected value of the reference length is shorter than
the measurement range of the line, only the measurement points positioned
within the reference length are included in the calculation.
Exception:
If the input for the reference length is 0.0, the reference length is inserted
for the measurement length of the line.
These results are included in the graphic which is also
available in form of a printout:
With the diameter symbol activated (on the left), enter the diameter
of the range which must be toleranced.
With the diameter symbol not activated, select the axis along which
parallelism must be maintained, and...
enter the reference lengths in the other two axes.
16.21 Perpendicularity
With the perpendicularity function, check the location of two axes relative to each
other. It is important for the input of the reference lengths that the axes or planes
are approximately parallel relative to a main axis of the co-ordinate system.
In the tolerance bar, click on the symbol (on the left) and the
"Perpendicularity" dialogue window is displayed.
First, you have to select your actual and your reference element. The subsequent
inputs depend on these elements. Thus, we differentiate between four initial
situations:
Perpendicularity of an axis to a reference axis
Perpendicularity of an axis to a reference plane
Perpendicularity of a plane to a reference axis
Perpendicularity of a plane to a reference plane
In the four cases, proceed as follows:
First, select your actual or reference element in the "Perpendicularity"
window.
The next line is adapted to suit for drawing inputs. Here, you enter the
figures of your drawings.
If MMC is allowed, refer to details of topic "Maximum Material Condition".
By a mouse click on this topic, you obtain the latest information about each of the
four initial situations.
Further Options
Via this symbol, you come to the "Further Tolerance Options" dialogue
window.
Using this symbol you control the functionality "Loops" (see details of this
topic).
You activate the function "Use measured points only" via the check-box.
In case the symbol (on the left) is activated, enter the diameter of
the area to be toleranced.
In case the symbol is not activated, select the axis along which
perpendicularity has to be maintained, and ...
enter the reference lengths for the other two axes.
16.26 Angularity
With the angularity function you check the position of the following elements
relative to a reference element:
Axis relative to a reference axis
Axis relative to a reference plane
Plane relative to a reference axis
Plane relative to a reference plane
Example: Angularity of a plane relative to a reference plane
The measured surface must be between two parallel planes with a distance of
0,2 mm. The planes are inclined at an angle of 24° to the reference plane A.
Relating to the drawing plane, the angle of the parallel planes is equal to the
angle of the toleranced plane.
1 - Tolerance zone
2 - Reference plane
Note
Important for a plane is that the angle is always determined relative to the
surface of the plane and not relative to the normal vector. The (ideal)
reference plane must be at right angle to the drawing plane.
For all other elements, the angularity is calculated relative to the projected
elements.
Starting the command
On the menu bar, click "Tolerance/Orientation" and then click "Angularity".
Procedure
In the tolerance bar, click on the symbol (on the left) and come to
the "Symmetry Tolerance Point-Element" dialogue window.
By using the symbols in the top line of the dialogue window, select your
actual and reference element.
If the reference element is only point-based – unlike a line or a plane -
you still have to preselect the direction along which deviation must be
calculated. (Symbols "Projection" de-activated, symbols "Tolerance
Direction" activated).
If the symmetry location is given by an axis, the projection plane where
deviation is must be calculated.
If the symmetry location is given by a plane, deviation will be
automatically calculated perpendicularly to this plane.
Using this symbol you control the functionality "Loops" (see details of this
topic).
In the tolerance bar, click on the symbol (on the left) and come to
the "Symmetry Tolerance Axis-Element" dialogue window.
By using the symbols in the top line of the dialogue window, select your
actual and reference element.
If the reference element is point-based, deviation will be calculated only at
this point. It is not necessary to enter start and end points.
If the reference element is an axis, the start and end point for the actual
element must still be entered. If possible, the actual element should be
parallel to one of the co-ordinate axes. Start and end point correspond to
the co-ordinates in this axis. For comparison see also the topic Coaxiality.
According to your drawing, you also have to input, in addition to the above, the
tolerance width. For details concerning MMC, refer to Maximum Material
Condition .
Further Options
Via this symbol, the "Further Tolerance Options" dialogue window is
displayed.
Using this symbol you control the functionality "Loops" (see details of this
topic).
Proceed as follows
X1 = Start X
X2 = End X
Y1 = Start Y
Y2 = End Y
According to your drawing, you have to input, in addition to the above, the
tolerance width. For details concerning MMC, refer to Maximum Material-
Condition .
Further Options
Via this symbol, you come to the "Further Tolerance Options" dialogue
window.
Using this symbol you control the functionality "Loops" (see details of this
topic).
In the tolerance bar, click on the symbol and come to the "Runout
Tolerance" dialogue window.
Now, you must differentiate between a
axial runout – you measure a plane - or a
radial runout. This involves the measurement of a circle, a cylinder,
or a cone.
If you selcet a cone as an "actual element" the result is the following: The
distance between the nearest point and furthest point seen from reference
axis to the lateral surface. You get detailed information about these two
options with one click on "Axial Runout" or "Circular Runout".
Hint
For further details, refer to the subject Axial Runout.
If you have measured a cylinder your result will be equal to the total
radial runout.
For this purpose, optionally click on one of these symbols.
Depending on your selection, find the following elements in the list.
Using the symbols you can have the radial and axial runouts also in a
graphics. For details refer to the topics "Roundness", "Flatness" and "Scaling of
Tolerance Graphics".
Further Options
Via this symbol, you come to the Further Tolerance Options" dialogue
window.
By using this symbol you control the functionality "Loops" (see details of this
topic).
You activate the function "Use measured points only" via the check-box.
In the present case, the two points P13 and P14 are not measured points.
Determined by GEOPAK, they define the axial runout since they represent the
maximum deviations.
Total Axial Runout
For Total Axial Runout, a plane is established by points which can be located on
several circular paths. For example, the whole end face of a cylinder can be
captured this way. To capture the edge of the end face as well, you have to enter
the reference diameter which is, in our example below, the diameter of the
cylinder.
In this case, the points P25 and P26 are not measured points. Determined by
GEOPAK, they define the axial runout since they represent the maximum
deviations.
Hint
For axial runout calculation, all measurement points are used, no matter
which reference diameter has been entered..
Diameter and position of the calculated circle also depend on the selected
mode of calculation.
Position of Plane
Position of Axis
Coaxiality
Parallelism
Perpendicularity
Angularity
Runout
Activating the Function
On the GEOPAK toolbar, click the required tolerance, e.g. parallelism.
Select the "Use measured points only" check box in the dialogue Box.
Note
If the check box "Use measured points only" is selected, the buttons for
reference lengths, reference diameter (only runout tolerance) and start
and end point (only position of axis/plane and coaxiality) is hidden in the
respective dialogue boxes.
This results from the exclusive usage of measurement points for the
tolerance comparison.
For detailed information, refer to the topic "Use Measured Points Only: Basic
Principles".
When activating the function "Use Measured Points Only", this means that
only the individual measured points is used for the tolerance comparison
and not the calculated element.
In addition, by clicking the button in the following dialogue box, you have all
other possibilities of the nominal-to-actual comparison, e.g. the transmission to a
statistical program, etc. (see details of Further Tolerance Options).
Click this icon in the GEOPAK toolbar to open the dialogue box of this part
program command or choose "Tolerance / Tolerance comparison elements /
Element" from the menu bar.
In the dialogue box you select the element for the nominal-to-actual comparison.
Confirm and e.g. the "Tolerance comparison element Cylinder" dialogue box is
displayed. If you have measured several elements of one type, the proposal in
the dialogue has always reference to the last measured element of the selected
type.
Note
In the "Tolerance comparison Element" dialogue box use the standard
elements (point, line, circle, etc.) as well as the hole shape elements.
For more detailed information, refer to "Tolerance Comparison Elements
Dialogue" and "Free Element Input".
Click this icon in the GEOPAK toolbar to open the dialogue box of
this part program command or choose "Tolerance / Tolerance comparison
elements / Element" from the menu bar.
In the "Tolerance comparison Element" dialogue box choose the element
you wish to tolerate.
The available elements of the selected element type are listed in the
drop-down list.
When you confirm your choice the respective tolerance comparison
dialogue box will be opened.
In the tolerance comparison dialogue box click this icon to select the
property you wish to check.
Absolute Values
If, for the co-ordinates, you are only interested in the absolute value and not
in the sign, click this icon.
At some values, you have the possibility instead of entering upper and
lower tolerance limits, to input a tolerance class. Then, GEOPAK calculates out of
nominal value and tolerance class the corresponding limit values and displays
them in the inactive text boxes.
Instead of using the given tolerance classes, you can create your own
characteristic tables. A helper program will be delivered during installation.
In the cylinder co-ordinates, at first, you get the radius in the XY plane. If you
wish the analysis in another plane, click several times on the icon.
With the spherical co-ordinates, at first, you get the Phi angle in the XY
plane and the Theta angle to the Z-axis. If you wish the analysis in another plane,
click several times on the icon.
Further Input Options
For round elements you can, in addition, determine via the icons
whether you wish to input the diameter or the radius.
During the learn mode of GEOPAK you can click on the respective icon of
the element (e.g. line on the top left of the dialogue box) to accept the measured
actual values in the "Nominal Value" column as proposal. The actual values are
rounded up to one digit after the decimal point, for the unit "Inch" to two digits
after the decimal point. In the GEOPAK editor the values are set to 0.00.
Options
For the form of the elements line, circle and plane you can also have a
graphic chart.
By clicking this icon, you can realize different settings to the graphic in the
following window.
Via the icon, you get further options e.g. the transmission to statistical
programs, the possibility to cancel etc. (For more detailed information, refer to
Further Tolerance Options).
By using this icon you control the functionality "Loops" (see details of this
topic).
16.38.3 Position
If you click one of the icons you can currently switch over from
"Tolerance single co-ordinates" to
"Tolerance Position" and vice versa.
You can only use this option if the elements can be tolerated with "position
tolerance" (e.g. you cannot use the element line).
For more detailed information, refer to "Tolerance Position".
You can measure a surface in CAT1000S and then tolerate the surface
profile tolerance in GEOPAK.
Requirement
Measure an element "Surface" in CAT1000S. See also "Surface Measure
Mode".
Clicking on the symbol in the icon bar, you come to the "Tolerance
Comparison Contours" dialogue window.
In the text boxes, "Nominal" and "Actual", select from the lists your
contours which are, in fact, already available. The nominal contour can
already be a measured contour (for details cf. Load Contour ). Or load
your contour from an external CAD system (for further details regarding
this topic cf. "Load Contour from CAD System").
Enter into the input field "Number of act/nom pairs" a "1", if not already
proposed.
Similar to the loop mode, the memory numbers are counted upwards and the
memory number of the selected contours is used as the start number
According to the input example, the following pairs are created.
Pair 1: (4)act1 / (1)nom1
Pair 2: (5)act2 / (2)nom2
Pair 3: (6)act3 / (3)nom3
By using this symbol you control the functionality "Loops" (see details of this
topic).
Click the button next to the "Upper tol." drop-down combo box and
the evaluation is based on the upper deviation.
Click the button next to the "Lower tol." drop-down combo box and
the evaluation is based on the lower deviation.
If the deviations of the actual and nominal contour are to be clearly
represented in the result report, enter in the "Width tol." drop-down combo
box a value for the magnification of the error representation. For more
detailed information refer to "Width of Tolerance (Scale Factor)".
Input of actual and nominal contours
In the "No. of" drop-down combo box enter the number of the contour
comparisons. The value must be larger than 1 and corresponds to the
number of measured actual contours.
In the "Actual" drop-down list box select the first measured actual contour.
In the "Nominal" drop-down list box select the nominal contour to which
the actual contours are to be compared.
Related topics
Contours: General
16.41.3 Pitch
By making inputs in "Pitch"...
you first of all define the points from where measurement must take place;
in the next step, by Vector Direction, enter the direction along which the
distance from the opposite contour is measured.
The pitch specifies the distance where the individual comparisons are carried out.
The points at which the nominal and actual comparison is carried out are, in most
cases, not identical with the contour points of the actual respectively the nominal
contour points. This is why they are interpolated (cubic curve). This means that
even the areas between the points are calculated. According to your task, you will
opt for one out of six "pitches".
1 = Actual contour
2 = Nominal contour
Example
In the ZX projection, you obtain a uniform in the X component with this
setting.
Except for nominal and actual points, enter a constant value in the respective text
box below the symbols.
"Horizontal",
"Vertical",
"Rotate".
Click either on one of the three symbols, or on two or even all three symbols. The
best fit will be automatically made. The result can be seen from the graphical
representation.
If only one rotation is allowed, said rotation is carried out around the origin of the
actual co-ordinate system.
In particular via the information symbol, you have the possibility to set
information flags.
Click on the symbol
The mouse changes to a reticle.
Click on the position in the graphics where you want to set the information
or flag.
With a further click on the flag (keep the mouse button pressed) you can
drag the flag to a different position.
Clicking with the right mouse button on the flag, you can, among other
things, delete the flag.
Using the "Learnable Graphic Commands" symbol, you can preset that the
windows are printed out or applied in the repeat mode. You must activate this
function already in the single mode, since, being in the repeat mode, you will
have no more influence.
Also see the topics:
Bestfit within Tolerance Limits
Manual Bestfit
This is the option "Bestfit within tolerance limits". To get to the dialogue, go
to the menu bar / Tolerance / Tolerance comparison elements / Contour.
The actual contour shall be completely within the tolerance range after the bestfit.
In case that this is not possible, the deviations outside the tolerance range should
be as small as possible. As opposed to the standard, the Gauss criterion is not
applied. The tolerance range can be defined in the dialogue for the tolerance
comparison as well as in the Tolerance Range Editor.
Symmetric tolerance limits: Bestfit on nominal contour (l) and bestfit within
tolerance limits
Asymmetric tolerance limits: Bestfit on nominal contour (l) and bestfit within
tolerance limits
Hints
To activate the function, at least one of the options for the degrees of freedom
must have been clicked.
The system supports all GEOPAK modes.
The function has no influence on part programs already existing.
There are no changes regarding the output of results.
See also the topics:
Bestfit within Tolerance Limits
Bestfit: Degrees of Freedom
You can use the button for the manual bestfit in addition to the bestfit
buttons.
You have entered the required settings in the dialogue window "Tolerance
comparison contours" and you have selected the contour pairs in the
fields "nominal value" and "actual".
Click the "Manual bestfit" button.
Confirm your settings with "OK".
The "Manual fitting" dialogue box opens.
Also refer to the topics:
Bestfit Within Tolerance Limits
Manual Bestfit
The following graphic shows the influence the sequence of the individual actions
(shift, turn) has on the final result. The end positions of the arrow (3.) are
different. Shifts are performed with a positive x-value and turns by 90 degrees.
If the material side is known, the tolerance line is inside the material with a
negative sign and it is outside the material with a positive sign.
Relative magnification
The "Scale for error display" results as product of the percentage of the "Relative
magnification" and the relation of width of the tolerance band and extension of
the contours.
So, the scale adjusts automatically to the extension of the nominal and actual
contour. The advantage is, you set the "Relative magnification" once to 3%, for
example, and you will always have a clearly visible tolerance band with a width of
circa 6 mm in DIN A4 format, independent of the contour deviation.
Example
The nominal contour is a circle with a diameter of 1000 mm. The width of
the tolerance band is 0,2 mm.
Under "Width of tolerance", type 0.100 in the "Upper tol." box.
Under "Width of tolerance", type -0.100 in the "Lower tol." box.
Fixed magnification
Contrary to the "Relative magnification", the scale factor for error display is set by
default and is not calculated for "Fixed magnification".
When representing different tolerance comparisons with the same scale, the
deviations can be directly compared in the graphical printouts.
Example
The nominal contour is a circle with a diameter of 1000 mm. The width of
the tolerance band is 0,2 mm.
Under "Width of tolerance", type 0.100 in the "Upper tol." box.
Under "Width of tolerance", type -0.100 in the "Lower tol." box.
Under "Scale for error display", click the "Non linear" button.
Type the percentage of the tolerance band in the "Width tol" box.
16.41.12.2 Offset
An overmeasure contour around the nominal contour is created with the offset.
Then, the calculated deviations no longer refer to the nominal contour but to the
overmeasure contour. The reference direction is not influenced by the offset.
Example
A slot is limited by the inside and outside contour. The distance between the
contours (slot width) is 52 mm. The tolerance comparison shall be used to
examine the deviation of the slot width from the nominal measurement 52 mm +-
2.025 mm.
The inside contour serves as the nominal contour, the outside contour as the
actual contour.
When carrying out the comparison with an offset (overmeasure) e.g. of 52 mm
and a tolerance of +-0.025 mm, a significant deviation is visible.
Compared with that, no deviation is visible in the graphic when applying the
onesided tolerance of 51.998 mm and 52.032 mm.
The result of the numerical evaluation shows no difference between the two
processes.
Use the symbol "Loop counter" to control the functionality "Loops" (for
detailed information, refer to this topic).
If you activate this symbol you can have a form tolerance chart displayed.
Enter the value of the tolerance limit into the input field "Tolerance width".
Bestfit
The best fit is carried out prior to the evaluation of the line form tolerance. The
best fit position of the contour is calculated only temporarily and is not stored. For
details, refer to the topic Best Fit Contour.
The tolerance band editor can be called only in the learn mode.
Click on the selection symbol in order to relate the entries from the areas
"Start of Tolerance Range" and "End of Tolerance Range" to the whole contour.
Delete defined tolerance ranges of the whole contour
Click on the dust bin symbol to delete your tolerance ranges of the whole
contour.
Enter tolerance limits using the mouse
Click on the pipette symbol to take the tolerance ranges by means of the
mouse into the input boxes of the areas "Start of Tolerance Range" and "End of
Tolerance Range".
Click with the mouse cursor on a contour point within a tolerance range.
Once you have entered the required values, press again the pipette
symbol in order to switch this function off. Should you click, by mistake,
into the graphics of elements, the values entered would be changed.
sphere
cylinder
contour
Depending on the element that you select, the adequate filter type is
recommended. However, if you have measured a contour as circle, you can
choose the "Gauss filter (circle)" from the filter types instead of the proposed
"Robust spline filter".
The "Robust Spline Filter" is not suitable for the evaluation of circles
and should therefore not be used in practice.
Cut off wave length = π * circle diameter / UPR (Undulations per revolution)
You can change the cut off wave length by selecting a Gauss filter with a different
UPR size. The following Gauss filters are available:
Gauss filter 15 UPR
Gauss filter 50 UPR
Gauss filter 150 UPR
Gauss filter 500 UPR
Gauss filter 1500 UPR
The "Gauss filter" and a "Cut off wave length" of 1.0 are preset. The
measurement unit is limited to millimetres.
Further information
For detailed information about what must be observed when filtering
peaks of a measured contour, refer to the documentation "Filtering of
peaks of a measured contour" in your MCOSMOS installation folder /
DOCUMENTATION / SCANPAK.
The file name is "SI_contour_filtering_g.pdf" (German) or
"SI_contour_filtering_e.pdf" (English).
Select via the evaluation tools (toolbar on the lower display margin). Click
into the icon and the "Nominal Actual Comparison" dialogue window
appears.
By clicking on the characteristics (e.g. diameter), you can determine
whether the displayed characteristic has to be tolerated or not. You notice
that inputs are possible in one case, in the other case the cells are
disabled. With one click, e.g. on the co-ordinate X, you activate or
deactivate the cells.
If you want to tolerate the position in another mode of co-ordinate system, click
on one of the symbols on the left (e.g. cylindrical co-ordinate mode ). After
that, the position of the element is directly converted. Normally, the polar
representation is referred to the plane XY; i.e., third axis is the axis Z. If you want
to relate the representation to another plane, click a second or third time on the
corresponding type of co-ordinate system.
With "circular" elements, you can select whether you want the diameter or
the radius for the comparison of nominal and actual values. The selection
is carried out through two symbols below on the left side of the chart (for
example diameter ).
With tolerances of positions, it is possible that the sign of the position (e.g.
value X) is important. On the other hand, it happens that the sign is
troubling, since by the simply mathematical comparison an error is located
that is twice as large as the value of the position.
Via the symbol in the heading of the dialogue window, you can
determine whether the sign is enabled or not: If you click on the symbol,
the sign is disabled.
Exit the text field either with a "TAB" or with one click into another box.
Then the numerical values from the tolerance chart are entered into the
boxes "Upper" and "Lower Tolerance".
