Metrology Minute

2 12, 2021

Metrology Minute – Inspect Using Control X Without a Nominal CAD Model

By |2021-12-02T08:27:58-05:00December 2nd, 2021|Categories: Metrology Minute|0 Comments

The optimal workflow in Control X for inspection is to compare the scan of a manufactured part to its corresponding nominal CAD model. This is done by first aligning the scan to the CAD model, typically utilizing datums for the alignment. Once the alignment is complete, any type of dimension, whether feature size, distance, GD&T, etc. may be derived by essentially comparing the dimensions of the scan to those of the nominal CAD model. The [...]

2 11, 2021

Metrology Minute – Geometry Deviation

By |2021-11-02T09:42:51-04:00November 2nd, 2021|Categories: Metrology Minute|0 Comments

Geometry Deviation is a tool for measuring essentially everything that might be relevant for size, orientation, and location for a specific feature. For example, when measuring geometry deviation for a cylinder, the criteria of interest would likely be the size, location, and centerline axis direction as they all compare to the nominal (exact) CAD model. As you review the data blocks below, Control X can compare the scan data values to the CAD data values [...]

5 10, 2021

Control X Color Map Fitting Tolerances through GD&T

By |2021-10-05T09:15:16-04:00October 5th, 2021|Categories: Metrology Minute|0 Comments

This month's Metrology Minute will focus on a capability of Control X called Color Map Fitting, which is an extremely useful ON and OFF switch to use for analyzing the results of a GD&T callout. GD&T will typically check for a specific criteria to be within an acceptable tolerance and the user is looking for a Pass or Fail response. Consider a connecting arm that looks like the one below. Where Datum A is the top [...]

8 09, 2021

Metrology Minute – Choosing a Scanner for Metrology

By |2021-09-08T08:31:42-04:00September 8th, 2021|Categories: Metrology Minute|0 Comments

Choosing a scanner for metrology is a topic that comes up often when companies look to deploy non-contact inspection and question what criteria they should use when choosing a scanner for their company. We have covered this topic in detail at some recent Cimquest events but have had several customers ask more questions. Here are some of the highlights of these presentations. Accuracy vs Resolution Accuracy is the accuracy of the points acquired on the [...]

5 08, 2021

Metrology Minute Cylindricity

By |2021-08-05T11:02:21-04:00August 5th, 2021|Categories: Metrology Minute|0 Comments

Cylindricity – Similarities & Differences Between Related Callouts While this month’s segment is focused on Cylindricity we will also review several of the GD&T Callouts discussed previously (and a few not previously discussed but relevant to this month’s discussion) along with some of the similarities, as well as subtle differences between them. Cylindricity is a form of control tolerance that dictates both the roundness and center-axis straightness of a cylindrical part. If you consider the [...]

8 07, 2021

Metrology Minute – Flatness

By |2021-07-08T08:24:48-04:00July 8th, 2021|Categories: 3D Scanning, Metrology Minute|0 Comments

In continuing our series on GD&T callouts, today's Metrology Minute focuses on Flatness. Flatness is a very simple callout that focuses on just how flat a particular surface is without making reference to any specific datum. Very often, a Flatness callout can determine whether a job shop is able to face mill a surface to its finished dimension or if grinding and perhaps outside services are required to achieve the necessary Flatness. If a specific [...]

9 06, 2021

Metrology Minute – Runout and Total Runout in GD&T

By |2021-06-09T08:18:05-04:00June 9th, 2021|Categories: Metrology Minute|0 Comments

In continuing our Metrology Minute focus on GD&T, this month we will discuss Runout and Total Runout. Simply defined, Runout is how much a model feature varies with respect to a datum when the part is rotated about the datum’s axis 360 degrees. The datum in question would necessarily be an axisymmetric feature. It generally involves the analysis of a circular feature that is created when taking a single point tool and rotating it around [...]

6 05, 2021

Metrology Minute May

By |2021-05-06T14:19:06-04:00May 6th, 2021|Categories: Metrology Minute|0 Comments

The Benefit of using GD&T and a Positional Tolerance vs +/- Tolerances When creating a part like the one below, the intent of the four holes is likely to fasten this component to another in the final assembly where the round holes will accept round fasteners. We want to look for a way to maximize our tolerance to provide as few scrapped parts as possible. A typical dimensioning scheme using +/- tolerances might look something [...]

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