Product category:
CMMs (co-ordinate measuring machines) and software
News Release from: Carl Zeiss, Metrology Division | Subject: CAD-based measuring software interfaces
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 26 September 2005
DME and interfaces open door to CALYPSO
Several interfaces have been developed by Carl Zeiss that permit the use of CALYPSO CAD-based measuring software with CMMs from non-Zeiss manufacturers.
Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology (IMT) has developed several interfaces that permit the use of CALYPSO CAD-based measuring software with coordinate measuring systems (CMMs) from non-Zeiss manufacturers In the future, all 3D coordinate measuring machines can be operated with the CALYPSO I++DME client via the I++DME interface provided they are equipped with a corresponding I++DME server to serve as a counter interface
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 26 Sep 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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CMM readily integrates into machining cells
CMM can be automated using robots, enabling it to be loaded and unloaded from three sides, thereby increasing the integration possibilities in interlinked production systems.
Carl Zeiss IMT also offers a variety of direct interfaces that allow direct connection of CALYPSO to the existing hardware.
This is not limited to 3D measuring machines.
Interfaces are also available for articulated arm measuring machines, laser trackers, and computer tomographers.
Further reading
Measure surface and contour in a single process
Dual purpose measuring instruments that feature new detector and stylus systems capture surface and contour values with a single measuring run.
Flexible detector and stylus are fast tilting
Form measuring instrument, which permits highly accurate and very fast measurement of workpieces, has a manual rotary table that can accommodate workpieces up to 30kg.
CNC form and surface measurements suit SMEs
A modular system with various table modules to automate CNC measuring processes gives SMEs the opportunity to improve their quality assurance and maximise productivity.
Retrofits of older measuring machines are now also possible with a new controller unit and sensor system.
Carl Zeiss IMT offers retrofits with proprietary components as well as standard components which allow users to benefit from CALYPSO by selecting the solution best suited to their needs.
The Oberkochen, Germany-based metrology specialists bring this fact to light with a timely expression: 'CALYPSO - One fits all'.
* Practical advantages for measuring in the process chain - CALYPSO is built around a CAD core.
This integration permits the import of comprehensive 3D models from the CAD.
As a result, all geometric elements of the 3D model, whether required or not, are available for measurement plan generation in the measuring software.
However, users are not initially interested in information on geometric elements, but require information on the features.
These include dimension, form and position tolerances.
This is exactly where CALYPSO with its feature-oriented architecture differs from other standard software packages.
The CALYPSO philosophy works primarily with these features.
One feature, squareness tolerance for example, contains all elements required for this inspection.
It includes cylinder and its reference plane, the calculation formula, the associated reference coordinate system with its alignment elements and the selected measurement strategy.
As all properties of the feature are available in the feature itself, the features can be combined with each other as desired, left out or added.
In doing so, all travel paths required between the features (including all relevant elements!) will always be dynamically recalculated.
Measuring plans for the single manufacturing segments can be thereby very easily created.
Changes to tolerances or runs can be made quickly and easily since everything only changes within a feature and does not influence the complete run.
Nowadays, the features to be inspected must no longer be selected or assigned 'by hand'.
It is accomplished completely automatically through a feature list (characteristic input) created by production.
This enables CALYPSO to complete the chain from construction (CAD 3D model) via measurement planning (feature list) to inspection (measurement plan) on the measuring machine.
With advantages that deliver clearly a measurable benefit to the customer, CALYPSO is the world's most widely used measuring software package in the powertrain area of the automobile industry today (motors, gears, drive train and undercarriage).
Until now, these benefits were limited to owners of a Zeiss coordinate measuring machine.
Carl Zeiss now offers the possibility of adapting CALYPSO to other measuring systems.
As a result, customers always have the opportunity to employ CALYPSO as an optimal solution for all of their measuring machines and for all their requirements.
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