If you want to carry out further actions after the nominal actual comparison,
confirm via the symbol. A dialogue window appears "Further Options of Nominal
Actual Comparison".
Here, the following options are at your disposal:
abort the part program if one value is excessive and/or too small;
transfer the suitable feature to a statistical program or CAT1000S (for
CAT1000S, only position tolerances are possible)
define the feature as reference for a
assign to the feature a position number for the continuous numbering and
a sequence in the first sample test
assign to the feature a further identifier (e.g. drawing grid square) for
easier finding.
Additionally, you can also determine whether values of positions (positions) have
to be tolerated in the current or in the origin co-ordinate system.
This is only valid for positions. Diameter or radius are independent from the
co-ordinate system.
17 CMM Movements
17.1 Table of Contents
Clicking on the topics in the below table, you will obtain the required information
about this subject.
Machine Movement
Five Axes Movement
Move CMM along an Axis
Circular Movement
Drive Manually to Point
Manual Measurement Point
Joystick in Workpiece Co-ordinate System
Define Clearance Height
Safety Plane: Task / Procedure
Safety Plane: Further Details
Measurement Point
Measurement Point (Laser)
Measurement Point with Direction
Direction Entry via Variables
Groove Point
Measurement Point with Imaginary Point
Measurring Point on Circular Path
Probing of Edge Point
Automatic Line Measurement
Automatic Plane Measurement
Automatic Inclined Circle Measurement
Automatic Inclined Circle Measurement: Dialogue
Automatic circle measurement
Automatic cylinder measurement
Automatic Hole Measurement
Scanning
Scanning of Known Elements
Scanning in YZ, ZX, RZ and Phi Z Planes
Element finished
Delete last measured point
Stop
Turn Rotary Table
Deflection
Trigger Automatic
Rotary Table Themes
Rotary Table Types
Rotary Table: Calibration Method
Index Table: Calibration Method
Save Rotary Table Position
CNC Parameters
You can either click the icon, which is located in the tool bar for the
machine (left margin) or select via the menu bar "Measurement / Move". In both
cases you get the dialogue window "Move".
On the left side, you see the icon. If you want to move the machine
to a specific position, click here and input the co-ordinates of this position.
By a click on the arrow on the right end of the input fields, you can recall
the last inputs. Furthermore you can define variables (e.g. store Z) in the
"Formula Calculation"; then you can use these variables for the input.
Now you can select which Types of Co-ordinate Systems you want to use;
at any time, you can click on the corresponding symbol.
With a click into the middle symbol of the left column you make
possible the function "Relative KMG movement". Now you feed in your
changes and move the probe from the last position to the new. You can
decide for one of the three offered coordinate system types.
If you need the actual position of the machine in your input window
(e.g. because you only want to change one of the values), click on the
icon.
If you want to display the data of the point where the probe is now
situated, click on the symbol.
Normally, the program supposes moving along an axis in the part co-ordinate
system, but shifting to the machine co-ordinate system is possible. Proceed as
follows:
Keep the dialogue window "Move in one axis".
Click on "Co-ordinate System" in the menu bar and in the pull-down menu
on "Determine Co-ordinate System".
In the following dialogue window, choose in the upper icon bar the
symbol "CMM Co-ordinates" and confirm through "Ok".
This way, you overwrite the co-ordinate system.
If the "Move in five axes" button is not available in the toolbar, you have to
configure the toolbar. Refer to the topic "Adjusting toolbars".
Requirements
Your CMM must be configured as follows so that you can work with this dialogue:
Renishaw-Revo probing system with RSP2
UCC2 CMM controller
UCC Server (Renishaw I++ Server)
Purpose
Contrary to moving the probing head in three axes (for example PH10), you
can move in five axes with rotating/swivelling probe heads (for example with the
Renishaw Revo probing system).
This means that movement in the three machine axes and in the two swivel head
axes is done simultaneously while moving to the target position. The advantage
as compared with older index probing heads is that movement is not first in the
machine axes and then the probing head afterwards. Instead the movements
take place simultaneously and thus you save time.
For information about the principles, refer to the GEOPAK topic "Move Machine".
Input
Either you input the co-ordinates of the target position and the A angle (-5 to 120
degrees) and the B angle (-180 to 180 degrees).
Or you enter the co-ordinates of the target position and the probing direction.
The machine control decides whether to rotate left or right for swivelling the
B angle. Make sure that the ranges of both rotation directions are not
blocked by obstacles.
Probing direction
Click the selection button in order to use the "Probing direction".
Enter the direction vector. The probe is swivelled in the range using this direction
vector. You specify the display of the vector in the GEOPAK dialogue box "Input
characteristics (GEOPAK / File / Settings / Input characteristics). The direction
vector is displayed either as angle or as cosine. Refer to the topic "Input
characteristics".
For standard tasks use the current co-ordinate system (workpiece co-
ordinate system).
In exceptional cases, however, you can also use the machine co-ordinate
system.
When clicking the "Position of machine" button, the current position of the
machine is used.
When clicking the "Read actual angles" button, the current angles are
entered into the text boxes.
It is also possible, however, that you use the CMM symbol to enter the
current CMM position.
In any case, the CMM with the probe first moves from the current position
to the start position.
1 = Start point
2 = Pass through point
3 = End point
Movement commands issued by CAT1000P as "Move Circular" within an element
measurement cycle will be stored automatically in the part program.
The centre of the circle must be located within the CMM volume.
This "Method 2" is not for use in space, but only in the driving planes XY,
YZ and ZX. The angles refer to the first axis of the base plane. The centre
of the circle must be located within the CMM volume.
In the Cartesian mode simply click on the icon to determine the axes to be
considered. This option is available in the Cartesian mode only. In the polar mode
the influence of the individual axes is extremely high so that it is useless to select
a single value.
Display window
After confirmation a window indicating the determined coordinates on the
right will be displayed.
The numbers in blue on the left indicate the distances of the nominal
positions along the machine axes.
It is possible to clamp two axes each and to drive in one axis only.
If the "Capture range" of the axes has been reached the digits are
displayed in green.
The window disappears as soon as the numbers for every selected axis
are green.
Proceed as follows
This command is available only for a manual CMM or for a CNC-CMM in manual
mode (before the "CNC ON" command).
In the upper part of the dialogue box enter the position of the
measurement point.
In the lower part of the dialogue box enter the probing direction of the
measurement point.
Click OK to start.
CAT1000 starts automatically.
The manual measurement points are shown in the CAD model in the
learn and in the repeat mode. The colour of the measurement points
depends on the state.
Procedure
Activate "Machine / Clearance Height" via the menu bar.
In the following dialog, click the symbol (left) to define the clearance height
in the text box (right).
You define the axis in which axis to move via the axis symbols (in the picture
it is the X axis) The selected axis is displayed.
To get help, you can call the actual machine position via the symbol.
You can define the error heights at the symbol. The numbers are
automatically counted (upwards) and displayed.
For security, you should reduce the Movement Speed(in the dialog below
on the left).
For detailed information about this topic, refer to Safety Plane: Further
Details.
To determine the measurement point (touch point) either use the joystick
box and click the "Meas" button and then touch your work piece with the probe or
choose "Machine / Measure CNC point" from the menu bar. You can also click
this icon in the machine tools and the corresponding dialogue box appears.
Normally, there are two possibilities to define a measurement point.
start position
travelling direction
change over point
Note
Use this method if only the approximate position of the measurement
point on the workpiece is known.
17.13.2 Details
Point on workpiece:
During the input of the co-ordinates, you can choose from the following three
Types of Co-ordinate Systems . Just click the icon for the type of co-ordinate
system you want. GEOPAK always starts with the cartesian co-ordinate system.
movement speed
measurement speed
You have to input the direction for the movement of the probe system. For that,
you have two possibilities:
measurement point
imaginary point
Enter the data for the imaginary target point into the three drop-down lists.
machine position
drop-down lists
The description of the drop-down lists indicates which Co-ordinate mode you
have selected (e.g. cartesian co-ordinate system with the components X, Y Z.)
Note
Use this method when the exact direction can be defined more simply by
two points.
For this method the icons of the direction vectors and the drop-down lists
are deactivated.
Note
A click on the icon shows the actual position of the probe; this
position means the co-ordinates in the part co-ordinate system and it is
immediately transformed to the selected co-ordinate system type.
Centre of Probe: In this case you do not input the theoretical touch point but
the point in front of the material where the machine switches from movement
speed into measurement speed.
When you determine the "change over point" you can choose between the three
Types of Co-ordinate Systems (see above).
Clamping of MPP Axes
When using the MPP probe system (Mitutoyo Profile Probe) it is possible to
clamp individual axes for the single point measurement. Clamping of the axes is
done parallel to the CMM axes. When activating the "Clamp axis of MPP"
function, slipping of the probe on the surface of the workpiece can be avoided.
"Surface mode" or
start position
travelling direction
change over point
Enter the direction for the movement of the probe system.
Input of the direction is done in the drop-down lists next to the "Change
direction vector" icons. Enter the angles of the travelling direction for the axes X,
Y and Z.
Click the "Position of machine" button if you want to use the current
CMM position for the measurement point.
The XYZ co-ordinates are automatically entered into the corresponding
combo boxes.
If you want to measure from the opposite direction, click the "Change
direction vector" button.
Determine stylus direction
The stylus direction is the direction between the angle of the probe head from
head to tip and the co-ordinate system. The co-ordinate system can either be the
current part co-ordinate system or the machine co-ordinate system.
Click the "Actual co-ordinate system" button to use the current part
co-ordinate system for the definition of the stylus direction.
Click the "Read actual angles" button to update the stylus direction
according to the current probe angle.
Click "OK" and the measurement point is measured.
See also
Automatic Line Measurement
Automatic Circle Measurement
Automatic Cylinder Measurement
See also
Measure Point with Head Touch
Head Touch (PH20/REVO)
Start of probing
Contact and change of direction
Dual flank point
Note
The lead of the worm or thread must not exceed 15 degrees.
Lead of a worm
You get this function via the "Menu Bar / Machine / Measure CNC Point".
Click on the icon on the left in the following dialogue.
Cf. the topic Measurement Point with Direction .
Conditions
In the "CMM System Manager" in the "MachineBuilder" you have defined
a scanning probe, for example a SP25M or a MMP300.
Your CMM disposes of a ROM that supports the "Measure self centering
point" command.
Starting the command
On the GEOPAK "Machine" menu, click "Measure self centering point".
Click the "Position of machine" button if you want to use the current
position of the CMM as start point.
Approach speed
Use the direction vectors for the X, Y, and Z component to define the
approach direction of the scanning probe.
CNC parameters
In the "Meas. speed" combo box enter a value for the measurement
speed. You can find the optimum measurement speed in the
documentation of your scanning probe.
In the "Deflection" combo box enter a value for the deflection of your
scanning probe. For more information, see "Deflection".
In the "Retraction dist." combo box enter the value by which the probe is
retracted from the part after a measurement point is recorded. For more
information, see "Retraction distance".
Click "OK".
The following steps are carried out in sequence.
Or click this icon in the machine tools and the corresponding dialogue box
appears.
In order to determine the measurement point, you have three options (for detailed
information refer to Measurement Point). One of the three possibilities is the
following.
measurement point
imaginary point
Note
Use this method when the exact direction can be defined more simply by
two points.
Proceed as follows
Choose from the following threeTypes of Co-Ordinate Systems .
machine position
drop-down lists
For this method the icons of the direction vectors and the drop-down lists are
deactivated.
Start position as a proposal
You can also select the start position that you have already entered by
clicking this icon. In this case the co-ordinates of the start position for travelling to
the imaginary destination are taken over. You will use this option when you intend
to change only one co-ordinate, for example. As, however, GEOPAK calculates
the probing direction from the difference of the co-ordinates, at least one co-
ordinate needs to be changed.
But first you have to call up the dialogue "Element point" and to go to
"Type of construction" to select
"Measure".
Hint
You should deactivate the option "Measure automatic" because
otherwise you will get the dialogue "Measurement point" which is
superfluous and which you will then have to click away.
In the dialogue "Element point", click "OK" to activate the desired function
in the menu "Machine".
The dialogue "Measure Point on Circular Path" is almost identical to the dialogue
"Circular Movement (Method 2)". When probing a measurement point on circular
path, there is only a start and no end angle.
As soon as the function is active, the CMM moves parallel to the selected
movement plane. When the probe touches the targeted object, the measurement
point is recorded and the probe moves back to the position at which it has started
the circular movement.
Limitations
You can only use this functionality when your CMM is equipped with one of the
following ROM version numbers:
• UC200 ROM version v3.5 or higher
• UC300 ROM version v6.6 or higher
• UC400 and UC500 ROM: any version number
The minimum radius required for a circular movement is 1 mm.
3 Surface Points
click on this icon in the tool bar on the left margin of the GEOPAK
main window or
Click the "CMM position" button to enter the current CMM position into the
input fields.
Angle
This is the angle between the line in driving direction and the first axis of the
driving plane, i.e. if you enter an angle of 30 or 210 degrees you will achieve the
opposite measuring direction (see picture below).
1: Start point
2: Length
Probing
Choose the "Probing" icons if you wish to probe
in the driving plane
along the driving direction
to the right or to the left.
Head touch (PH20/REVO)
PH20 and REVO require an I++ server. Consequently the settings for the
probe head, such as head speed and head acceleration are set in the "Set
I++ property" dialog box in GEOPAK.
The movement method "Scanning" is not available for head touch.
The "Head touch" group box is available only if a probe head suitable for
head touch is selected in the MachineBuilder (for example a PH20).
The touch mode "Fixed quill" is not available for the automatic line
measurement.
Click the "Read actual angles" button if the current stylus angle is not
known.
Note
The stylus angle is the angle in part co-ordinates where the measurement
starts. When probing in the XY plane, it is the angle to the Z axis (A
angle).
Click the "CMM position" button to enter the current CMM position into the
input fields.
17.25.1 Circular
If your CMM has the possibility of driving a circular path, you should activate
this (see symbol) if you measure the base of a circumferential groove. You avoid
intermediate positions that would be necessary if you would drive on straight
lines.
If you can move from a measurement point to the next one without a collision, the
straight way is the fastest and shortest.
PH20 and REVO only run with an I++ server. Therefore the settings
for the probe head such as speed and acceleration are determined in
the "Set I++ property" dialogue box in GEOPAK.
When "head touch" is selected, the movement methods "Circular
movement", "Slot width", "Thread pitch" and "Scanning" are not
available.
Using the head touch method the measurement points can be measured only by
moving the probe in two axes. With this method special elements such as inner
circles and inner cylinders can be measured faster.
Only when a probe head suitable for head touch is selected in the
MachineBuilder (for example PH20), the "Head touch" group box is
shown.
Click this button to open the "Head touch" drop-down list box.
From the drop-down list box select one of the following probing modes:
• "Fixed quill" - the measurement points are measured without
movement of the CMM.
• "All axes" - the measurement points are measured by
movement of the CMM and of the probe head (5 axis
measurement).
Hint
For the automatic plane measurement only the "Fixed quill" method is
available.
Scanning
For detailed information about the "Scanning" group box, refer to "Scan settings"
and " Scanning of known elements ".
Click the "CMM position" button to enter the current CMM position into the
text boxes.
The option "Direction to the left or to the right" is only relevant if you
only measure the part of a circle.
17.26.1 Circular
If your CMM has the possibility of driving a circular path, you should activate
this (see symbol) if you measure an outer circle (bolt). You avoid intermediate
positions that would be necessary if you would drive on straight lines.
At an inner circle (bore hole), the straight way is the fastest and shortest.
If the symbol is not activated, the CMM will drive on the same height. That would
falsify the position (see pictures below). If you have input the thread pitch, the
probing always takes place under the same conditions. This way, a good position
determination is possible.
PH20 and REVO require an I++ server. Consequently the settings for
the probe head, such as head speed and head acceleration are set in
the "Set I++ property" dialog box in GEOPAK.
The movement methods "Circular path", "Slot width" and "Scanning"
are not available for head touch.
The movement method "Thread pitch" is only available if "All axes" is
selected as touch mode.
During head touch the measurement points can be measured only by moving the
probe head in two axes. This method allows a faster measurement of smaller
circles and cylinders.
The "Head touch" group box is available only if a probe head suitable
for head touch is selected in the MachineBuilder (for example a
PH20).
The "Stylus angle" and "Read actual angles" combo boxes are
available only if "All axes" is selected.
If the current stylus angle is known, type the value in the "Stylus angle"
combo box.
Click the "Read actual angles" button if the current stylus angle is not
known.
Note
The stylus angle is the angle in part co-ordinates where the measurement
starts. When probing in the XY plane, it is the angle to the Z axis (A
angle).
For small holes that are to be measured with head touch there is a risk
that the stylus collides at the edge of the hole. If this problem occurs,
the selection of the probing mode "fixed quill" (head touch) is
cancelled and measurement is carried out with CMM probing.
Depending on the geometry of the system it is possible to measure the
hole with a combination of head touch and CMM probing. For more
information, see "PH20 I++ Integrators Guide - V 8.0".
Scanning
For more information about the "Scanning" group box, see "Scan settings" and
"Scanning of known elements ".
Click this link for additional information about "Filter contour".
Automatic circle measurement with thread pitch
For the automatic circle measurement with thread pitch the movement of the 3rd
axis depends on different parameters
Clockwise or counter clockwise selection
Sign of the thread pitch
The table below shows how an automatic circle measurement with a selected
thread pitch works in the XY plane.
a: Circle diameter
b: Circle centre
c: Approach height
d: Approach depth
e: Edge distance
f: Surface normal
g: Diameter for surface measurement
h: Safety distance
For how to proceed further, find detailed information in Automatic Inclined Circle
Measurement: Dialogue .
These data are not required for the inner full circle.
Not connected with a plane Select this option when measuring anything
other than an inclined circle (e.g. cylinder, sphere, cone).
Plane still to be measured (see above under "Plane and circle").
Plane is complete. In this case, a plane exists and only the circle must be
measured.
Hint
When editing a part program, it may become necessary to change one of
these options, e.g. switching from "Plane is complete" to "Plane still to be
measured".
To determine the number of points for each single circle, divide the total
number of points (see top left in the dialogue box) by the "Number of
Steps".
Enter the circle parameter, that means for the diameter enter the nominal
diameter of the cylinder.
Measurement is made - parallel to the driving plane - of the circles you
preset by the "Number of Steps" (minimum 2).
The measurement of the cylinder begins on the height of the co-ordinate
(first step) you entered. The last step will be measured by the variation in
elevation higher or deeper.
If higher or deeper will be indicated by the driving direction.
Choose the "driving plane".
In the dialogue box you can see the probing mode depending on the selected
"driving plane" (example in the picture below).
Click the "CMM position" button to enter the current CMM position
into the text boxes.
Since the direction of axis of the cylinder always corresponds to the
direction of the first up to the last meas. point, you also determine the
direction of axis of the cylinder through this driving direction.
If this given probing strategy is not sufficient, do not use the "Automatic Cylinder
Measurement" function but rather use for example the "Automatic Circle or Line
Measurement".
Circular
If your CMM is able to drive a circular path, click this button when you
measure an outer cylinder (bolt). You avoid intermediate positions that would be
necessary when driving on straight lines.
At an inner cylinder (bore hole), the straight way is the fastest and shortest.
Hint
The "Clockwise or counter-clockwise direction" option is only
relevant if you measure only a section (segment) of the cylinder.
Slot width
If your CMM is not able to drive a circular path, enter a slot width for an
outer cylinder. This slot width indicates how much place is available for moving
around. GEOPAK then calculates the driving ways between the probing
positions, this means
out of this slot width
out of the current ball diameter and
out of the safety distance
The number of the calculated intermediate positions is always the smallest
possible. It depends essentially on the number of measurement points and the
slot width.
Problem
Problem Solving
You can select a GEOPAK-3 compatible driving strategy by activating the
symbol in the dialogue. You activate the symbol via the "PartManager / Settings /
Defaults for Programs / GEOPAK / Dialogues" and to the end the "Show
GEOPAK-3 button" function.
Head touch (PH20/REVO)
PH20 and REVO require an I++ server. Consequently the settings for the
probe head, such as head speed and head acceleration are set in the "Set
I++ property" dialog box in GEOPAK.
The movement methods "Circular path", "Slot width" and "Scanning" are
not available for head touch.
Outer cylinders can only be measured if "All axes" is selected as touch
mode.
