Metrology Minute

Analyzing airfoil shapes is easier than ever using the Control X Airfoil Analysis technology. Upon completion of scanning the airfoil and aligning with the nominal CAD model, the software is able to return dozens of useful parameters, necessary for complete airfoil analysis. Some of the parameters include: Leading and trailing edge radii Leading and trailing edge positions in space Maximum chord height Leading (and trailing) Edge position in space relative to the model origin Axial [...]

The Control X Plot Comparison Tool will analyze the thickness, curvature, and angle of Measured data (point cloud or mesh) and uses color mapping to display the results. You can also pinpoint specific point locations on the model to return actual values for the plot being reviewed, at those specified locations. One of the unique aspects of this tool is it does not require Reference data. All calculations utilize a single Measured mesh or point [...]

The Comparison Point Analysis tool in Control X lets you to click on arbitrary point locations on the Reference (CAD) model and compare those to the same point, mapped to the Measured (mesh) model. This is a useful tool for identifying the accuracy of random point locations on the model. The typical method of mapping a point is using the “Along Normal” vector option, radiating from the selected point on the Ref model and projecting [...]

Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) is a topic that continues to grow legs throughout our Control X user community. It allows for the seamless transfer of manufacturing data to other systems for downstream applications. For example, the connecting arm below was created in Solidworks, one of the many CAD systems that support PMI. Notice that datums, dimensions with tolerances, as well as GD&T callouts are placed onto the 3D model in Solidworks. These PMI tools are [...]

When considering analytic 2D and 3D features, Control X can return a lot of useful information from manufactured features on an aligned scan. For example, when considering cylinders (holes) in a manufactured part (3D Printed, machined, etc.), Geometry Deviation analysis can return essentially all of the pertinent data required for manufacturing in terms of measuring location, size, and orientation. In the example of the gas valve below, the scan of the machined part was already [...]

There are many analytical tools available in Control X under the Measure command that are extremely useful. This edition of Metrology Minute will explore common measurements that could prove useful to metrologists. Measure Distance is a quick way of determining the approximate length of a blade, in this example, without going through the trouble of creating a 2D or 3D dimension. Just a quick vertex selection of opposing ends quickly returns an approximate distance. Measure [...]

Fitting Deviation is a settable option in the GD&T family of tools available with Control X. When checking for a GD&T value, such as Flatness, this option enables you to not only see what the fit deviation is but also shows you the results in a clear unambiguous color map display. This lets you see the exact conditions of the surface and not just whether it is in or out of tolerance. For example, the [...]