2D Inspection Drawing in Control X While most dimensions and GD&T calculations in Control X will come from the 3D model, it is also possible to create 2D inspection drawings and to create Construction Features to assist in the process. Consider the highlighted face below. Suppose we want to build several 2D inspection dimensions in that face. We start out by telling Control X to create a 2D drawing in the plane of that [...]
Performing a Datum Alignment using Control X Before the scan of a manufactured part can be inspected using Control X, it must first be aligned to its nominal CAD model. The nominal CAD model represents the ‘perfect’ shape. Once aligned, all of the Control X inspection functions, including Color maps, Whisker plots, 2D and 3D dimensions, Geometry Deviation, 2D Twist Analysis and more can all take place. Consider the water pump cover shown below, prior [...]
Let’s say that this water pump cover needs to lie flat against its mating surface to within a specific GD&T Flatness Callout. We’ve seen, in the past, that Control X can check for GD&T Callout information and return pass/fail conditions. But we can also use Control X to determine the amount that a part is in or out of a ‘Flatness’ spec by turning on a localized color map that we call a ‘Fitting Deviation’. [...]
We’ve seen how to inspect the scan of a single, manufactured part against an inspection plan generated using a nominal CAD model. But what if we have many manufactured part scans to inspect against the same inspection plan, using the same nominal CAD model. That’s where Batch Processing comes in. The exact same inspection process can be reused as many times as needed and no human intervention is required. Once the batch processing [...]
Utilizing Color Maps for understanding machining outcomes Consider this airfoil. It was programmed and machined on a 5-Axis mill, using a single setup. The ball mill was able to travel completely around the shape, during the machining process and therefore blending the top and bottom of the surface didn’t need to be considered. Our job is to inspect the airfoil and make suggestions to the CNC Programmer and Tool Designer to optimize the machining process. [...]
Very often, when a part is designed in CAD, in terms of its orientation and origin, it isn’t necessarily where it needs to be oriented in the final assembly. Therefore, inspection values may not reveal the true picture as to what is needed regarding inspection data. Let’s consider this crankshaft below. The CAD designer created this sub-assembly with the part’s origin as shown. Then, any distance or location dimensions shown in the inspection will be [...]
Most CMM’s will ship with a language-based CMM programming software package that is powerful but very time-consuming to learn and challenging to master. It is therefore very common for job shops and manufacturing facilities to have just a single CMM programmer who has gone through the painstaking efforts of becoming proficient with the software. But what happens when that person goes on vacation, is out sick, or leaves the company? Many shops own very expensive [...]
Most modern-day CMM’s will ship with onboard CMM programming software that is powerful yet challenging to learn and use. Companies end up investing weeks and even months getting one or two users proficient with the software. But those individuals can get sick or take vacation at inopportune times or perhaps leave the company. What happens then? Is there a simple way to transition a Mastercam CNC Programmer into a CMM programmer? Verisurf’s Universal CMM (UCMM) [...]