During head touch the measurement points can be measured only by moving the
probe head in two axes. This method allows a faster measurement of smaller
circles and cylinders.
The "Head touch" group box is available only if a probe head suitable for
head touch is selected in the MachineBuilder (for example a PH20).
The "Stylus angle" and "Read actual angles" combo boxes are available
only if "All axes" is selected.
If the current stylus angle is known, type the value in the "Stylus angle"
combo box.
Click the "Read actual angles" button if the current stylus angle is not
known.
Note
The stylus angle is the angle in part co-ordinates where the measurement
starts. When probing in the XY plane, it is the angle to the Z axis (A
angle).
For small holes that are to be measured with head touch there is a risk that
the stylus collides at the edge of the hole. If this problem occurs, the
selection of the probing mode "fixed quill" (head touch) is cancelled and
measurement is carried out with CMM probing.
Depending on the geometry of the system it is possible to measure the
hole with a combination of head touch and CMM probing. For more
information, see "PH20 I++ Integrators Guide - V 8.0".
Scanning
For more information about the "Scanning" group box, see "Scan settings" and
"Scanning of known elements".
5 axis scanning
With an articulating probe head that supports 5 axis measurements (for example
REVO with UCC2) the 5 axis method is applied when scanning an inner cylinder.
If your CMM is equipped like this, this method is always used for the scanning of
inner cylinders. It is not possible to determine whether to use this method or not
in the dialogue box. Therefore no additional entries are required.
VISIONPAK-PRO is started.
In the "Edit Tool Settings" dialogue box change the settings of the video
tool. In the "Edit Context" dialogue box change the ambient variables.
Click "OK".
The changes for the video tool are applied to the GEOPAK part program.
Save the GEOPAK part program.
17.32 Scanning
For the scanning, you have further options via the menus "Measurement Point:
Two Possibilities" and "Measurement Point with Direction". Meantime, you should
be sufficiently familiarized with these two topics.
Open or closed
For scanning, it is important if you have an open or closed contour. If the
contour is closed, click the symbol. Then, scanning is terminated as soon as the
CMM has reached the starting point.
With an open contour, deactivate the symbol and determine via the target point
the zone you want to record. In this case, you have multiple possibilities to finish
a scanning (the following example with a scanning in the X/Y plane.
Enter the X as well as the Y values of the target point. The scanning is
only terminated if the X as well as the Y co-ordinates have been reached.
Enter the X value and activate the symbol "Ignore Second Axis".
The scanning is terminated as soon as the value of the X co-ordinate has
been reached.
Enter the Y value and activate the symbol "Ignore First Axis". The
scanning is terminated as soon as the Y co-ordinate has been reached
independently from the X value.
Scanning of cylinders
For the scanning of cylinder it is assumed that you know that only solid cylinders
can be measured.
You select the RZ scanning if you work with rotating and symmetrical profiles.
This can be, e.g. bottles or mouthpieces of trumpets. The driving plane is
determined through the Z axis and the starting point (picture below).
You decide for Phi Z scanning if you move a circle on the one hand, but at the
same time must record different heights (see picture below). The circle is lies
symmetrically around the Z axis. The radius is indicated through the starting
point.
Automatic best
Choosing this method means that the best scanning method supported by
the CMM control is used.
Standard scan
Choosing this method means that the part program command "CNC
scanning" is used. The work piece will be scanned with the speed entered
in the "Scan speed" input field.
Scanning with nominal data
Choosing this method means that the nominal data of the element will be
used for the high speed scanning.
Note
If the "Exp. deviation" function is not activated the deflection of the CNC
parameters is used.
For more detailed information, refer to "Scanning of known elements ".
Click this link to obtain important information on the topic "Filter contour".
Limit point 1
Start point
Limit point 2
End point
Note
The individual cross sections are determined by measurement points
recorded in the learn mode.
For another cross section enlarge the scanning section. For this, repeat the steps
described above.
Exit "Teach" mode
When clicking the "Teach" button again, the determination of the individual
sections is finished. The "OK" button is active again and you can exit the "Sweep
scan" dialogue box.
Limit point 1
Measured start point (highest position)
Displaced start point
Limit point 2
Minimum distance from measured start point
Doubled distance
Measured scanning width
Complete scanning width
Complete recording of a contour
Selecting the "Use middle point" check box means that scanning takes place for
the complete scanning width (see point 8). The start point is moved to the middle
between limit point 1 and limit point 2.
Automatic adaptation of a probe angle
When selecting the "Use probe direction" check box the probe angles are
automatically adapted to a co-ordinate system rotation.
The direction of the probe vector is the same as the direction from probe head to
stylus.
The probe angles of the probe head are calculated according to the current co-
ordinate system. The calculations take place in the co-ordinate system of the
workpiece.
Note
If you do not select the "Use probe direction" check box enter the probe
position manually into the "Angle A" and "Angle B" text boxes. The text
boxes are active. The probe angles are in the CMM co-ordinate system.
Taking over current Revo angles
To take over the currently set angle values in learn mode, click the "Read
current angles" button.
Use the joystick box to move the probe system to the start point of the
contour section to be measured.
Set the probe position best suited for this contour section.
Click the "Read current angles" button.
The currently set angles are entered into the "Angle A" and "Angle B" text
boxes.
CNC Parameters
In the "CNC parameters" box the values for the CNC scanning parameters can
be modified. Your entries are stored and are available for further scans.
If you have already determined a start patch and you click the "Add"
button the specifications are entered as "End patch".
Start patch
End patch
Further patches that you define by using the "Add" button are entered as end
patch (#n).
Normally, the parameters for the part program command "Scan on conical
flank" are not specified by the user, but are generated by the gear software
GEARPAK-Bevel/Hypoid.
We recommend that you be very careful about changing the individual
parameters, as erroneous entries can lead to a collision of the probing
system and the part.
On the GEOPAK menu bar, click "Machine" and then click "Scan on conical
flank" to open the GEOPAK "Scan on conical flank" dialogue box.
If the "Scan on conical flank" button is not available on the toolbar, the toolbar
must be configured. For more information, see "Customize Toolbars".
Selection of scanning direction
Use the "Scan left/Scan right" buttons to specify whether the scanning
is carried out in direction of the cone apex or in direction of the base point.
Cone angle
Start point
End point
Scanning direction
Base point
Measurement options
Under "Measurement options", you specify whether you want to rotate the rotary
table during measurement of the cone and which axis of the MPP probing system
you want to clamp.
Click this button if you want to rotate the rotary table during measurement of
the cone.
Closed contour
In the case of a closed contour, the start point is the end point. Therefore,
the text boxes to enter the co-ordinates of the end point are not available.
Scanning ends when the CMM reaches the start point.
Position of machine
Click the "Position of machine" button to use the current position of the
CMM as the end point.
Start point
Approach direction
Scanning section
End point
Defined cone height
Cone parameters
The following cone parameters can be found in the mechanical drawings or in the
data sheets:
cone diameter
cone angle
co-ordinates of the base point
cone direction
If you want to measure additional points, click the "Delete marked lines"
button to open the element again for further measurements.
If you discover after the calculation that the element contained wrong points, you
will need to use the symbol to delete the points until the wrong points are
eliminated.
If you know in advance how many points you want to measure, you can
already activate this in the element dialogue with the "Automatic Element
Finished" button. This way, after having reached the number of points to be
measured, the measurement is terminated and the calculation is automatically
executed.
You can start this function via the symbol or the menu bar "Machine /
Delete last measured point".
17.45 Stop
Via this function that you can activate either via the symbol or the menu bar
"Machine / Stop", it is possible to stop the CMM in case of a crash.
This is the same function that you have on your joystick ("R.STOP").
When you start a "Rotate rotary table" command, make sure that the part
and the probe do not collide.
Specify an angle for the rotation. You can choose between two different
types:
• Absolute angle of rotation
• Relative angle of rotation
• Counter-clockwise
• Clockwise
Click "First axis" to rotate the rotary table around the centerline.
Click "Second axis" to rotate the rotary table around the space-fixed
axis.
Note
If no second rotation axis is available or if an index table has been
configured, the buttons "First axis" and "Second axis" are not available. In
this case rotation always takes place around the first axis.
Manual operation with the joystick box
Mitutoyo rotary tables can also be rotated manually using the joystick box. The
control transmits the end position to GEOPAK. In learn mode, this rotation is
saved in the part program as "Rotate rotary table absolutely".
However, the control does not transmit the direction of rotation. For this reason,
GEOPAK determines the shortest path. Should this process not be practicable
(collision with part), use the MCOSMOS software for the rotation.
Related topics
Rotary Table Types
Scanning with Rotary Table: Introduction
Set Rotary Table Reference Position
17.47 Deflection
To be sure having a contact with the workpiece, the measuring probe works with
a so-called deflection. The control minds that the deflection does, at each point of
the part, not go beyond the limits of the defined values in a dialog. As for a
spring, a better deflection corresponds to a better probing of the part.
Notice
According to the actual status of development, a deflection between 0,25 and 1
mm, depending on the connected probe system, is possible.
Feature for SP600 and SP25 When you have swivelled the SP 600, this is
influencing the own weight of the probe pin so that going backwards to 0 is not
possible any more. Here, we have a "Pre-Guiding". By this means, the maximum
deflection is reduced.
17.48 Trigger-Automatic
You use the trigger automatic with optical systems that give a signal when
running over a border. For exact measurement it is important that the
measurement recording is always realized in the same direction (clear - dark or
dark -clear). This is why every second signal is ignored.
RT 16 AFCS
RT 20 AFCS
RT 20-26 AFCS
Note
If you have an MRT rotary table by Mitutoyo at your disposal, you can
rotate and measure immediately.
Before you use a rotary table, you have to align it. For this purpose, determine
the position and the alignment of the rotational axis of the rotary table on the
CMM. You do this with the aid of a ball which is set on the rotary table.
You can perform the calibration via two different methods:
Align rotary table: assistance guided
Align rotary table: user defined
Note
The assistance guided calibration is generally recommended.
You have to create a part programme for the user defined calibration. The
method is more complex, but you have more options available. Thus
instead of a ball, you can use a test cylinder, for example, or a workpiece
for the calibration as well.
Index rotary tables
Index rotary tables reach a specified number of positions, e.g., 4 positions
(rotation always at 90°). You cannot rotate during the measuring process. Index
rotary tables are generally only used for the purpose of determining the
workpiece position. The MIT rotary table by Mitutoyo is supported by MCOSMOS.
When calibrating, each position is defined separately as a new coordinate
system. More detailed information in this regard can be found under "Align index
rotary table".
If you want to verify the results of the alignment, activate the "Load
result file after alignment" button. In so doing, you have the option of
printing out the alignment results later.
Specify in the "Sphere measurement" dialogue field how the
measurement is to occur:
• In the "Height of sphere" input field, enter the distance from the
surface of the rotary table to the centre point of the ball.
Measure the distance with the aid of the probe. You need this
input for collision control in CAT1000.
• In the "Clearance height" input field, specify the safe distance
between the ball and the probe. This is defined as distance from
the pole point of the sphere in the direction of the rotational
axis. The open height should be large enough so that the rotary
table can rotate without a collision.
• The remaining settings are identical to those of the automatic
probe calibration. More detailed information in this regard can
be found under "Automatic calibrating: additional settings".
Begin he alignment with "OK".
Following acknowledgement of the dialogue, you are guided through the
alignment with graphical support. More detailed information in this regard can be
found under "Align rotary table: step by step".
Note
The "Align rotary table" command is learnable. You cannot reverse the
command.
Related topics
Rotary table types
Rotate rotary table
Always repeat these steps for the next two ball positions.
Rotate the rotary table back into the start position.
The ball is measured in every angle position. You have entered the
number of positions in the "Align rotary table" dialogue window in
advance. More detailed information in this regard can be found under
"Align rotary table: assistance guided".
Set three balls on the rotary table so that they form a triangle.
Move the index rotary table to the position that you want to calibrate.
Make sure not to move the co-ordinate system at the same time. For
more detailed information, see "Turn Rotary Table".
Measure the three balls. For more detailed information, see "Ball".
Link the measured balls to an unprojected plane. For more detailed
information, see "Connection Element Plane".
Click the "Align base plane" button to align the co-ordinate system in
the XY plane.
Link the measured balls to the unprojected circle unit. The centre of the
circle of the ball measured first forms the origin of the co-ordinate system.
For more detailed information, see "Connection Element Circle ".
Click the "Align axis through point" button to align the X axis over the
centre of the first ball.
The "Store rotary table position" buttons and menu commands are not
displayed by default. If both are to be displayed, make the relevant settings
in the "GEOPAK Settings". See also "Dialogues".
Click "First axis" if you want to store the position of the rotary table
with regard to the centerline.
Click "Second axis" if you want to store the position of the rotary
table with regard to the space-fixed axis.
Click "OK" to store the position of the rotary table.
Store index table position
When you align an index table, the "Reference element" list and the buttons "First
axis" and "Second axis" are not available.
Enter the current position of the index table in the "Angle" list (for example
90°).
Click "OK" to store the current position of the index table.
Related topics
Align Rotary Table: User-Defined
Align Index Table
Set Rotary Table Reference Position
You have to set a reference position first and store it, so that you can
update it later.
Click "First axis" if you want to store or update the reference position
for the first rotation axis (centerline).
Measurement Speed
Safety Distance
Procedure
Start the "CMM Learn mode" or the "Part program editor".
On the menu bar, click "Machine", and then click "CNC parameters and
CNC on".
The "CNC parameters and CNC on" dialogue box appears.
Click the "Default" button. The default value appears in the text box.
Note
The default value for the measurement speed is the value that obtains the
maximum measurement accuracy.
Defining the safety distance
Type a value for the "Safety Distance".
With this value you change the distance between the theoretical probe
point on the surface of the part and the point where the CMM changes
from movement speed to measurement speed.
Confirming CNC parameters
Click "OK" to confirm your entries.
Your entries are stored in the part program and in repeat mode the
operating mode changes to CNC mode.
Next to the CMM icon, the "Status Bar" displays an LED indicating the
operating mode:
• Green: CNC mode off
• Yellow: CNC mode on
See also
Turn On/Off CNC Mode
Changing CNC Parameters
CNC Start Parameters
If the measurement points are directly probed (Scanning,) and you have a
too small safety distance, you risk collisions if the contour shows and
distinct irregularities.
1 = destination A
2 = intermediate position B
3 = destination C
4 = positioning distance
5 = work piece
The above illustration shows the circle radius (red dotted line), the two interim
positions (X) and the shortened movement path (>).
As the illustration below shows, also the interim positions in front of a
measurement point need not be approached.
Notes
The size of the radius depends on your workpiece, on the interim
positions and on your CM M and must be defined for each individual case.
You can only use this functionality when all hardware requirements are
met.
Click the "Default" button. The default value appears in the text box.
Note
The default value for the measurement speed is the value that obtains the
maximum measurement accuracy.
See also
Turn On/Off CNC Mode
CNC Start Parameters
Advantage
The advantage of this procedure lies in that measurement results are no longer
influenced by vibrations. Naturally, this procedure prolongs the measurement
process but is more precise. Therefore it is up to you to weigh up the two
possibilities before deciding on which solution you choose.
General rule:
You should first calibrate the probe according to the method that shall be
used for the measurement.
If you use several sensors you can change them manually using a manual
rack. Automatic change of the roughness probe + sensor is possible in the
ACR1 rack or the ACR3 rack. With an ACR3 the roughness probe only fits
in port 3 of the rack.
During an automatic change the sensors can only be changed together
with the roughness probe. Therefore it is not possible to assign various
sensors to the individual ports. First you have to define a roughness probe
for a port and then calibrate the probe tree with the desired sensor.
Make sure that the roughness probe with the corresponding sensor fits in
the ACR port.
Click the "Centre of probe" button if the start point should be in front
of the part surface. In this case the position is not displaced by the safety
distance.
Specifying the CNC parameters
If "Point on workpiece" is the selected start point, you have to enter a
sufficient safety distance in the "Safety Distance" box.
If "Centre of probe" is the selected start point, the "Safety distance" box is
unavailable.
In the "Approach speed" box enter the speed for the surface finish probe
to approach the part surface after the CMM has reached the start position.
Specifying the SURFPAK conditions
Under "SURFPAK conditions", click "New".
The SURFPAK "Set Measurement Condition" dialogue box appears. Click
"OK". A new ID is assigned to the saved SURFPAK command, is returned
to GEOPAK and appears in the "ID" text box.
Click "Edit" to change the measurement conditions related to the shown
ID in SURFPAK. If the "ID" text box is empty, the "Edit" button is
unavailable.
Note
SURFPAK saves the measurement conditions for each roughness
measurement with a specific ID. This ID can be changed in the GEOPAK
"Roughness measurement" dialogue box. A change of the ID is necessary
in the following cases:
Changing the existing measurement conditions in SURFPAK by clicking
the "Edit" button.
Using existing SURFPAK commands with the GEOPAK part program
command "Roughness measurement".
If no ID with the corresponding measurement conditions exists in
SURFPAK, GEOPAK displays an error message.
In the GEOPAK "Roughness measurement" dialogue box, click "OK".
The roughness measurement starts. During measurement, the following
steps are carried out:
• Moving to the start point with movement speed.
• Scanning of the part surface in direction of the probe with
approach speed.
• Touching the part surface and stopping the movement.
• Displacing the sliding skid to measure the surface roughness.
The CMM does not move during the measurement process.
• SURFPAK creates a report of the measured data.
• The surface finish probe moves back to the start point.
• The sliding skid moves back to the initial position.
The surface finish probe SFP1 and the sensors (SFS-1, SFS-2) can be
changed automatically using aFCR25 rack and the special REVO ports
(RCP). The rack and the ports are mounted to the MRS Mounting System .
If the SFP1 is not the reference tree, it has to be configured as reference
tree for one of the ports.
Click the "Centre of probe" button if the start point should be in front
of the part surface. In this case the position is not displaced by the safety
distance.
Specifying the CNC parameters
If "Point on workpiece" is the selected start point, you have to enter a
sufficient safety distance in the "Safety Distance" box.
If "Centre of probe" is the selected start point, the "Safety distance" box is
unavailable.
In the "Approach speed" box enter the speed for the surface finish probe
to approach the part surface after the CMM has reached the start position.
In the "Measurement speed" box enter the speed for the surface finish
probe to scan the part surface during the roughness measurement.
Specifying the measurement parameters
In the "Sampling length" box, enter the length necessary to scan the
surface profile.
In the "No. of sampling length" box, enter the number of the necessary
sampling lengths.
In the "Run-in" box, enter the length that the surface finish probe scans on
the part surface before collecting the data.
In the "Run-out" box, enter the length that the surface finish probe still
scans on the part surface after the data is collected.
Specifying the SURFPAK conditions
Under "SURFPAK conditions", click "New".
The SURFPAK "Set Measurement Condition" dialogue box appears. Click
"OK". A new ID is assigned to the saved SURFPAK command, is returned
to GEOPAK and appears in the "ID" text box.
Click "Edit" to change the measurement conditions related to the shown
ID in SURFPAK. If the "ID" text box is empty, the "Edit" button is
unavailable.
Note
SURFPAK saves the measurement conditions for each roughness
measurement with a specific ID. This ID can be changed in the GEOPAK
"Roughness measurement" dialogue box. A change of the ID is necessary
for the following cases:
Changing the existing measurement conditions in SURFPAK by clicking
the "Edit" button.
Using existing SURFPAK commands with the GEOPAK part program
command "Roughness measurement".
If no ID with the corresponding measurement conditions exists in
SURFPAK, GEOPAK displays an error message.
In the GEOPAK "Roughness measurement" dialogue box, click "OK".
The roughness measurement starts. The following steps are carried out
during measurement:
• Moving to the start point with movement speed.
• Scanning of the part surface in direction of the probe with
approach speed.
• Touching the part surface and stopping the movement.
• Sliding of the stylus above the part surface to measure the
surface roughness. The CMM moves during the measurement
process.
• SURFPAK creates a report of the measured data.
• The surface finish probe moves back to the start point.
AnalysGraph_<n>_< Path of the Windows enhanced meta file that contains the
m>= analysis graph for a specific evaluation curve.
FPK_Graph_<n>_<m <n> stands for the number of the evaluation curve.
>.wmf <m> stands for the number of the analysis graph.
See also
Roughness Measurement
Roughness Measurement: Result Report by ProtocolDesigner
After the roughness measurement, the following data is added to the report:
A graphic of each evaluation curve.
All available analysis graphs for each curve.
The basic roughness parameters for each curve:
• Arithmetic average roughness (Ra)
• Total height of the roughness profile (Rt)
• Average roughness depth (Rz)
• Maximum surface roughness (Rz1max)
See also
Roughness Measurement
Roughness Measurement: Results
Check the "Best fit by tolerance" check box in order to check if the individual
actual points are within the preset tolerance zone after best fit. The tolerance
zone is determined in the "Tolerance diameter" drop-down list. Using the
Maximum Material Condition (the "Use MMC" check box is checked) you enlarge
the tolerance zone. For more detailed information refer to "Tolerance and MMC
at best fit".
In the "Element" box you can choose between two possibilities for best fit:
For a graphic display of the best fit results click the "Compare points" icon.
For more detailed information refer to "Graphics with best fit".
Hint
You can access the results of best fit as described in the formula
calculation under the topic "Table of Operands".
For more detailed information on this topic, refer to :
Best fit: basic principles
Minimum/maximum calculation
Contour: Best fit inside tolerance limits
Best fit surface
Click this icon or choose "Co-ordinate system/Best fit" from the menu
bar.
In the "Best fit" dialogue box choose the "Single selection" button and
click "OK" to confirm. For further setting possibilities refer to " Best Fit:
Procedure ".
In the "Best fit Elements (Single selection)" dialogue box the measured
elements appear in the "Available" list box.
In the "Nominal values" dialogue box enter the nominal values into the
drop-down lists of the "Co-ordinates" box.
In order to have the actual values available as new element after best fit,
check the "Copy element" check box. See also "Best fit: Basic principles".
• In the corresponding drop-down list enter a number to store the
newly calculated actual element.
• If you enter the number of the initial actual element the original
values are overwritten.
If the element is a circle and the "Use MMC" check box in the "Best fit"
dialogue box is checked, enter the value for the maximum material size
(Max.M.Size) into the relevant drop-down list.
Click "OK" to confirm. Best fit will be started.
Hint
Clicking the "Compare points" button in the "Best fit" dialogue box
means that the best fit results are displayed graphically and the values of
shifting and/or rotation are listed.
Click this icon or choose "Co-ordinate system/Best fit" from the menu
bar.
In the "Best fit" dialogue box choose "Group selection" and click "OK" to
confirm. For further setting possibilities refer to " Best fit: Procedure ").
In the "Best fit (Group selection)" dialogue box choose the first element of
your group from the "Actual element" drop-down list.
In the "Nominal element" drop-down list choose the relevant nominal
element.
Enter the number of element pairs into the "No. of elements" drop-down
list.
Check the "Copy element" check box in order to have the actual values
available as new elements after best fit. See also "Best fit: Basic
principles".
• In the corresponding drop-down list enter the storage number
from which the newly calculated actual elements shall be
stored.
• If you enter the number of the initial actual element the original
values are overwritten.
Click "OK" to confirm. Best fit will be started.
Hint
Clicking the "Compare points" button in the "Best fit" dialogue box
means that the best fit results are displayed graphically and the values of
shifting and/or rotation are listed.
By checking/unchecking the check boxes below the buttons you are able to
reduce the degrees of freedom even more individually, e.g. if shifting is allowed in
one direction only or if rotation is allowed for one certain axis only.
If only one rotation is allowed, you can also enter the rotation point around which
rotation shall be realised.
Hint
If you do not enter any value, rotation is done around the origin of the
actual co-ordinate system.
For "Best fit with single selection" enter the value for the maximum material
size into the "Max.M.Size" drop-down list of the "Nominal values" dialogue box.
For "Best fit with group selection" you have to create the nominal elements
by means of the maximum material size, i.e. you enter the value for the maximum
material size into the "Diameter" drop-down list of the "Theo. element Circle"
dialogue box.
In the graphics, you can see the nominal points and the actual points either
before or after best fit.
The distances between the nominal and actual positions are enlarged.
The tolerance zone for each position is also displayed.
If an actual value is further away from its nominal than twice the
tolerance, it is not displayed. Only an arrow shows the direction to the
actual value. This is to avoid long lines crossing the whole of the drawing.
Process
The process takes place step by step:
After each step, the assignment of the actual points to the individual surfaces is
redefined.
The steps are executed until the achieved improvements fall below a certain limit.
"Best fit" dialogue box
In CAT1000S
To open the "Best fit" dialogue box, click this button or on the menu bar,
click "Measure", and then click "Best fit".
In GEOPAK / Learn mode
To open the "Best fit for surface" dialogue box, click this button or on the
menu bar, click "Tolerance", and then click "Best fit for surface".
Options in the "Best fit" dialogue box
For the best fit you can determine
• whether CAT1000S can shift and rotate in all directions (this will
result in the smallest deviations), or
• whether only defined axes are allowed.
If only the rotation is allowed, you can also enter the point around which the
rotation takes place.
This point is called the reference point.
This is especially useful if the origin (this is the point of rotation) is located far
from the part. This is mainly true for parts, which are defined in a RPS (car co-
ordinate system).
The results of the best fit are displayed in the graphic report and in the standard
report.
Constrained by tolerance zone(s)
If you select the function "Constrained by tolerance zone(s)", the best fit
calculation is carried out only within the smallest given tolerance zone.
The function "Reset best fit results" does not have the effect that the best
fit is completely cancelled.
Only the results of the last best fit (shift and rotate values) are deleted. The
changed co-ordinate system in GEOPAK remains. Also the shifts of the
measurement points already performed remain unchanged.
18.2 Output
For the "Output" of measured data, GEOPAK always proposes two ways. You
can output the data on a printer, and/or store the measurement results in a file. In
GEOPAK, these functions are accessible with the menu bar and the "Output"
menu.
If you need a printed report, you are going to opt for the printer as output
media e.g. if you need documents for the archives. GEOPAK uses the
printer having been determined as default printer in your Windows system
(see details under "Printer Settings").
• If you want to use a different printer, you first must select this
printer as default in Windows.
Append
Also click on the "Append" check box. In this case, the new data are
always appended to the existing file. Otherwise, the file is simply
overwritten.
Output
You can click as many boxes as you want, with the corresponding options. Thus,
you meet all requirements for your output file.
For information on whether and how to choose "Standard" or any special formats
refer to the topic Standard or Special File Format.
"Open output file" dialogue box with the supported file formats
Standard
Clicking "Standard" causes the default setting made in the "Settings GEOPAK"
dialogue of the PartManager to remain unchanged. On the menu bar, click
"Settings / Defaults for programs / GEOPAK" to get to this dialogue. The length of
the format file name is limited to 40 characters.
Special format
In order to get a special format, click the second button. Use the arrow key to
select your format from the list.
This is what you should know:
• The list is derived from already existing format files.
• The last preceding input is suggested.
• After reinstallation the GEOPAK-3 format is suggested.
In the logo file description field, input the path and file name of the bitmap
of your logo.
Instead of typing the file name, you can also click the icon. If you
click on the icon, you get a dialogue window (Windows conventions) so
that you can easily find and activate your file in the different directories. It
is supposed that you have stored your logo as a bitmap (*.BMP) file in a
directory.
If you choose a logo, it automatically appears in the dialogue. In the
protocol, you can see how your logo appears above the protocol head.
The file can be in JPG or BMP format.
Content of the print output
By clicking in the "Head Data" check box, you can have the head data of
the part printed on the first page of the protocol. You can define the head
data in the PartManager via the menu bar "Settings / Head data". These
data may be the drawing number, the part name, the customer
information, and others.
When selecting the "Formula calculation" check box, the formula applied
are also printed.
When selecting the "All tolerance comparisons" check box, the tolerance
comparisons are also printed. In that case, the check boxes for the
tolerances out of control limits and out of tolerance limits are not available.
If you want to print the tolerance comparisons that are out of tolerance
limits, clear the "All tolerance comparisons" and "Out of control limits"
check boxes.
When selecting the "All elements" check box, the measurement results of
all elements of the part program are also printed.
You will always get the
• name of the operator and the
• date and time of start printing.
You must know
• Recording starts as soon as you confirm the input of the "Print
Format Specification" by "Ok".
• The selected data are recorded until you finish the part program
or stop the output with the "Print format end" function via the
menu bar "Output".
• A page is printed as soon as it will be full.
• If a page is full, it will be automatically printed. You can watch
the percentage in the status bar besides the user name (at the
bottom of the page).
• Via the "Form Feed" function (menu bar "Output") you can get
the printout even if the page is not yet full.
• Via the "Change output file format" function, you can change
print options without stipulating a new printout format.
• You can only use one printout format until activating the "Print
format end" function.
18.12 ProtocolDesigner
By means of this ProtocolDesigner it is possible to create user-defined protocol
models. Then, you can use them in GEOPAK and CAT1000S for printout. To
create this model, you will not have to start at first GEOPAK or CAT1000S.
Click either
in the menu bar of the PartManager on "Tools" and then on the function
or
in the menu bar of GEOPAK on "Output" and after that on the function.
The same is valid for CAT1000S.
So, the ProtocolDesigner is a tool to create protocol models or to change them. If
you select the ProtocolDesigner menu entry, first the "Open Protocol Models"
dialogue is opened. In this dialogue, you may - in order to create a model,
either select an existing model or
enter a new name in the "File Name" text field.
The models must be located in the LAYOUT sub-directory of MCOSMOS.
Hint
Consider that you have to use at least 7 head data fields in order to use
our example models.
For further information how to work with the "ProtocolDesigner" in GEOPAK and
CAT1000S, please refer to your MCOSMOS CD-ROM under "Documents", folder
"GENERAL", file "UM_flexprot_e(g,f).pdf".
You will also find a complete user's manual of the "ProtocolDesigner" program
under "protocoldesigner_e(g).pdf" on your MCOSMOS CD-ROM. Click on
"Documents / GENERAL".
The complete online help of the ProtocolDesigner is installed on your computer
depending on the operation system e.g. under "WINNT / system32", this means
under "CMBTL800.HLP" in German and under "CMBTL801.HLP" in English.
Related topics
Protocol Templates under Revision Management
Click this icon to activate the "Text Output" function or choose "Output"
from the menu bar.
If you wish to output additional information in your protocol (see icon on the
left), click the printer icon.
This is also valid for the ASCII file.
You may enter
a defined text, which, each time, is the same when you print it or
If you use the position labels, for example "1A", "1B", "1C" and a position number
1 in a part program, then the sort sequence is 1, 1A, 1B, 1C.
Leading zeros in a position label are also taken into consideration. That means,
position labels with leading zeros, for example 001 and 01, are always followed
by a 1, namely in the sequence 001, 01, 1.
Example: The position labels 001, 002, 003 and the position numbers 1, 2, 3 are
sorted in the sequence 001, 002, 003, 1, 2, 3.
You will find more detailed information about the priority of ASCII characters in
the Internet under the topic " ASCII table".
In the case of identical position numbers, first the input text and then the
relevant tolerance comparison are output.
Click the "Select file" button to search for and to select an output
file.
In the "Type of format" text box select a format to export the elements.
Circle as full circle
The CAD programs can import circles as full circles. This is not possible with the
TRANSPAK-Win program. If you want to export full circles, you must set the
parameter "FullCircle" in the INI file "Export_IGES.USR" to 1.
Circle as two semicircles
With the MCOSMOS program TRANSPAK-Win you can import two semicircles
as full circle. This is not possible with CAD programs. If you want to import circles
as two semicircles, you must set the parameter "FullCircle" in the INI file
"Export_IGES.USR" to 0.
This function is only required if you have previously worked with the option "For
table".
You can use this function to delete the previously stored layouts for the protocol.
The next printout will not contain the old layouts.
See also:
"Layout for protocol: hints"
Click on the view you want (in our example "top view").
You can rotate the part and
print out the view.
With the different options, you can
print the graphics,
print the list of the measured points,
Stop CAT1000S after having printed and,
if you have opened the info. windows in the selected view, you may
automatically "Re-sort" these.
In the following description fields
drawing no. and
the two comment lines
you can display the default of CAT1000S via the arrow symbol. It is possible
to edit in these lines in contrast to the "Labelling" (see above).
You cannot use this function for saving geometrical elements of GEOPAK.
Only the results are saved for the surface measurement.
Task
You can save your measurement data for later on evaluations.
Hints
This function is learnable.
You can use GEOPAK variables for the file name. Example: You use the
repeat counter for the repeat mode. Under "Save as" you enter the
following string: C:\cad\[email protected].
For details regarding text variables in GEOPAK, refer to the document
"UM_string_code_e.pdf".
Start
In GEOPAK: To start the function, go to the menu bar / Output / Archive
measurement data (CAT1000S).
In CAT1000S: To start the function, go to the menu bar / Measure / Measure with
external ASCII data
Time of saving
The measurement result is not calculated at the time of saving the measurement
data. If you have loaded a CAD-model, the calculation is performed on the basis
of the CAD-data. So when archiving the measurement data you need to archive
the corresponding CAD-model at the same time.
Determine measurement results with archived data
Load an archived CAD-model or use an existing part.
Load the corresponding archived measurement data in CAT1000S by
proceeding via the menu bar / Measurement / with ASCII-data.
You get the measurement results
View of the CAD model saved as HSF file in MeasurLink with linked statistics
data
Note
You determine the information that is to be transferred to MeasurLink in
the "Statistics" tab of the "GEOPAK Settings" dialogue box. In the
PartManager on the "Settings" menu, click "Defaults for programs" to
open this dialogue box. For more detailed information refer to "Statistics
output".
Calling the command
There are two possibilities to call the command:
In CAT1000PS, the CMM Learn Mode having started. For more detailed
information refer to "Export HSF".
In the part program editor, CAT1000PS not having started. For more
detailed information refer to "Export HSF (CAT1000)".
In the "Contour Save" dialogue window in the list field under "Select Element",
you will find the contours you have measured so far. It is a part of the List of
Elements . Here, the number of contours is not limited.
Click the contour you want to store. If you do not see it in the displayed
zone, you can use the scroll bar to view the whole list.
Now enter the name of the file in the "Contour File" field together with the
path where you want to store the contour.
You can also click on the icon and store the file in the following
dialogue window (Windows conventions).
The file names must get the extension <.gws>. Otherwise, the program does not
recognise the special information contained in the file. The three letters g, w and
s come from "GEOPAK-Win Scanning".
Once you have stored the contour in such a file, you can use e.g. Word- or
Notepad to read, print, or modify the data. It is also possible to edit in these text
files (according to Windows conventions).
When creating a new template folder, this folder must be listed in the
directory "Layout". Otherwise you get an error message.
Template
In the list box "Template", all templates of the selected directory are
listed.
After the installation of MCOSMOS is completed, the folders
GEOPAK\Mitutoyo and CAT1000S\Mitutoyo contain some examples of
templates you can use.
If you select a template, a preview of the template will be displayed.
Number of Copies
In the "Number of Copies" list box, you define how many copies you want
to output.
In the list box, you see how many protocols have been requested at
last.
In which form the protocols are printed or stored is explained in the "Types of
Output".
Sort order
After you have assigned the position numbers, you can use the list box "Sort
order" to define if and how the tolerance comparisons shall be sorted.
XML-Format
This format is partially still in the making. XML is meant to offer you
multitudinous possibilities for processing your measurement data.
Output in Formats of Graphic Data File
• Bitmap
If you make this option, you get one or several bitmap files,
independently to the size of your protocol.
• JPEG graphics
If you make this option, you get one or several JPEG files,
independently to the size of your protocol.
• Metafile (EMF)
If the output must be in the Metafile format, you get one or
several Metafile files, independently to the size of your protocol.
Hint
These graphic data files are suitable for a problem-free integration of your
measurement data in presentations.
List Box for File Names
In the list box bottom right, you enter the file name of the protocol.
So it is possible for you to verify your protocol once more before printing. If your
protocol is alright, you will not have to leave the print preview again. You select
your template from the list and confirm. As a result, you obtain a screen-filling
preview from where you can print directly.
The inputs in the input fields "Name" and "Comment" are, subject to a relevant
template, included in the flexible protocol.
Hint
In contrast to the GEOPAK edit mode, you need not select a graphic type,
because in the learn mode, the function "Store graphic for template" is
linked to the graphic.
For more information, refer to " Flexible Graphic Protocols in the GEOPAK Part
program editor" and "Flexible Graphic Protocols and Graphic in the GEOPAK
learn mode".
Details for the operation can be found in the topic "Tolerance Graphics in the
Flexible Protocol".
Info windows can only be defined for the element graphics and the airfoil
analysis (MAFIS).
For detailed information refer to "Protocol output" and "Types of Output ".
In the command "Open protocol”, always ensure that you have selected
the correct template. For detailed information, refer to the topic Templates
of Graphic Windows.
Details for the operation can be found in the topic "Tolerance Graphics in the
Flexible Protocol".
Hint
The template is a layout or a manuscript for your protocol.
An example for a layout with a dialogue is the "Initial Sample Report of 1998" that
you can find in the list box.
Hint
For a better orientation, a preliminary drawing of the selected layout is
automatically displayed.
2D contour or...
Reset zoom
3D view
Learnable graphic commands: If you click on this icon, you can store in
another window commands in the part program such as
• "Actual Graphics Settings",
• "Print Window" and
• "Close Window".
Hint
If you click in the learn mode on the "close window symbol" of a
graphic window, the command "window close" will written into your part
program. If this part program runs off in the repeat mode, then this window
is closed automatically.
Print graphics: If you click this symbol, a printout of the current window
contents with the usual log data is created.
Activate the "Print Window" option, when the graphics is to be printed in the
repeat mode.
Activate the "Print Window" option, when the graphics is to be printed in
the repeat mode.
Only open graphic windows can be printed. In order for the element
graphics to be printed, it is necessary that in the repeat mode the function
"Window / Element Graphics" in the menu bar is activated.
To print the rest of the graphic windows it is necessary that the
diagram symbol is activated in the corresponding nominal-to-actual-
comparison.
Adjust the way your graphics is to be scaled in the printout.
Activate the "Close Window" option, when the graphic window which was
followed in performing the part program command in the repeat mode,
has to be closed.
Upon confirmation of your settings the part program command "Learnable
Graphic Commands" will be transferred into your part program.
19 Programming Tools
19.1 Programming Help Contents
Clicking on the topics in the below list, you will obtain the required information
about this topic.
Programming Help
Measurement Graphic / Measurement Sequence
Variables and Calculations
Definition of Variables
Input of Formula
Global and Local Variables
Input of Variables
Yes/No Variable
Store Variables to File
Store Variable in INI-File
Load Variable from INI-File
Load Variables from File
Transfer Actual CMM Position into Variable
Actual Temperature in Variable
Settings for Temperature Compensation
Check Temperature
Temperature Warning
Definition of String Variables
Input of String Variables
Store String Variables
Load String Variables
Store Text Variable in INI-File
Load Text Variable from INI-File
Formula Calculation
Overview: Operators and Functions
Scale factor
This only makes sense if you know in advance how many points you need.
If you want to keep measuring until you have reached the limits of your
element, you should deactivate this function. In this case, you should use
the icon "Automatic element finished" to tell GEOPAK that the
measurement has been finished.
Measurement Graphic: After you have activated the function, the element
you measure is continuously presented in the window "Measurement display".
Acoustic action: If you want, a voice can tell you what to do next; this is
especially useful for manual machines, or during manual alignment.
Call the function "Formula Calculation" via the symbol or the menu
"Calculate" and come to the "Define and Calculate Variables" dialogue
window.
Input the name you want for your variable (maximum 18 characters) into
the line with names of variables.
An expressive term makes easier finding the correct variable again and
increases the readability of your part program.
You should try to find a method which makes sense (also see topic )
Hint
For detailed information, also refer to the topic Global and Local Variables
.
Decimal Places
As the next step, define in the dialogue window "Define Variable and Calculate"
how many decimal places you need for this variable. The calculation will be done
with the best possible accuracy, but for the
• protocol,
• tolerance and the
• comparison queries
only the number of decimal places you have defined is taken into account.
You can find details in the topic Table of Operators and Functions .
In this dialogue window (top on the right), you find the symbol . You
can undo as many steps as you want.
You can use the function "Local definition" (see ill. below) to define that certain
variables are only operative in a part of the part program. If, for example, a
variable is defined as a local variable in the main program, this variable is
unknown in a subprogram. Therefore, a variable that has been defined in a
subprogram may have the same name as a variable in the main program and
does not, for example, overwrite a global variable of the main program. It is used,
however, in the sub-program.
This means that the variable locally defined in the subprogram has a higher
priority than the global variable.
When you click the selection button, the element and the selected
parameter are entered in the "Formula" text box.
Formula calculation with nominal values
In GEOPAK you can use the command "Predefine element" to define the nominal
values or to transfer these values from CAT1000. For more information, see
"Input of Nominal Values for Elements".
If you want to refer to these nominal values in the formula calculation, proceed as
follows:
To make the "Nominal value" check box visible, select the "Show button:
Pre-define element" check box in the GEOPAK settings in the
PartManager. For more information, see "Dialogues".
To open the "Input variable" dialogue box click on this icon or choose
"Calculate / Input variable" from the menu bar.
In the "Input variable" dialogue box, proceed as follows:
Simple input: Click on this icon if you wish to enter one variable
only.
• In the Text for dialogue text box enter the dialogue text. The
dialogue text describes the information to be entered in a part
program dialogue.
• Make your entries in the Name of variable, Suggestion, Lower
limit, Upper limit and Decimals text boxes. Make sure to use a
significant name of variable.
Hint
For detailed information also refer to the topic Global and Local Variables
.
• ... click on this icon to choose from the displayed .udl files
that you have created before.
You will find more detailed information in the file "Specifications
for Layout Dialogue Boxes" (dia_lay_e.pdf) on the MCOSMOS
CD-ROM.
• As it is possible to create several dialogues in one file enter the
name of the dialogue in the "Name of dialogue" text box.
You can enter up to 18 characters for the variable name. All letters, digits
and the underline are admissible. The variable name may not start with a
digit.
Hint
For detailed information also refer to the topic Global and Local Variables
.
Hints
Non-existing files, sectors or variables are created.
The variables in the text box at the top and the INI-variables may have
different names.
The contents of the variables are assigned to the contents of the INI-
variables.
In this dialogue window you can also opt for the Local Definition of
Variables.
This entry is used as basis for the variable name. A number is added to this
variable name. This number is incremented with each variable name.
If you leave the "Use load filter" box empty, the name of the string variable is
automatically built by "STR" and a consecutive number.
Example of a string variable file without string variables
In the "Use load filter" box, you have entered "Info".
If you click "Ok" to confirm, the following string variables are assigned to the
string variable names during the running part program:
Info0=First text
Info1=Second text
Info2=First information
Info3=Second information
If you want to load string variables from a specific file section, click
the "Load from line number" button.
In the "Load from line number" box, enter the line number.
In the "No. of lines" box, enter a number to determine the number of lines
to be read from the variable file.
Note
When using this function it is important to have good knowledge of the
structure of the variable file.
To make sure that the program waits for the current information during the
next program execution, click the "Delete file" button. The file is deleted after
reading.
If you want to select a variable file only during the program execution, click
the "Ask in repeat mode" button. Then, the part program will be stopped during its
execution and you can select a variable file in the "Load string variables from file"
dialogue box.
See also
Global and Local Variables
Be careful when typing the name: if you misspell the name, a new (wrong)
variable is created under this name and you will probably use this variable
by mistake.
Enter the variable name for the CMM position in the "Position X, Y and Z"
lists.
In the "Rotary table angle 1" and "Rotary table angle 2" lists, enter the
variable names of the rotary table position.
When you select "Rotary table angle 2", the current rotation axis is stored
into the relevant variable.
Note
If no second rotation axis is available or an index table has been
configured, "Rotary table angle 2" is not available.
"Rotary table angle 2" is available if it has already been preselected in the
part program command and if the dialogue box is open in the part
program editor. This is also the case when the rotary table does not have
a second rotation axis.
Select co-ordinate system
Click "Machine co-ordinates" if you want to load the position in the
CMM co-ordinate system.
If the button is not selected, the position is loaded in the part co-ordinate
system.
Click "OK" and the current position is stored into the variable.
Note
When you enter a variable name, you can either use an already existing
name or a new name. If you select a new name, a new variable is
created.
Related topics
Global and Local Variables
Of course, the workpiece might just as well have been screwed on (see ill.
below).
Basic principle: The reference point is always the point which remains, despite an
expansion or a contraction, always exactly at the position where it has been from
the start.
When rotating a rotary table, it is imperative to use the centre point of the
rotary table as the reference point.
When, for example, you are moving to the same co-ordinates despite an
expansion of the workpiece, this might result in that you are not moving to the
exact workpiece co-ordinates, because the workpiece has become bigger in the
meantime. Thus, you are measuring the workpiece at an unmeant position. To
avoid this, you can select this option. Here, the correct co-ordinates are
calculated and moved to. Example:
Activate the option by clicking the button and entering the required temperature
range. To guarantee a safe measurement, you have to select a range of the
specified machine temperature.
After you have entered the range, you can select one of the following two options:
1. Wait until inside limits
With this option, you can enter a waiting time during which the temperature
should have gone back to the required range. By doing so you avoid an
instantaneous error message. You can, for example, enter two minutes when you
know that the workpiece will be cooled down within this time. During the waiting
time, GEOPAK displays a Temperature Warning . If the temperature is not within
the limits allowed after the specified waiting time, then an error is set in the repeat
mode and the part program is stopped.
2. Set error if out of limits
With this option, an error message is immediately displayed in repeat mode when
the limits are exceeded.
Note
In the learn mode, you will get a warning message in both cases. You can
ignore this warning if you want to proceed.
This note also applies for the following two options.
When working with a start temperature, you can enter a deviation to be adhered
to. By doing so you can ensure that the calculation temperature does not differ
too much from the workpiece temperature. This applies, for example, to a small
workpiece with a small expansion coefficient.
In this section you enter the acceptable deviation from the start temperature. With
regard to the other options, see above.
In this dialogue box you can select the scale temperature to be controlled. This
makes sense when the measurements in one axis must be particularly accurate.
The displayed limits depend on the CMM. Usually this is the range within which
the CMM is specified, e.g. for a LEGEX 776, the range will be 18°C to 22°C. This
option ensures that the CMM is working within the temperature range of the
measurement device. Only in this temperature range it is guaranteed that the
CMM keeps to the specific length deviation.
Although you can see the values in learn mode, the values are not added to the
part program.
With regard to the other options, see above.
To open the "Input string variable" dialogue box click on this icon or
choose "Calculate / Input string variable" from the menu bar.
In the "Input string variable" dialogue box, proceed as follows:
Simple input: Click on this icon if you wish to enter one variable
only.
• In the Text for dialogue text box enter the dialogue text. The
dialogue text describes the information to be entered in a part
program dialogue.
• Make your entries in the Name of string variable, Input length
and Suggestion text boxes. Make sure to use a significant name
of string variable.
Select Dialog-Designer files
From dialogue file: Click on this icon if you wish to enter several string
variables in a dialogue box.
• In the Filename text box type the file name or...
You can enter up to 18 characters for the variable name. All letters, digits
and the underline are admissible. The variable name may not start with a
digit.
Hint
For detailed information also refer to the topic Global and Local Variables
.
Example:
Use in a part program the variable names SCOORX, SCOORY and
SCOORZ, for example, for a start point. To store these three string
variables, enter the string "?COOR*" in the input field "Filter for storing".
Define string variable name
Make sure that you define meaningful names for your string variables. Meaningful
names will allow you to immediately recognise content and task of the string
variable and will facilitate the filtering of the variables.
For information about how to define string variables, go to the topic "Define String
Variables".
Note
The string variable name is always on the left of the equal sign.
Example of a file with string variables
A file of string variables with the following content is available:
Text1=First text
Text2=Second text
InfoOne=First information
InfoTwo=Second information
Example of a file without string variables
A file of string variables with the following content is available:
First text
Second text
First information
Second information
If you want to load string variables from a specific file section, click
the "Load from line number" button.
In the "Load from line number" box, enter the line number.
In the "No. of lines" box, enter a number to determine the number of lines
to be read from the variable file.
Note
When using this function it is important to have good knowledge of the
structure of the variable file.
To make sure that the program waits for the current information during the
next program execution, click the "Delete file" button. The file is deleted after
reading.
If you want to select a variable file only during the program execution, click
the "Ask in repeat mode" button. Then, the part program will be stopped during its
execution and you can select a variable file in the "Load string variables from file"
dialogue box.
See also
Global and Local Variables
19.26.5 Constants
Spelling Description
PI Pi (3,14159)
E Euler’s constant (2.71828...)
Spelling Description
CO Cone
CY Cylinder
LN Line
PL Plane
SP Sphere
DI Distance
ANG Angle
Element components
The values of the element features depend on the unit (inch or mm).
Spelling Description
X,Y,Z Location
I,J,K Direction (cosine format)
A,B,C Direction (α,β,γ)(angles in degrees)
RCylXY, Cylindrical co-ordinate system, radius
RCylYZ,
RCylZX
RSph Spherical co-ordinate system, radius
PhiXY, Cylindrical & spherical co-ordinate system,
PhiYZ, angle ϕ
PhiZX
ThetaX, Spherical co-ordinate system, angle ϑ
ThetaY,
ThetaZ
H Only cylinder, height
L Length
R Radius
D Diameter
Di Distance from origin (plane & line)
R2 Big radius of ellipse
D2 Big diameter of ellipse
CA Cone angle (degree)
ChA Half cone angle (degree)
Rng Range (form of element)
Sig Sigma
Ang Only for angle: calculated angle
XY,YZ,ZX Only for angle: projected angle
Di Only for distance: calculated distance
MaxNo Highest used element number
PntMin.Di Minimum distance from calculated element
PntMax.Di Maximum distance from calculated element
PntMin.Nu Index number of point with minimum distance
m
PntMax.N Index number of point with maximum distance
um
In the circle with the memory number 3 access the number of the measurement
point with minimal distance CR[3].PntMin.Num = Number
In the cylinder with the memory number 8 access the maximum distance of
measured points CY[8].PntMax.Di = Distance
Further Element Data
General
CR.LastNo Returns the last handled element number of a kind of
element.
CR[1].NoOfPts Returns the number of points of the specified element.
This works with each element.
Spelling Description
D Diameter of probe
Rng Range (form)
Sig Sigma
Tree Number of probe tree
Num Number of actual probe
IsScanPrb Returns 1 if a scanning probe is connected
SwivelLen Swivel length
MaxNo Highest probe number used
NoOfDef Number of defined probes
MBall.D Master ball diameter
MBall.R Master ball radius
MBall.X Master ball X position
MBall.Y Master ball Y position
MBall.Z Master ball Z position
TreeOffs.X Offset of actual tree in X to tree 1
TreeOffs.Y Offset of actual tree in Y to tree 1
TreeOffs.Z Offset of actual tree in Z to tree 1
LastCalHou Hours since last calibration was done,
rs Integer
LastCalDay Days since last calibration was done, Float
s
Exist 0: Probe in probe tree does not exist
Spelling Description
Di Distance from origin (plane & line)
R2 Small radius of ellipse
D2 Small diameter of ellipse
CA Cone angle (degree)
ChA Half cone angle (degree)
Rng Range (form of element)
Sig Sigma
Ang Only for angle, calculated angle
XY,YZ,ZX Only for angle, projected angle
AngXY,AngYZ,AngZX Only for angle, projected angle, these terms only exist
for compatibility with the distance terms
DiXYZ Only for distance, calculated distance
DiX, DiY, DiZ Components of the distance calculation
Spelling Description
CNC.SD Safety distance of CMMC
CS.Num Actual co-ordinate system number
Sys.IOBit[x] Status (0/1) of IO-Bit no x
x from 0 to 99
If you need a temperature maximum or temperature minimum, you can use one
of the following formulas.
Sys.TCalcMax Maximum calculation temperature (of workpiece)
Sys.TCalcMin Minimum calculation temperature (of workpiece)
Sys.TActMax Maximum actual temperature (of workpiece)
Sys.TActMin Minimum actual temperature (of workpiece)
Sys.TXScaleMa Maximum CMM x-scale temperature
x
Sys.TXScaleMin Minimum CMM x-scale temperature
Sys.TYScaleMa Maximum CMM y-scale temperature
x
Sys.TYScaleMin Minimum CMM y-scale temperature
Sys.TZScaleMa Maximum CMM z-scale temperature
x
Sys.TZScaleMin Minimum CMM z-scale temperature
Sys.TScaleMax Maximum of any CMM scale temperature
Sys.TScaleMin Minimum of any CMM scale temperature
Week-days
Spelling Description
Sys.Date.Do Week-day as per ISO 8601
W
Sys.Date.Do Week-day as per current user settings
Wu
Sys.Date.Do Week-day as per system settings
Ws
Week numbers
Spelling Description
Sys.Date.W Week as per ISO 8601
Sys.Date.Wu Week as per current user settings
Spelling Description
Sys.Date.Ws Week as per system settings
System Time
Spelling Description
SYS.CT Current 'C' time, seconds from 1.01.1970 UTC.
19.26.17 Examples
Calculate the polar angle from circle centre to x axis and assign the
variable "Pangle" to it
Pangll=ATN(CR[1].Y/CR[1].X)
Calculate the area of the circle with the memory number 4
FL=Pi/4*SQR(CR[4].D)
Assign a value to variable var2
var2=3.00
Calculate double the amount of var2
var3=var2 * 2
Remarks:
Tol.Count.InTol + Tol.Count.OOT = Tol.Count.NoOfTol
Tol.Count.InCtrl + Tol.Count.OOC + Tol.Count.OOT = Tol.Count.NoOfTol
Tol.Count.InCtrl + Tol.Count.OOC = Tol.Count.InTol
Tol.Count.OOCUpper + Tol.Count.OOCLower = Tol.Count.OOC
Tol.Count.OOTUpper + Tol.Count.OOTLower = Tol.Count.OOT
Every tolerance comparison is counted, that is, a part program command
"Tolerance comparison" can include more than tolerance comparisons.
In most of the cases the scale factor is identical for all co-ordinates, for many
freeform surfaces, as well. Due to specific properties of workpieces produced e.g.
by an injection moulding process, it is quite possible that material shrinkage or
expansion is not identical in all directions.
The option "Different scale factor for each axis" cannot be used in
calculating formulae.
The "Undo" command is not supported. In the case of an error occurring in
the learn mode you would have to set the scale factor once more.
Applying the scale factor to CNC movement commands Activating this function
means that all CNC measurement commands and all CNC movement commands
will be calculated with the selected scale factor. If you enter a scale factor of e.g.
0.8 in the "Scale factor" dialogue box the effects on the part program command
"Move" are the following: Entering X=10, Y=20 and Z=30 as target position in the
"Move" dialogue box
means that the CMM moves to the position X=12.5, Y=25.0 and 37.5 as the CNC
co-ordinates are multiplicated with the reciprocal value of the scale factor. The
scale factor will not be considered for the display of the current CMM position.
Set scaling centre into origin
Clicking this option causes the scaling centre to be set into the origin of the
workpiece. This is not advisable for offset-defined co-ordinate systems (RPS
alignment, e.g. automotive parts).
In the present example showing any workpiece (2), the scaling centre (3) is not
located in the origin of the co-ordinate system (1).
Use scale factor for CAT1000S
For the "Scale only element point" option the button is deactivated. The same is
true in case you have not installed the dongle option for CAT1000S.
CAT1000S can assume the scale factor and the scaling centre only in
case it applies to all axes, i.e. when all elements are to be scaled.
For points measured with different scale factors for each axis and
required to be transferred to CAT1000S, use Position Tolerance.
Please note that in this case it is your sole responsibility to define the
nominal values.
20 Sequence Control
20.1 Table of Contents
Clicking on the topics in the below table, you will obtain the required information
about this subject.
Loops
Branches
Subprograms
Delete last step
Error While Executing Command
Comment line
Programmable stop
Show picture
Clear picture
Play sound
Send e-mail
Send SMS
Create Directory
Copy File
Delete File
Input Head Data
Set Head Data Field
Sublot Input
Set Sublot
Open/Close Window
Program call
IO Condition (IO Communication)
20.2 Loops
Definition
The loops are used to repeat the same or similar procedures several times in
succession. It happens that your measurement task requires, e.g. to save
measured elements in different element storage areas. For this purpose, we have
installed a counter, which is increasing the number of the element storage by
one at each loop flow.
All dialogues showing the symbol "Loop Counter" (on the left) provide you
direct access to the function "Loops".
When you want to access the same element at each time the loop is run,
make sure that you de-activate the loop counter.
When you want to access an additional element at each time the loop is
run, make sure that you activate the loop counter
If this is the case, the counter will increment by one at any flow in
progress, beginning from the number entered from time to time.
Symbol or Special Character
Via the symbol, the loop indicator can be immediately used in the
dialogues e.g. for tolerance comparisons, in the element storage or for storage of
contours.
It is also possible to realise free inputs via the special characters "@LC", e.g.
when
entering file names,
when entering formula calculation or even
when you input a text.
Procedure
You come to the loop functions via the symbols or the menu bar
"Program / Loops (Loop Start / Loop End)".
In the window "Beginning of Loop", you determine the "Number of
Executions".
This can also be realised through variables (see details of the topic
"Definition of Variables").
20.3 Branches
If, in an existing part program, you want to carry out individual instructions only in
certain conditions, you can do that via install "Branches". The branches can only
be created in the GEOPAK Editor.
Cf. details of topic "Branches" in the GEOPAK Editor.
20.4 Subprograms
20.4.1 Definition and Types
There are two reasons to apply sub-programs:
You want to divide up (structure) a long part program into blocks making
sense and giving a clear overview.
You want to hold self-repeating program runs in a sub-program in order to
use it again. In these cases, especially variables are offered, with which
you adapt an existing sub-program to the actual situation.
Example: Sub-program for bore pictures with rims having four or five
bores.
Sub-programs are separated into two program types.
• Sub-programs, which are related to a parts
• Sub-programs, which can be used from several parts (global)
The creation and administration of the global programs is realised in the sub-
program management (see details in the PartManager under topic
"Administration of Sub-Program").
Activate the symbol and inform the program via the radio buttons where the
sub-program is located (library etc.).
If you modify variables in the sub-programs you also modify them for
the main program.
Hint
To impede this, store the variables at the sub-program start. Before
terminating the sub-program, again load the variables.
When this dialogue appears - usually unexpectedly - there are four options
available:
Repeat command: If you select this option, the last used dialogue opens.
In this dialogue you can check again your last entries. The measurements
you have performed up to this stage are still valid.
Search for the picture via the symbol according to Windows conventions
and confirm. The picture will appear in the "Show Picture" dialogue box.
Note
If, in the following, you call an element and confirm, the picture will be
overwritten as a default setting in the "Measurement Display" window.
You can avoid this in the element window by clicking the button
"Graphics of Meas.".
If the picture is displayed too small, you can change the size by "dragging"
the frame of the dialogue window.
If you execute the function "Window / Store position and status", the
position and the size of the dialogue window are stored.
Via the symbol above to the right ("Test") in the "Play Sound" window, you
can hear the file to the test.
Hint
Depending on the used e-mail programs (e.g. newer versions of Outlook)
you might possibly need to prefix an "SMTP:" to the actual e-mail
address.
Example:
SMTP:[email protected].
This step is required if the e-mail can not be served despite a valid e-mail
address. Usually you will receive a message that one of your e-mail accounts had
not been able to send the message to this recipient.
Use this function to copy the source file under a new name in another or a new
folder. The procedure follows Windows conventions.
If you use the option "Overwrite existing file ", no error message is issued
if the file already exists.
You can also use the option "Delete source file after copying".
A target folder must have already been created before copying.
Subfolders are not included in the copying.
Files can only be copied in learn and repeat mode and not in the edit
mode.
Use wildcards
For copying, only use asterisks ("*") as wildcards or you will receive an error
message.
You can use asterisks to copy one or more files. To identify the files to be copied
by wildcards, you can use the following combinations:
*
*.*
Name.*
*.file name extension
Hint
It is possible that error messages are displayed. However, these error
messages are self-explanatory (e.g.: "Most probably you have not the
required access rights" or "Invalid target directory").
In this way the part program executed the functions you have entered in
the dialog "HEAD Data Editor" earlier in the PartManager.
If you proceed this way, no further action will be required later with a
function asking for head data (e.g. Beginning of File Format). The head
data dialogue will not appear again.
The head data required for input is the information defined in the PartManager
with the option "Input Head Data before Printing" (for details, refer to the topic
"Head Data: Definition ", "Editor for Head Data: Overview" and Dialogue Window
"Editor for Head Data" ).
For Example a dialogue of the following type will appear:
If no head data is defined, no dialogue and no error message will show up.
If no head data with the option "Input Head Data before Printing"
is defined in the PartManager, no head data dialogue and no error dialogue will
show up.
The dialogue "Structured Sublot" performs a self-check of its input data. For the
standard input, there is only a check for maximum length. If you enter less than
40 characters, the field will automatically be filled with blanks.
An error message will appear only in case the user has interrupted the input
("Sublot input was interrupted"). In the learn mode, there is no error message.
The command is not learnt.
Refer also to "Set Sublot".
If data is entered in the learn mode with variables, the result will automatically be
analysed and displayed under the input line. The remaining characters of every
sublot are filled with blanks.
You should also know
Structured sublot: In order to identify the sublot to be set, you enter the
number of the sublot field and the new contents of the field. Should the
sublot field to be set no exist, the screen shows an error message
("Sublot not existing").
Set complete sublot: If the option "Set Structured Sublot" is disabled the
whole sublot will be set.
Default settings: If a structured sublot has been defined the default
setting of the option "Set Structured Sublot" is enabled. Otherwise this
function is disabled and can not be selected in learn mode.
To get to the function and the dialogue, use the menu bar / Program /
Open/close window. You can use the function to accelerate the part program
execution, i.e. you can switch off options to open them again at the end of the
part program.
A typical example would be to switch off the graphics of elements at the start of
the part program. After the execution of the part program you can switch on the
graphics of elements again to view the result.
The first option means that the current condition of the window remains
unchanged.
If you want to continue with your part program, you have to exit the third-
party program. This is only the case, when the third-party program is
started directly, for example, Notepad.exe.
If a document name is selected in the "Program name" box, for example,
"Report.txt", then GEOPAK automatically opens the application for the file
name extension *.TXT registered in Windows. In this case, it is not
possible to stop the part program while the third-party program is running.
In the "Working directory" box, enter the path to be used by the third-party
program. Make sure you use the correct spelling, for example,
\PROG\DATA\....
In the "Program parameter" box, enter further parameters if required by
the third-party program.
Make sure you use a blank when you enter the individual parameters.
21 Input Instruments
21.1 Possibilities of Text Input / Data Name
It is also possible to enter defined variable information into all boxes in which you
normally make text inputs: Protocol headlines, commentary lines, text lines (e.g.
"Text to Printer"), as well as names of files, elements and variables.
Three important examples
If you want to output, for example the current time of day you can do that
over the output text by previously entering the text "Now it is @time o’
clock". That leads for example to the output: "Now it is 13:45:48 o’ clock".
If you want to create your own ASCII-file with the results to each program
run, you can input in the learn mode with the "File Format Beginning"
function as file names for example "[email protected]". That leads after the
first program run to "Result1.asc". Then to "Result 2.asc" etc. RC stands
for Repeat Counter and begins with the number, that you input as an
originally-protocol number namely in the dialogue window directly after
start of the repeat mode.
If you want to call variables within a loop via the loop indicator you input
as a variable name, e.g. var@LC. This leads in the first loop flow to
variable var1, in the second to var2 etc.
For further information about all possibilities of modifying the texts in the string
coding, please refer to your MCOSMOS-CD-ROM under "Documents", file
"UM_string_code_g(e).pdf".
Further possibilities of input:
Single Selection
Group Selection
Our example
In our following example, the line is the connection element.
In the dialogue window "Connection Element Line", you are presented, on
the left-hand side, all elements build up to now.
Bear in mind that with the sequence of the circles you define the line's
sense of direction.
With the connection element calculated using this method, you proceed in the
same way as with any other element
You should know
In case of a measured element automatic projection into one plane is
possible, due to the fact that the material side is known.
In case of a connection element the material side is not known; hence
automatic projection is not possible. So you have to define the projection
plane.
For this purpose you have at the left border of the respective dialogue windows
"Connection Element ..." the planes XY, YZ and ZX.
22 Special Programs
22.1 ASCII-GEOPAK-Converter
ASCII files always serve to enable a data exchange between computers when
the exchange between files of different formats is either not possible or not
required.
In particular, our ASCII-GEOPAK Converter serves to create a GEOPAK part
program from an agw-file (formatted ASCII file). The term "formatted" in this
context means that the command structure is prescribed (see example illustration
from the ASCII specification below). You will find this ASCII specification on your
MCOSMOS-CD under "Documentation / GEOPAK / pp_ascii_e.pdf".
Hints
The agw-files used in GEOPAK contain all part commands concerning GEOPAK
– but only these and no other internal commands.
Import
To convert an ASCII file to GEOPAK, proceed as follows:
In the PartManager, on the menu bar, click CMM / ASCII-GEOPAK-
Converter.
In the subsequent window, pick the corresponding file following the
Windows conventions.
After you have clicked the file, GEOPAK generates a part program using
the commands.
If the part program already exists, a message is displayed and you must
change the name of the part program.
For generating and exporting a part program in ASCII format, that means as an
agw-file, see "Export Part Program".
The file type must always be the type "PARTPRG". The maximum length
of the directory name is eight characters (DOS convention).
After conversion, the part programs are shown in the part list.
In the GEOPAK editor, you get all information about the part programs including
the comments. The comments refer to the settings either you have made in the
dialogue GEOPAK-3 GEOPAK Configuration or to Mitutoyo settings.
For converting further GEOPAK-3 part programs, use the dialogue for conversion
(see picture detail below).
You will find detailed information about this topic, also about its restrictions, on
your MCOSMOS-CD (documentation / GEOPAK) under the title
"si_geo_3_win_g.pdf" (German), "si_geo_3_win_e.pdf" (English) or
"si_geo_3_win_f.pdf" (French).
23 Repeat Mode
23.1 Repeat Mode: Table of Contents
Introduction
Temperature Coefficient in Repeat Mode
Cancel Repeat Mode
Repeat Mode with Offset
Settings
Repeat Mode: Start Editor
Display of the archive name of the later evaluation including date and time
Note
If you start GEOPAK from the RemoteManager you can optionally select
to store the data for relearn or not.
This setting is made in the GEOWIN.INI file. Under [RemoteManager] you
change the variable StoreRelearnData (0 or 1). The GEOWIN.INI file
is in the MCOSMOS installation directory in the INI folder.
File:...\INI\GEOWIN.INI
[RemoteManager]
StoreRelearnData=0
0: Store relearn data OFF (default setting)
1: Store relearn data ON
There is a possibility to set the values by means of two additional part
programs. These part programs can be named, for example,
"SwitchOnRelearn" and "SwitchOffRelearn" and can also be started from
the RemoteManager.
Offset
The offset only applies if you repeat the part program more than once. For more
information, see "Repeat Mode with Offset"
The "Write measurement points to XML file" button is only available when
[RecordPoints] ShowRecordOption=1 is set in GEOWIN.INI.
An existing XML file is replaced without warning.
23.2.1 Statistics
If one or several features are missing while creating a part program, you can
use the option "Only feature declaration" later (see button on the left). In this case
the statistic button must be selected. When both buttons are selected, no
measurement values are transferred to the statistical program.
You can also make the settings in the "Structured Sublot" dialogue box.
Measurement is either in millimeters or in inch.
Tolerance comparison
Uncertainty
The uncertainty is displayed with an additional decimal.
Flexible report
In the flexible report use the token "Uncertainty" to output the uncertainty.
Mitutoyo report
Using the templates "Mitutoyo Standard Report" and "Mitutoyo Standard Report
Letter" it is possible to output the uncertainty for each tolerance comparison.
Existing part programs
You can use your part programs without conversion. Individual templates have to
be adjusted to output the uncertainty.
See also
M-VCMM
Repeat Mode M-VCMM
In the part list, you can also activate multiple parts for the repeat mode. The parts
are automatically processed one after the other.
If the number of repeats you have entered is bigger than the number of parts, the
repeat mode can be cancelled at any time.
Further topics
Introduction Repeat Mode
Cancel Repeat Mode
Repeat Mode with Offset
You have to pause the part program before you can cancel it. To do
so, click the "Pause" button.
You must create the part program in a way that the start position of a part
can be reached from the end position of the previous part.
Proceed as follows:
In the upper part of the dialogue, enter the "number of executions" in one
row and the offset between the parts. You will find the offset value in the
documentation (drawings etc.) pertaining to your pallet. Furthermore you
can use the icons at the top left of the dialogue to determine which
machine axis is positioned parallel to the row.
Activate the lower part of the dialogue by clicking the icon. Here, you
enter the total number of rows or columns that shall be measured. Here,
you also enter the offset between the rows.
For more information, refer to the topic Volume Compensation .
Further topics
Introduction Repeat Mode
Temperature Coefficient
Cancel Repeat Mode
You have to pause the part program before you can execute it step by
step. To do so, click the "Pause" button.
In the "Program jump" dialogue box select the program line from which
you want to continue the part program execution and click "OK" to
confirm.
The "Program jump (Status at destination line)" dialogue box appears.
23.11 Settings
In this dialogue box you define the number of decimals that are assigned to the
graphic display of the machine position and of the last element measurement in
the graphics of elements.
For the machine position, you set the minimum number of decimals. This number
is also used for the graphics of elements. The changed inputs will become
effective after a restart of the repeat mode. This setting has no effects on other
outputs, for example, the ASCII output.
The setting is performed separately for millimetres or inch.
24 ROUNDPAK-CMM
24.1 ROUNDPAK-CMM: Table of Contents
Task
Alignment
Steps
Dialogue "Pass Data to ROUNDPAK-CMM"
Analysable Elements
Not Analysable Elements
Error Messages
Learn and Repeat Mode
24.2 Task
ROUNDPAK-CMM is a program for the analysis of roundness that complements
the geometry module GEOPAK of MCOSMOS.
For the analysis of roundness usually a special CNC roundness testing
instrument is used in combination with the analysis software ROUNDPAK. With
huge workpieces, however, this combination can often not be employed because
the measurement range is not sufficient.
Therefore we have developed the program ROUNDAK-CMM. The combination of
ROUNDPAK-CMM and GEOPAK allows you to test roundness and cylindricity of
huge workpieces.
Prerequisite
For testing the roundness and cylindricity of huge workpieces with ROUNDPAK-
CMM and GEOPAK, you require a CMM with a scanning probe system.
24.3 Alignment
For the evaluation with ROUNDPAK-CMM you have to create the evaluation co-
ordinate system analogical to the measurement co-ordinate system of
ROUNDPAK. The axis of the element to be evaluated (e.g. cylinder) has to be
the Z axis of the co-ordinate system.
Working steps
Create your standard workpiece co-ordinate system.
Measure a circle near the bottom of your workpiece (see picture) and
calculate this circle as Gauss element.
Measure a circle near the top of your workpiece (see picture) and
calculate this circle as Gauss element.
Create a connection element line out of the centre points of the two
circles.
Re-align your GEOPAK workpiece co-ordinate system. Use the
connection element line as Z axis of your ROUNDPAK Evaluation Co-
ordinate System (RECS).
Now the elements to be evaluated in ROUNDPAK-CMM can be
measured.
24.4 Steps
Before you start working with ROUNDPAK-CMM you have to create the co-
ordinate system. See also "Alignment".
Working Steps
ROUNDPAK-CMM and GEOPAK are interacting. In simplified terms, the working
steps can be described as follows:
You measure elements in GEOPAK. Part program commands are
created.
If you want to use a filter you work either in GEOPAK or in ROUNDPAK-
CMM. If you use the filter in both programs the evaluation is incorrect. If
you want to compare the results of GEOPAK and ROUNDPAK-CMM you
have to use the filter in GEOPAK.
The measurement data (measurement points, elements and part program
commands) are passed to ROUNDPAK-CMM.
The evaluation of the measurement data is performed in ROUNDPAK-
CMM.
The results can be output either in GEOPAK or in ROUNDPAK-CMM.
• Graphics and results of ROUNDPAK-CMM can be used in
GEOPAK for the output. For example, ROUNDPAK-CMM
graphics can be used in the ProtocolDesigner in GEOPAK.
• However, the output of results is also possible in ROUNDPAK-
CMM without GEOPAK.
Select elements in the "available" list and pass these elements to the
"selected" list.
Element Line; horizontal to basic plane and with reference to the axis of rotation
These two cylinders are not in a coaxial position. In this case you get an error
message.
The two cylinders are in a coaxial position. These elements can be evaluated
with ROUNDPAK-CMM.
25 SCANPAK
25.1 Scanning-Contents
Introduction
Measurement Methods: Overview
Start of SCANNING
Manual CMM
With Touch Trigger
With Fixed Probe
Element Contur
Start in GEOPAK
Selection of Points Contour
Contour Connection Element
Intersection Point (Contour with Line / Circle / Point)
Contour Import/Export
Contents
Principles
Import Contour
Export Contour
Technical Specification
DXF Format
VDAFS Format
VDAIS (IGES) Format
NC Formats
Special formats
Error Messages
Manipulate Contour
Contents
Manipulate Contour
Scale Contour
Edit Contour Point
Mirror Contour
Move / Rotate Contour
Create Offset-Contour
Idealize Contour
Change Point Sequence
Sort Sequence of Contour Points
Fit in Circle with fixed Diameter
Middle Contour
Prepare Leading Contour Activate Leading Contour Scanning with Guiding
Contour Loop Counter
Scanning of a Nominal Contour Define Approach Direction Recalculate
Contour from Memory / Copy
Delete Contour Points
Delete Points of a Contour
Delete via "Single Selection"
Delete with the Co-Ordinates
Delete with Radius
Delete via an Angle Area
Reduce Number of Points
Delete Linear Parts of a Contour
Reduce Neighboured Points
Delete Point Intervals from Contour
Clean Contour
Delete Contour Loops
Delete Reversing Paths from Contour
Delete Double Contour Points
Min. and Max. Point
Graphics of Elements
Contour View
Display Sub Elements of a Contour
Circles as Partial Circle Display
Contour Point Selection by Keyboard
Multi-Colour Contour Display
Contour Display as Lines and/or Points
25.2 Introduction
The option "Scanning" as part of our GEOPAK base program provides the
function that allows you to
scan contours and freeform surfaces
realise nominal actual comparisons with contours
calculate geometrical elements at the contour after scanning
import contours from or to import them to external systems.
In principle, all the functions comprised by the GEOPAK base program of are at
your disposal, from learn mode via the repeat mode to graphical representation
or output. This online help provides you, in particular, information on the specific
features of scanning. For your guidance, use the table of contents or the index.
Manual CMM
Scanning with touch trigger probe
Scanning with fixed probe
CMM with CNC
Touch trigger Scanning
Scanning with measuring probe
In each of these cases, you have the possibility of selecting between
Measurement with specified start and end points. Using automatic start
and end, you can assure the repeatability, also in manual mode.
Measurement without specified of start-end points. This option is
preferably used for single and learn mode. Perhaps you want to get a first
impression of the contour.
25.4.1 Symbols
Measurement and theoretic element. Activate alternatively one of
the two symbols and confirm.
With "Measure", you come to the next dialogue window "Manual
Scanning" or CNC Scanning. The decisive criterion is the type of CMM at
your disposal, or whether you have activated the CNC function.
Via the second symbol, you can load a theoretical contour (nominal
contour). In the following search window, you select your file according to
the known Windows conventions. This can be a file with the "gws"
extension. This is short for "GEOPAK-Win Scanning". To find further
formats, please proceed as follows:
In the "Contour" window, open the file type list via the symbol.
Select by mouse click from this list the file type required.
The contour is loaded into the conventional memory. It is recorded in the
element list, in the result box (information such as plane, closed or open
contour, number of measured points) and as a graphics. This nominal
contour is the pre-requisite for a comparison of nominal and actual values.
Automatic element finished. If you activate this symbol, also the element is
finished upon completion of the measurement.
If you want to work using a start and end point, you have to activate the
functions with the symbol. You can select between the three co-ordinate system
types (for details see under the topic "Types of Co-ordinate System"), and, in
each case, you
enter the values in the text fields, or
Below the "end point" you can select the "Closed contour" with a click on the
symbol. The first measurement point is automatically used as the end point.
By a mouse-click on the symbol (on the left) you cause the probe radius
compensation to be automatically performed at the end of measurement.
Via one of the three "Plane" symbols - in the present case, the YZ
plane is activated - you set the CMM to the plane in which compensation shall
take place.
Make sure that the probe is contacting the workpiece surface and that it is
evenly guided along this surface during point measurement.
Start the point measurement with a trigger signal from the foot switch.
Exit the point measurement with a second trigger signal.
As an alternative to using the foot switch, the start and end point for the
point measurement can be defined with the co-ordinate text fields.
You can either
input the co-ordinates for the X, Y and Z axis into the text fields, or
Under the item "end point" you can select the "closed contour" with a click
on the symbol. The first measurement point is automatically used as the end
point.
When clicking the symbol (on the left), compensation of probe radius is
automatically carried out at the end of the measurement.
Via one of the three "Plane" symbols - in the present case, the YZ
plane is activated - you set the CMM to the plane, in which compensation shall
take place.
After the point measurement has been completed, the program waits for a trigger
signal from the foot switch. This point serves to determine the compensation
direction (see picture below) and needs to be positioned on the "non material
side" of the tangent through the last contour point.
1 Start
2 Stop
3 Dummy point on the right side
4 Dummy point on the wrong side
25.6.1.1 Procedure
You can start the part program command by clicking the "Contour"
button in the GEOPAK CMM learn mode.
In the "Element contour" dialogue box, make sure to select one after
another the functions "Measurement" and
"Measure automatic".
With the "Autom. ele. finish" button you determine if at the end of the
measurement the element is to be finished, too, or not.
Click "Ok" to confirm.
In the part program editor, click the "Scan CNC" button or on the "Machine"
menu, click "Scan CNC" to open the "Scan CNC" dialogue box.
In the "Scan path control" list box, select one of the three different modes.
Each mode influences the scanning speed and the scan path in a different
way.
If you determine start and end point, you can work using one of the three
Types of Co-ordinate System.
For information about how to position the start and end point of a contour
on the workpiece surface, see "Start and End Position of a Contour as a
Contact Point".
Strategy of Phi-Z: The driving plane is determined through the Z axis and
a constant radius in the XY plane. So you can scan contours on a cylinder
surface. This co-ordinate - here the radius R - defines the cylinder radius
and is determined from the start point.
When you click the "No projection" button, you can select the driving plane.
Use the direction vectors to determine the probing direction for the X, Y and
Z components.
What you need to know
Activate this symbol only if you work with a MPP 4 or MPP 5. Using the
mouse, clamp an axis. For details, see also "Clamp Axis with MPP 4/5".
If you have selected a closed contour, the start point is equal to the end
point. That is why the co-ordinates of the end point are deactivated in this case
(see also "Open Contour").
With the direction vector you specify the direction where the probing is to
take place.
1: Start point
2: Radius
Despite the varyingDeflection the scan can be executed on a constant radius.
Since, on its way to this axis, the scan can intersect several times the
other axis, but a stop should not be now, the axis must be "ignored". Which axis
must be ignored can be defined via the icons above. In the table below you see,
which axis must be the first or the second.
The end point of a closed contour automatically results from the first point
of the contour. That is why in this case no input for the end point is
possible.
When executing a probe radius compensation for contours with small pitch
in relation to the probe sphere diameter, some contour points may possibly
be deleted.
25.6.8.2 Deflection
The deflection can only be entered with a measuring probe. This is necessary
because a certain probing force is required so that the CMM can follow the
course of the contour. The probing force is proportional to the deflection of the
probe. Via the deflection, it is possible to influence the probing force.
With important changes of direction and a high probing force, you can get
problems. The probe can be e.g. too much accelerated (external angle). This
would lead to the error: “Out of Max. Deflection”. This tendency would still be
stronger with a smaller probe radius.
The function "Scan path control" is only used for the scanning of an unknown
contour or an unknown element. Three different modes are available. You can
select the mode that is best suited for your measurement task. This depends on
the shape of the part and the probing vector.
The target of the function "Scan path control" is to prevent a slowdown of the
scanning speed on inclined or rough surfaces.
The function "Scan path control" can only be used if a SP25 is installed.
To have this function available in the CMM learn mode, a controller that
supports this function is needed.
In the "Scan CNC" dialogue box you can influence the scanning speed and the
scan path by selecting the mode in the "Scan path control" list box (see table
below).
Optimise Balanced Optimise
path optimisati speed
(default) on
Priority Priority is Priority is
given to given to
maintainin achieving
g the the
accuracy requested
of the nominal
scan path. speed.
Controller The
attempt is
made to The
accelerate scanning
The given the speed is
deflection scanning optimised.
and scan process. The
path are The deflection
maintaine deflection can differ
d. can from the
slightly given
differ from value.
the given
value.
Make absolutely sure that the positioning of your part on the CMM is made
in such a way that the driving plane you selected is situated parallel to a
CMM axis.
For details regarding CNC Scanning see under the topic "CNC Scanning:
"Automatic Measurement" On"!
Using this function, you create a new element of the type "Contour". A
contour comprises a number of points in an ordered array. The GEOPAK
program can use the contour points for calculating an element (for details see the
example shown under Selection of Points Contour).
You either click on the symbol (see above) or use the menu bar "Element
/ Contour".
In the dialogue window "Element Contour" there are summarised all the
types of construction of planes allowed by GEOPAK (for further details
please refer also to Elements: Overview).
For details concerning the first two types of construction see Type of
Construction.
For further details see under
Contour Connection Element
Type of Construction
Load Contour.
Middle Contour .
Select a contour
• either from the list or ...
In the window "Select points from contour", the co-ordinates of the points
are shown as blocks. A block number is assigned to each selection.
Select ranges
Sie können bestimmen, in welchem Koordinatensystem die Anzeige bzw.
Eingabe erfolgen soll.
For this, activate the following buttons:
Cartesian co-ordinate system
Cylindrical co-ordinate system
Spherical co-ordinate system
In the left columns, the start co-ordinates are shown or input.
In the right columns, the end co-ordinates are shown or input.
Below the line "Selected Blocks" you decide via the symbols which
blocks you want to use for the calculation.
Using this symbol you call up all contour points required for the
calculation of the element in question.
All points are positioned on level 0.0. The co-ordinate axis providing
the level depends on the projection plane of the contour.
You can define the 3rd co-ordinate of all contour points on a general
level. The level may be 0.0 or it may be the approximated 3rd value of the mean
over the complete contour. This is, for example, useful when the contours are in
different planes and an overlapping area cannot be determined.
Note
In addition to the projections XY already supported by the system, the
projections YZ, ZX, RZ and Phi-Z can be selected.
To achieve good results you should adhere to the following conventions:
Only the adjacent contours within the selection field are checked as to a
joint overlapping area.
The sequence of sorting the contour points must be the same for all
contours selected. To reverse the sequence of the contour points, use the
function "Change contour/point sequence".
By activating the button "Closed contour" the check between the last and
the first contour is executed too. This also applies when only one (closed)
contour has been selected.
Note
If the level (3rd co-ordinate) of the connected 2D-contours varies, the
detection of the overlapping areas might not function reliably. In this case
you can adapt the third co-ordinate of the contour points.
Also refer to our "Application Example".
Measurement of the turbine blade from two sides with different probe
positions
1: Start
2: End
3: Shaft probing
When clicking the "Use automatic threshold" button, the text box is
deactivated and a calculated threshold is used.
Threshold
If you want to input the threshold yourself, deactivate the "Use automatic
threshold" button. Realistic values are values around 1.00 millimetres.
Note
If no overlappings are detected, increase the threshold. If the deleted
portion of the contour is too big, reduce the threshold.
25.8.2 Principles
The following texts describes a function - meanwhile integrated in GEOPAK -
which was known before as program "TRANSPAK".
With this function it is possible to take over contours from external CAD systems
to GEOPAK. It's primary task is to read in contours for tolerance comparisons.
Condition for the measuring procedures in GEOPAK is that only the required
contour data (e.g. of any two dimensional contour) are included in the CAD files.
In general, it is only possible to read in formats which correspond to the technical
specifications determined in GEOPAK (for further information please refer to
Technical Specification).
Precondition
The function "Import contour" must be activated by an entry in the dongle.
Sort order of points: It may occur that the elements in a CAD file
are not mutually connected. In this case the position of the elements is not
correct (see picture below).
Group codes not listed here are ignored. In particular, the use of 210, 220,
230 and with POLYLINE 10, 20, 30 with values not equal to 0 leads to
errors.
25.8.9 NC Formats
NC programs are generated and read according to DIN 66025.
Reading NC data into GEOPAK
The following G commands are interpreted:
G1 straight line interpolation
G2 circle interpolation in direction to the right
G3 circle interpolation in direction to the left
G17 XY plane selection
G18 ZX plane selection
G19 YZ plane selection
Note:
the circle in commands G2 and G3 must be defined via the midpoint (I, J,
K);
the co-ordinates can be specified both incrementally and absolutely;
the commands G1, G2, G3 can also be programmed permanently.
Output of GEOPAK in NC formats
The data are output via G1 commands.
Initial and end sequences can be defined specifically for each control
system.
For details as to whether and how to use the loop counter, please refer to
the title "Loop Counter".
All contours are processed in the actual co-ordinate system, that is, not
necessarily in the system where they were measured.
In the dialogue window "Edit contour point" you enter the new co-ordinates of the
contour point to be changed.
The calculation of the offset contour makes it possible to clip off parts of
the contour (see picture below. Upon completion of the calculation, these
constrictions are automatically deleted. This is the reason why the
calculated contour may possibly provide less points than the initial contour.
These points are recovered by the "Back function".
On the left (above) the original contour, on the right (below) the contour
after the offset.
The "Offset Contour" is shown in the element graphics and recorded in the result
box.
For information about if and how to use the loop counter, refer to the
topic "Loop Counter".
For information about if and how to apply the loop counter, refer to
the topic "Loop Counter".
Select contour range
Click on the button "Point selection contour" and you can define a
contour range.
When confirming the dialogue "Change point sequence", the dialogue
"Point selection contour" opens.
Select a contour range. For more information, refer to "Point Selection
Contour".
Select complete contour
Angle range
The points are sorted against the first axis of the contour projection
depending on the angle of each individual point. The angle is always
calculated on the projection plane of the contour. The start point does not
change, the end point may change.
Ascending / Descending
The sort sequence of the previous settings (except "Reverse sort
sequence for points") can be reversed using these option buttons.
Examples:
• Contour points of a gear are sorted with the option "Angle
range".
• A contour parallel to the X-axis could be sorted easily with the
option "X-co-ordinate".
• In most cases, the option "Smallest distance in space" is
sufficient.
This function can only be used on contours with a point sequence. The "Inserted
Circle" is a simulation of the customary methods in order to evaluate spindle and
screw parameters. The starting points must exist shaped as a contour.
Circle with fixed point
In technical drawings rounded corners are dimensioned as radius without centre
or as circle segment of 90°. If a corner is measured as element "circle", the
accuracy is not high.
Proceed in the following way
Click the "Circle" button on the toolbar.
You either click on the symbol or use the menu bar with the
functions "Element/Contour".
Using the dialogue window "Element Contour", you allocate a name and a
memory location to the contour you still want to calculate.
Clicking on the double arrow you move the contours under the
heading "Selected" (or also back).
Additionally, you enter the pitch (the spacing between the points) to be
used for calculating the new contour, and then you confirm..
Loop Counter".
The new contour is displayed in the element graphics and recorded in the
result box..
Hint
In the window "Middle Contour" you can, of course, select just one
contour with a different pitch.
For details regarding general principles see under "Manipulate Contour".
For details as to whether and how to use the loop counter, please
refer to the title "Loop Counter".
You select the leading contour in the window "Scan by leading contour".
For details as to whether and how to use the loop counter, please
refer to the topic "Loop Counter".
Using the known symbols you specify the plane along which scanning is
to take place.
Clicking on the symbol you specify that traversing will take place
using "Probing Direction of the Leading Contour".
You enter the safety distance and measurement length.
The probe radius compensation, if necessary, will be carried out by you at a later
time, requiring a separate step.
In the first scanning with leading contour, you should reduce the
movement speed of the CMM.
25.9.15.2 Default:
Specify measurement direction (fixed measurement direction)
If you have selected e.g. the X/Y plane, you measure in the +Z or-Z
direction.
If you selected, like above, the X/Y-plain, the probing direction in the X/Y
plane is automatically calculated. It passes vertically to the contour,
namely to the inner or outer side. (see picture below [outer side]).
In the window "Save Contour as" you must enter the special characters
"@LC" at an independent place (see example below).
[email protected]
At each m loop flow, a file is (example above) created: contour1.gws,
contour2.gws, .., contourN.gws
Notice
For the export of contours with the loop counter the above mentioned
steps are analogously valid.
In the edge mode, you can scan a known contour at high speed.
Scanning a known contour in the surface mode functions like Phi-Z scanning.
However, a contour is used instead of a circle as guide geometry.
More detailed information can be found under:
Scan by known contour
Specifying approach direction
Whether and how you use the loop counter can be found described
in detail under the title "Loop counter".
Specify the scan mode.
Add probe radius offset to the guide contour.
The loaded leading contour is either on the workpiece surface or in the
probe middle point. Activate the button if you are using a contour which is on the
workpiece surface.
Hint
In case of the known contour was generated from CAT1000, you need to
activate this button.
Add the probe radius offset to the measured contour.
The measured contour can be compensated for by the probe radius. In this
way, you obtain a contour on the workpiece surface. This button is only enabled
in the edge mode.
Displaying error message during scanning
If the deflection is less than 0.080 mm, the measuring points measured in
this area during scanning will be deleted without an error message. If you activate
the button, the scanning is aborted with an error message.
Note
The probe must not lose contact with the workpiece during the scanning.
Therefore, an offset is added to the known contour. This offset is the
deflection which is added to the approach direction.
More detailed information can be found under:
Basics: Scan by known contour
Specifying approach direction
The value entered for the deviation is used if you do not press the button. The
deflection of the probe from the inputs of the CNC parameters is used. CNC
parameters You can change the default CNC parameters for this measurement
task using the input fields "Increment" and "Scan speed". More detailed
information can be found under: Scan by known contour Scanning known contour
If and how to use the loop counter, is fully shown in the topic
"Loop Counter".
Via one of the symbols (here the Phi Z plane), you decide in which
plane the contour must be projected.
The number of the selected groups and their co-ordinates are transferred
to the "Selection of Point Contour" window.
"X-Y-Z Co-Ordinates".
Use the check buttons to determine whether you wish to delete the points
above or below the co-ordinate or between two co-ordinates.
The area where you wish to delete the contour points is to be entered into
the text box adjacent to the co-ordinate symbols. You can input negative
values.
For the example shown in the picture below, we activated the option "X
Co-Ordinate" and "above".
The result is shown in a graphics and in the "Select Points from Contour"
window.
Supposing the contour consisted of 1000 contour points and you entered
1001, the contour would be deleted, except the first point.
The crossing point is shown in green and the loop points in red.
The time required for calculating this function depends on the number of
loop points which you have entered.
Upon confirmation of your entries you get the following contour in the
element graphics, se Fig. 2.
Enter an angle, e.g. 10°, which covers the reversing paths, into the input
box "Reversing Angle".
The origin of the angle is, in this case, the point 5.
The function recognises reversing paths, provided they are located within the
entered angle. This function recognises also the end of the reversing paths and
deletes the points not required (shown in red).
Upon confirmation of your entries to get the following contour in the
element graphics, see Fig. 2.
With this function, you determine the point on the contour, which is
the nearest to the origin.
With this function, you determine the point on the contour, which is
the farthest to the origin.
To locate the co-ordinates already shown in the picture, you continue as follows:
Via click on the green point, you first get the point no. in
a rectangular box.
Through click on the right mouse button on this rectangular box, you get a
list from which you can, e.g. call your information (picture below).
Through click e.g. on the Y co-ordinate, you get the requested value
(picture below).
The above illustration represents single points of the contour, however with a
reduced number of points.
Before the transmission, the contour is idealized with automatically calculated
lines and circles. This changes the form of the contour within a tolerance zone of
max. +- 0,010 mm (find detailed information under the topic Tolerance Limits). No
discontinuity occurs in the transitions between the calculated elements. Thus, the
transitions are continuous and the DXF-output can be executed. The number of
output elements is below 100, the file size is now 6 KByte compared to 215
KByte for an output of single points.
In the dialogue, you can enter the corresponding start memory number for the
lines or circles.
In the lines "Maximum number of lines (circles)", you enter the values you
consider to be the optimum. For this topic, find detailed information under
Idealize, in this case in connection with the automatic element calculation.
25.9.36.3 Idealize
The points of the contour are locally fitted to the calculated element. The result is
a contour that is ideally fitted to the calculated lines and circles without a
spreading of the measurement points (ill. below, right contour).
Hint
The question as to how many lines or circles shall be calculated can be
explained in an example:
When dealing with a contour that can obviously be defined by three
circles, you should leave it at those three circles. In the list of memory
numbers, the circles including most of the new points are anyhow
positioned at the top. These circles would also be decisive for the
idealized contour.
25.9.36.4 Permanency
The end point of a line or circle element to be calculated is positioned on the start
point of the following element which results in small gaps between the elements.
The connections between the following elements need, however, not be
tangential (see ill. below).
A: No permanency
B: The end point of the circle and the start point of the line are in one point,
the lead angles are different.
C: Permanent, the lead angle in the point of intersection is the same for
both elements.
For how to export the contour in DXF-format, refer to the topic "Export Contour".
Hint
To generate an inlaid circle, use the button "Fit in Element" in the "Circle
Element" dialogue.
Using the "Partial Circle Display" function it is possible to display only that part of
a circle which runs on the contour. The part beyond is masked out. This is based
on the premise that the circle is a sub element of a contour.
To open the "Point Selection Contour" dialogue, you use, for instance,
the "Element Circle" dialogue with "Fit in Element" activated. You confirm and
the dialogue "Fit in element Circle" will be opened. After your inputs in the
dialogue "Fit in element Circle" you confirm again.
Click with the mouse into the graphics of elements to make sure that the
following keyboard inputs do not apply to the open dialogue, but to the
graphics of elements.
This action has to be repeated, whenever you click with the mouse
into the dialogue, for instance, to undo the last point area selection, as all
subsequent keyboard inputs would again be related to the dialogue. At
the beginning, the mouse pointer is always positioned onto the first
contour point.
Use the arrow keys to move the mouse pointer to the desired contour
point.
Operate the Enter key to define the selected contour point as the starting
point of an area selection.
Use the arrow keys to move the mouse pointer to the contour point which
you wish to define as the starting point of the point area to be selected.
Operate the Enter key to define the selected contour point as the starting
point.
Key Mouse pointer movement
RH arrow key, Moves mouse pointer to the next contour point
Page down
Pos 1 Moves mouse pointer to the first contour point
End Moves mouse pointer to the last contour point
Enter (first time) Start of selection
Enter (second time) End of selection
In the "Point Selection by Keyboard" mode, you can use the mouse for an
additional functionality, e.g. for zooming into the graphics. That would provide you
a more detailed view while selecting points.
Clicking on the symbol in the icon bar, you come to the "Tolerance
Comparison Contours" dialogue window.
In the text boxes, "Nominal" and "Actual", select from the lists your
contours which are, in fact, already available. The nominal contour can
already be a measured contour (for details cf. Load Contour ). Or load
your contour from an external CAD system (for further details regarding
this topic cf. "Load Contour from CAD System").
Enter into the input field "Number of act/nom pairs" a "1", if not already
proposed.
Similar to the loop mode, the memory numbers are counted upwards and the
memory number of the selected contours is used as the start number
According to the input example, the following pairs are created.
Pair 1: (4)act1 / (1)nom1
Pair 2: (5)act2 / (2)nom2
Pair 3: (6)act3 / (3)nom3
By using this symbol you control the functionality "Loops" (see details of this
topic).
25.11.2 Pitch
By making inputs in "Pitch"...
you first of all define the points from where measurement must take place;
in the next step, by Vector Direction, enter the direction along which the
distance from the opposite contour is measured.
The pitch specifies the distance where the individual comparisons are carried out.
The points at which the nominal and actual comparison is carried out are, in most
cases, not identical with the contour points of the actual respectively the nominal
contour points. This is why they are interpolated (cubic curve). This means that
even the areas between the points are calculated. According to your task, you will
opt for one out of six "pitches".
Hint
This form is not recommended, as it takes a great deal of time. It is
because of the vector direction that the program has to calculate the point
through which the perpendicular goes to the actual point (see picture
below).
1 = Actual contour
2 = Nominal contour
"Horizontal",
"Vertical",
"Rotate".
Click either on one of the three symbols, or on two or even all three symbols. The
best fit will be automatically made. The result can be seen from the graphical
representation.
If only one rotation is allowed, said rotation is carried out around the origin of the
actual co-ordinate system.
In the window "Tolerance comparison contours", the results are represented
graphically and numerically. Abbreviations: UD for upper difference, LD for lower
difference and MD for mean difference. This window contains several symbols for
additional possibilities.
In particular via the information symbol, you have the possibility to set
information flags.
Click on the symbol
The mouse changes to a reticle.
Click on the position in the graphics where you want to set the information
or flag.
With a further click on the flag (keep the mouse button pressed) you can
drag the flag to a different position.
Clicking with the right mouse button on the flag, you can, among other
things, delete the flag.
Using the "Learnable Graphic Commands" symbol, you can preset that the
windows are printed out or applied in the repeat mode. You must activate this
function already in the single mode, since, being in the repeat mode, you will
have no more influence.
Also see the topics:
Bestfit within Tolerance Limits
Manual Bestfit
If the material side is known, the tolerance line is inside the material with a
negative sign and it is outside the material with a positive sign.
Example: The scale for the nominal contour is 1:10 (1000 mm in DIN A4 format),
the "Scale for error display" is 300:1. This results in a scale of 30:1. So, the
lengths of the printed deviations have to be divided by 30 to obtain the actual
deviation values.
Hint
All entries under "Scale for error display" affect the representation of the
graphic, however, they do not affect the numerical result of the tolerance
comparison.
Relative magnification
The "Scale for error display" results as product of the percentage of the "Relative
magnification" and the relation of width of the tolerance band and extension of
the contours.
So, the scale adjusts automatically to the extension of the nominal and actual
contour. The advantage is, you set the "Relative magnification" once to 3%, for
example, and you will always have a clearly visible tolerance band with a width of
circa 6 mm in DIN A4 format, independent of the contour deviation.
Example
The nominal contour is a circle with a diameter of 1000 mm. The width of
the tolerance band is 0,2 mm.
Under "Width of tolerance", type 0.100 in the "Upper tol." box.
Under "Width of tolerance", type -0.100 in the "Lower tol." box.
Fixed magnification
Contrary to the "Relative magnification", the scale factor for error display is set by
default and is not calculated for "Fixed magnification".
When representing different tolerance comparisons with the same scale, the
deviations can be directly compared in the graphical printouts.
Example
The nominal contour is a circle with a diameter of 1000 mm. The width of
the tolerance band is 0,2 mm.
Under "Width of tolerance", type 0.100 in the "Upper tol." box.
Under "Width of tolerance", type -0.100 in the "Lower tol." box.
In DIN A4 format, this will be a tolerance band with a width of circa 6 mm.
In the result graphic the "Scale for error display" shows a scale factor of
300:1.
Illustration of deviations
Use the "Non linear magnification" function when there is a great difference
between narrow and wide tolerance band and therefore a fixed "Scale for error
display" is not sufficient for a detailed representation of the complete comparison.
With this function the scale varies according to the width of the tolerance band.
Thus, it is no longer possible to calculate the deviations by means of the diagram.
However, you can see the positions where an exceeding takes place or
recognise the trend of the deviations within the tolerance band.
Under "Scale for error display", click the "Non linear" button.
Type the percentage of the tolerance band in the "Width tol" box.
25.11.6.2 Offset
An overmeasure contour around the nominal contour is created with the offset.
Then, the calculated deviations no longer refer to the nominal contour but to the
overmeasure contour. The reference direction is not influenced by the offset.
Example
A slot is limited by the inside and outside contour. The distance between the
contours (slot width) is 52 mm. The tolerance comparison shall be used to
examine the deviation of the slot width from the nominal measurement 52 mm +-
2.025 mm.
The inside contour serves as the nominal contour, the outside contour as the
actual contour.
When carrying out the comparison with an offset (overmeasure) e.g. of 52 mm
and a tolerance of +-0.025 mm, a significant deviation is visible.
Compared with that, no deviation is visible in the graphic when applying the
onesided tolerance of 51.998 mm and 52.032 mm.
The result of the numerical evaluation shows no difference between the two
processes.
Use the symbol "Loop counter" to control the functionality "Loops" (for
detailed information, refer to this topic).
If you activate this symbol you can have a form tolerance chart displayed.
Enter the value of the tolerance limit into the input field "Tolerance width".
Bestfit
The best fit is carried out prior to the evaluation of the line form tolerance. The
best fit position of the contour is calculated only temporarily and is not stored. For
details, refer to the topic Best Fit Contour.
The tolerance band editor can be called only in the learn mode.
Click on the selection symbol in order to relate the entries from the areas
"Start of Tolerance Range" and "End of Tolerance Range" to the whole contour.
Delete defined tolerance ranges of the whole contour
Click on the dust bin symbol to delete your tolerance ranges of the whole
contour.
Once you have entered the required values, press again the pipette
symbol in order to switch this function off. Should you click, by mistake,
into the graphics of elements, the values entered would be changed.
The "Robust Spline Filter" is not suitable for the evaluation of circles
and should therefore not be used in practice.
The "Gauss filter" and a "Cut off wave length" of 1.0 are preset. The
measurement unit is limited to millimetres.
Further information
For detailed information about what must be observed when filtering
peaks of a measured contour, refer to the documentation "Filtering of
peaks of a measured contour" in your MCOSMOS installation folder /
DOCUMENTATION / SCANPAK.
The file name is "SI_contour_filtering_g.pdf" (German) or
"SI_contour_filtering_e.pdf" (English).
Lead of a worm
Usually, part programs or the part program commands "Scan on dual flanks" are
automatically generated by the Mitutoyo toothed wheel measurement programs,
e.g. "Scan-Worm" from the toothed wheel parameters. You can change the scan
parameters in the editing mode.
For changing scan parameters, open the dialogue window "Scan on dual flanks"
via the menu "Machine".
Start position
Like usual, you see at the top left the start position, the input mode for the co-
ordinate system and - if you have a scanning probe suitable for clamping (MPP 4,
5, 100, 300), the clamping function (for more details refer also to "Clamp Axis
with MPP").
The approach direction is only active when you want to operate the dual flank
scanning without rotary table. If you want to operate the scanning on dual flank
with a rotary table, the fitting position of the probe stylus determines the approach
direction.
Scanning parameter
Apart from the known parameters like scan interval, safety distance etc., you find
under the last position the item "Retraction distance". When you enter the
retraction distance this allows you, in this particular case of the worm, to pull back
beyond the safety distance.
End condition
The scan is ended when the entered height difference is reached when following
the contour.
It is possible to use the scanning on dual flanks also without a rotary table
when clicking on this symbol.
When the scanning on dual flanks is used with a rotary table, the approach
direction is automatically calculated by the probe configuration.
When working without rotary table, all you have to do is to enter the approach
direction yourself.
Hints
In the learning mode you can work with the scanning on dual flanks when
the software of the machine control supports this option.
In the GEOPAK-Editor this part program command is also supported
when the rotary table is not set as a CMM.
You need special CMM-ROMs as well as a scanning probe system.
25.13.2 Calibration
The WIZprobe can be used at any PH10 angle, and is calibrated in a similar
manner to a touch trigger probe, but uses a different measurement strategy,
which is automatically initiated from the Probe Data Management dialog.
Additionally a specially coated Reference Sphere is provided.
Proceed as follows:
Select Probe Data Management Menu.
Create a new probe position with ‘Edit’ then select WIZlaser button.
Follow the instruction to initiate the calibration.
Further themes
Single Point Laser "WIZprobe"
The Menu
Laser Probe: Measurement Course
The parameters Plane, Start, End, Direction etc are selected in the same way as
when using a touch probe. The start condition has to be selected as above.
The scanning speed and pitch are interactive but are not fixed. It is therefore
possible to select a speed of 5mm/s with a pitch > 0.1 but not < 0.1.
Further themes
Single Point Laser "WIZprobe"
Calibration
Laser-Probe: Measurement Course
25.13.4.1 Principles
The laser beam has a focus range of 10 millimetres for measuring (see drawing
below for the example of a point probing from the top). However, the laser probe
achieves the most accurate measurement point in the middle (red line) of the
focus range, i.e. the zero crossing. That means that with a laser probe
measurement, the measurement point is recorded when the laser beam
approaches and reaches the work piece with this mid line. In this case, the
middle LED shows green.
If you want to measure an edge (ill. below), it is not sure that the contact point
with the work piece is in the middle of the focus range. In this case, the CMM
must be prompted by the machine control to take the measurement point
immediately. The measurement point, however, must be positioned within the
focus range.
Radial: You will decide for the radial method, if the workpiece can be scanned
from one flank.
Undercut: An undercutting operation will be required in cases where you cannot
finish the scan radially in one scanning direction. In these cases the rotation of
the rotary table has to be changed such to allow the workpiece portions not
covered by the radial scan to be probed (undercut). The probing speed required
for this operation is reduced by the CMM controller.
Due to the curvature of the turbine blade, in a radial scan the probe cannot reach
the area located precisely behind the probe head as shown on the left picture.
In Phi/Z: You will decide for the PhiZ scanning option, if you have to scan a
circle, considering, however, different heights (see picture below. The circle is
located symmetrically around the Z-axis. The radius (older CMMs) is determined
by the starting point. When working with CMMs of more recent generations, you
can enter the radius and decide for a freely selected approach direction in the
dialogue.
Hint
With these options you order the scan direction (to the left or to
the right).
Further topics:
Scanning with Rotary Table
Scanning with Rotary Table: Stop Conditions
Rotary-Table: Clamp Axis
(For details regarding this subject refer also to Scanning in the YZ, ZX, RZ and
PhiZ Planes and Turn Rotary Table).
You specify the end point at the workpiece. The sense of rotation is
determined by the following buttons.
The height difference is assigned to the Z-co-ordinate of the start point. In case
that the height difference has been activated and the scan method has changed,
the termination mode changes to "Closed contour".
Further topics:
Scanning with Rotary Table
Scanning with Rotary Table: Three Kinds
Rotary-Table: Clamp Axis
(For details regarding this subject refer also to
Scanning in the YZ, ZX, RZ and PhiZ Planes and
Turn Rotary Table).
25.14.5 Scanning with Rotary Table: Define Range for Run-in and
Run-out
When working with the Mitutoyo rotary table MRT320, you have to observe the
measurement results in the run-in and run-out range.
The scanned measurement data consist of the reliable measurement values and
of an instable part each at the beginning and at the end of the scan. This effect is
due to the acceleration or, respectively, the delay of the rotary table at the start
and the end of the measurement.
When defining a range for run-in and run-out, this instable portion of the scanned
contour will be excluded from the evaluation of the measurement data. You enter
the length of this range in the dialogue "Scanning with Rotary Table" using the
input fields "Run-in" and "Run-out".
Proceed as follows
Activate either the button Scanning Mode "radial" or "Phi-Z".
In this case, the CMM signal light is getting green (at the bottom
left hand corner in the status bar of the GEOPAK main window).
You can only measure using the joysticks.
Automatic Measurement On:
A dialogue appears "Scan manually".
Automatic Measurement Off:
In this case, you get immediately the window "Measurement Display".
For the rest, refer to the topic "Manual CMM - Touch Trigger ".
25.16.1.3 Metris-Dongleoptions
To work with the Metrissoftware you need following Dongleoptions:
For "Scanning with external application":
Laser Probe support
25.16.3.2 Defaults
For the following items, use the above illustration for your orientation:
The language of the menu items and error messages is English.
The size of the graphics window cannot be changed.
The graphics window contains co-ordinate axes at the bottom left for your
orientation.
If you want to have the point cloud rotate, click on one of the rotation axes
X, Y or Z. Then go to "Rotate" and click the arrows to the left or right. X
and Y are interchanged for rotating.
For enlarging or reducing, use the scroll wheel of the mouse.
To turn, rotate and shift the point cloud, use the button "Move" under the
title "MouseMode" while keeping the left mouse button pressed.
25.16.3.4 Calculate
Click the button "Calculate".
The calculated element is drawn within the point cloud in yellow.
After you have confirmed the calculated element, it is transferred to
GEOPAK without defects of form like a theoretical element.
Use the button "Reset" to reset the selection of points, the element
calculation and the view.
If, however, you click first the button "Parameter", the filter values are
reset.
25.16.4.2 Filter
This filter is a curvature filter. In the "flat" sections, many points are filtered out
and in the sections with a high curvature, many points are recorded. Thus, the
highest curvature is established by the smallest detail parameter. This is
represented in the drawing accordingly.
As for how to work with the filter parameters in detail, refer to your Metris
operating instructions.
For details as to whether and how to use the loop counter refer to
the topic "Loop Counter".
From the list field "Contour File" or
via the symbol, you open the window "Save Contour as".
You have the following four options to save your files:
• as gws file (GEOPAK),
• as SCT file (SCANPAK-3),
• as mbs file (Metris) or
• as txt file for Transpak
The file extension defines the format of the file.
Select "Your" file and the storage location according to Windows
conventions and confirm.
You must enter the path of your contour file in the "Select Contour "
window.
In the list box "Select Contour", you define the contour of your choice.
Attach: Clicking on the button "Attach" gives you the possibility to attach
a new contour to an already existing one. This option is applicable only to
the gws file type (GEOPAK).
Confirm.
You can also click on the icon and store the file in the following
dialogue window (Windows conventions).
The file names must get the extension <.gws>. Otherwise, the program does not
recognise the special information contained in the file. The three letters g, w and
s come from "GEOPAK-Win Scanning".
Once you have stored the contour in such a file, you can use e.g. Word- or
Notepad to read, print, or modify the data. It is also possible to edit in these text
files (according to Windows conventions).
2D contour or...
Via the symbol or the menu bar ("Element/Contour"), you get access to the
window "Element Contour".
Click the symbol in this window and you get to the window "Load Contour".
According to Windows conventions and using this symbol you define the
contour of your choice and confirm.
You click on the symbol (on the left) on the symbol bar in the
GEOPAK main window, or on the menu "Element" and the function
"Contour".
You get to the window "Element Contour" (for details regarding options
applicable to all elements, such as, e.g. "Measure", etc., please see under
the topic Contour).
In this window, you click on the symbol "Import Contour" (on the
left) and you come to the window "import Contour".
You must remember that you overwrite an existing contour by
selecting an already existing memory number. Before you actually
overwrite, you will be asked a safety check question.
Using the arrow in the top list box, you select the driver for the
external system. By doing this, you specify the format of the ASCII-file you
want to load.
In the text box "Contour File"
• You enter the file name, or ...
Further functions
Set End Point: You set two more points close to the start and end point of
each element.
Effect in case of interpolation calculations: at the transition between the elements,
the calculated points keep as close as possible to the given elements. This
function influences the results only in cases where circle and line elements are
available in the ASCII-file. This function does not make any sense in cases where
only points are available.
Sort Order of Points: Using this function you sort the points in such a way
that an ordered succession of points is produced. You would use this function
above all in cases where the points come, e.g. from a CAD system in a
disordered array.
26 Airfoil Analysis
26.1 Airfoil Analysis: Contents
Airfoil Analysis
Load Airfoil Contours
Analysis of Multiple Airfoil Layers
Preparation of Measurement Results
Select Airfoil Analysis Functions
Airfoil Contour Comparison without Bestfit
Airfoil Contour Comparison with Bestfit
Apply Bestfit on a Part of the Airfoil Contour
Result output
Graphic Output- MAFIS
Tolerance Comparison of Airfoil Contour
Flexible MAFIS Protocol
Bestfit
Complete
Partial
To get to the airfoil analysis use the GEOPAK-Editor or the learning mode via the
menu function "Contour / Airfoil analysis".
The operation of the airfoil analysis dialogue follows the following sequence:
Select of an airfoil contour.
Define number of mean camber line points.
Preparation of the measurement results.
Selection of the airfoil characteristics to be analysed.
Exact definition of the results belonging to an airfoil characteristic using
the Analysis Functions.
If required, additional settings of the bestfit function.
Analysis functions
You can recognise a selected analysis function by the check box.
Then, alsothe option button is active for the detailed setting. The support
graphic displays the last selected analysis function. The support graphic
represents the airfoil section in yellow and the possible results of the function are
highlighted in red.
To get to know which prerequisites must be met and how the dialogue "Airfoil
analysis" is operated in detail, please refer to:
Load Airfoil Contours
Analysis of Multiple Airfoil Layers
Preparation of Measurement Results
Select Airfoil Analysis Functions
Airfoil Contour Comparison without Bestfit
Airfoil Contour Comparison with Bestfit
Apply Bestfit on a Part of the Airfoil Contour
Result output
Graphical Output - MAFIS
Tolerance Comparison Airfoil Contour
Flexible MAFIS Protocol
The orientation of the work piece co-ordinate system must ensure that the
leading edge point of the airfoil contour is positioned on a smaller X-co-ordinate
than the trailing edge point.
Number of mean camber line points
By entering the "Camber line points" you define the number of contour points of
which the mean camber line is formed. If you deviate from the preset values, you
enter, for example, half of the overall contour points so that the density of
themean camber line approximately corresponds to the airfoil contour.
Background:
Also in case that you have not selected the analysis function "Mean
camber line", the internal calculation of a mean camber line contour is
necessary, because other function results are based on this mean camber
line. To calculate the areas between two mean camber line points, a
connecting line between the contour points is assumed (straight-line
interpolation). This straight-line connection does not represent reality but
is only an approximation.
On the one hand, a good number of points ensures that the calculated
(straight-line interpolated) mean camber line adapts well to the real
(continuous) mean camber line, in order not to risk inaccurate results. On
the other hand, too many points do not make sense as this would reduce
the calculation speed accordingly.
As the mean camber line contour is calculated from the airfoil contour
which is only an approximation of the real airfoil profile itself, a point
density of the mean camber line that is bigger than the point density of the
airfoil contour does, in general, not make much sense. In this case, a
higher number of points does not result in added accuracy but only
unnecessarily requires computing time.
Further information how to measure partial airfoil profile you find under the topic
"Measurement of partial airfoil profile".
Select this function only if you calculate the leading edge part or the trailing
edge part of an airfoil contour.
Note
In part programs that do not support this function, the function is selected
as default. In new learned part programs, the function is not selected.
The error message "Camber line cannot be calculated" appears, when the airfoil
analysis cannot calculate the complete camber line. In this case, a calculation is
not possible. This occurs if only the pressure side or the suction side is available
in the airfoil contour.
The element numbers of the used current and nominal airfoil contours
must be numbered in sequence. This ensures that with each loop an airfoil
contour is matched to an element number which is sequentially counted
upwards by one each.
The input field "Number" you use, for example, in the loop mode to be
able to assign the measurement results by the number in the variable name to a
loop.
You can see the full variable name when you click on the option button of
a selected analysis function.
Change variable name
As the "Identifier" you have entered "Airf" in the in the airfoil analysis dialogue.
You have, for example, activated the analysis function "Trailing edge
radius" and clicked on the option button.
In the opened dialogue "Airfoil analysis - trailing edge radius" you see the first
part "Airf001" of the variable name, the separator "_" between "Identifier" and
"Extension". In the input field "Extension" you see "TER" (trailing edge radius) as
a proposition for an abbreviation of the analysis function. The inserted number
"001" is taken on from the input field "Number" and is counted upwards in the
loop mode.
Is the loop counter in the group box "Protocol features" activated, the
variable name changes with each loop from originally "Airf001_TER" to
"Airf002_TER", "Airf003_TER", etc.
Do not use the underline "_" within the variable name. This character is
internally used in the flexible protocol for the organisation of the result
output of the airfoil layers.
Bestfit
Complete
Partial
If a compensation has already been carried out, the value for the ball
radius is 0.
Only after entering the distances d1 and d2 you open the dialogue
window "Partial bestfit" by clicking on the symbol.
The information fields in the output graphics immediately show which airfoil
analysis functions have been used.
Leading Edge Radius (LER), Maximum Profile Thickness (MXT), Tangent to
Stack Axis Distance (TSD), Chord Length Overall (CLO), Primary Axis Width
(PAW), Trailing Edge Thickness (TET), Gage Twist Angle (Stack) (GTAS) and
Trailing Edge Radius (TER).
Note
The abbreviations were derived from English technical terms. If you want
to use own abbreviations or extensions, then change the variable name in
the input field "Extension" in the dialogue windows of the analysis
functions. You can form the names of nine characters.
For more information about working with the information fields, please refer to
"Element Information".
To have the element graphic printed out in the MAFIS protocol too, the
input field "View no." must contain a 1.
The variable name must have the same structure as the variable names of
the airfoil section. Otherwise the tolerance comparison is printed on a new
page.
Example
In the dialogue window "Airfoil analysis" you have entered "Airf" under "Protocol
features" in the input field "Identifier".
The airfoil section is characterised by a three-digit number, e.g. "001". This
number mustbe followed by an underline "_".
You can use the following characters for your variable name, e.g. "Insert".
The name of the used variable then is "Airf001_Insert".
If you do not work in loop mode, the mean camber line contour file is
overwritten when you work with the same designator and the same layer
number. To avoid this, you store the mean camber line contour file in
another folder.
Only after input of the distance "d" you open the dialogue window "Leading
edge thickness at" using the option button.
Output of measurement results
Activate the button "Define variables and calculate" in order to
calculate the measurement results and have them output in the protocol.
The variable name is represented as active.
You can also have an output of the co-ordinates of the points between which the
distance was calculated.
Only after input of the distance "d" you open thedialogue window "Trailing
edge thickness at" using the option button.
Output of measurement results
Activate the button "Define variables and calculate" in order to
calculate the measurement results and have them output in the protocol.
The variable name is represented as active.
You can also have an output of the co-ordinates of the points between which the
distance was calculated.
Tolerate measurement results
Enter first the rotation angle α and then open the dialogue window
"Extreme leading edge centrality at" using the option button.
After rotating the contour around the angle α, the rotated contour (in the ill. below
represented in Magenta) has a point with the smallest X-co-ordinate P1', the
extreme leading edge point.
The analysis function "Extreme leading edge centrality at" calculates the distance
LECA from the stacking point SP of the airfoil to the extreme leading edge point
P1'.
Furthermore, the X- and Y-co-ordinates of the point P1 of the originalcontour are
calculated. After rotation around the angle α, P1 becomes point P1'.
Output of measurement results
Activate the button "Define variables and calculate" in order to
calculate the measurement results and have them output in the protocol.
The variable name is represented as active.
Tolerate measurement results
As the airfoil contour must lie in the XY-plane or in a parallel plane thereto, a
section through the angle datum plane ADP corresponds to the X-axis.
First, enter the radii r1 and r2 in the dialogue window "Airfoil analysis" and
then open the dialogue window "Gage twist angle (lead edge)" using the option
button.
Output of measurement results
Activate the button "Define variables and calculate" in order to
calculate the measurement results and have them output in the protocol.
The variable name is represented as active.
Tolerate measurement results
As the airfoil contour must lie in the XY-plane or a plane parallel thereto, a
section through the angle datum plane ADP corresponds to the X-axis.
First, enter the distances d1, d2, d3 and d4 in the dialogue window "Airfoil
analysis".
Then open the dialogue window "Gage twist angle (stack)" using the option
button.
Output of measurement results
Activate the button "Define variables and calculate " in order to
calculate the measurement results and have them output in the protocol.
The variable name is represented as active.
Tolerate measurement results
26.13.3 Bestfit
26.13.3.1 Complete Bestfit
The functionality "Complete Bestfit" tries to fit in the measured airfoil contour as
good as possible into the corresponding ideal airfoil contour. The "Bestfit" is
performed by shifting the measured airfoil contour along the X- and Y-axis as well
as by rotation around the stack axis (Z-axis).
The possible bestfit is achieved when the sum of the distance squares between
all points of the ideal airfoil contour and the corresponding shifted and rotated
points of the measured airfoil contour is minimal.
Output of measurement results
Activate the button "Define variables and calculate" to calculate
the relevant measurement result and have it output in the protocol.
The variable name is represented as active.
Tolerate measurement result
In the input field "Nominal value" you enter the "Max. deviation of an airfoil point"
from the airfoil data. Into the input fields "Upper and lower tolerance" you enter
the dimensions of the tolerance limits.