EUROPEAN NEWS
Q1-2008
IIN THIS
SSUE:
Introduction
PC-DMIS™ andgeometrical Tolerances
Hints and tips- New dimensions formata real example
PC-DMIS™ quick tips
Hexagon MetrologyUK News
Contact Point
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NEWS
Q1-2008
2
INTRODUCTION
Welcome
Ian Wilcox
Newsletter brief
Anyone contributing an article that is published will receive agoody bag of Hexagon Metrology marketing gifts.
to this issue of our PC-DMIS newsletter. In this issue we will be focusing ongeometrical tolerancing and it application. This is a huge subject and one that hasfallen into neglect by a lot of manufacturing companies. The standards have continuedto expand and develop but the offerings in terms of skills training has not kept up. Thisis something Hexagon Metrology are addressing with skills courses on GD&T from abasic understanding to advanced application, whether you have a CMM or not. This isthe first in a series of articles on GD&T, covering the basics including datuming anddoes not require you to understand PC-DMIS. (See page 3)
We then follow this with some simple graphic examples of how PC-DMIS looks withGD&T and the changes that have affected V4.2 in this area. If you are strugglingapplying GD&T both from a core skills level or just 'which button do I press in PC-DMIS'call our applications team using the contact details on the back page of this newsletter.
Next we have two pages of 'quick fire tips' and 'did you knows' that were delivered atour software seminar in December last year. If you are under warranty or have asoftware contract you are entitled to attend these seminars free, they offer free trainingon new versions and lots of hints and tips on the best practice application of PC-DMIS.
Over the last two years Hexagon Metrology Ltd has embarked upon a series ofchanges designed to make our business more efficient and to improve our support toyou our valued customers. On page 14 we talk to David Brown, UK General Managerand Director to take us through some of those changes and the improvements you ourcustomers will or may have already seen.
I hope this newsletter provides you with bothinteresting and useful information, so pleaseread on.
Aftermarket Business Development Manager
Each new issue of the newsletter will be sent to you approximately every three Monthsso make sure you keep in touch with us and PC-DMIS. If you did not receive our lastissue or want to be added to the distribution list, please contact Hexagon Metrologyusing the numbers on the back page.
Please feel free to send your feedback comments and any ideas you may have aboutthe newsletter to me at:
Who knows you may want to write your own hints and tips article thatwe may publish or have an interesting application story that highlightsboth PC-DMIS and your company.
UK N EEWS AND VENTS
Q1-2008
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PC-DMIS T™ AND GEOMETRICAL OLERANCES
Here we start a series of articles on the application of the Geometrical tolerancing yousee day to day when measuring complex parts. It will go on to explain in simple termsthe basic method for each type of tolerance.
Underpinning all the GD&T is the datum structure so to recap in a basic way here is theprincipals of the datum reference.
Knowledge of component alignments is a requirement to successfully achieve thedatum reference system requirements of Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing(GD & T)
The can be defined by a minimum of 3 point contact on a surface or bythe generation of a 3DAxis through a minimum of 2 features.
The can be defined from a minimum of 2 points, of an edge orthrough an axis relative to the Primary datum
The can be defined by a minimum of one point in relation to thePrimary and secondary datum's
PC-DMIS follows ASME Y14.5M-1994 in how datums are used to build a datumreference frame alignment. Datums constrain degrees of freedom.
Datum Reference System (Alignment/Co-ordinate system)
(LEVEL)
(ROTATE)
(ORIGIN)
Note: The above is achieved by the successful implementation of thealignment routines available within PCDMIS as trained and assessed onboth the PCDMIS Level 1 and Level 2 courses
Primary Datum
Secondary Datum
Tertiary Datum
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H GD&T PC-DMISOW TO APPLY IN
Flat face orCylindercentreline
Usually a face90 degrees tothe primarydatum
Usually anintersection point orcircle projected tothe primary datum
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PC-DMIS T™ AND GEOMETRICAL OLERANCES
There are six degrees of freedom available: translation in X, Y, Z (TX,TY,TZ) androtation about X, Y, Z (RX, RY, RZ). The primary datum constrains as many degrees offreedom as the primary datum feature type allows. The secondary datum constrainsas many of the remaining degrees of freedom as the secondary datum feature typeallows. The tertiary datum constrains the remaining degrees of freedom.
For example, assume a plane on the top surface of a part as primary datum, a cylinderperpendicular to the plane as a secondary datum, and a line on the front surface of apart as a tertiary datum. The primary plane will constrain rotation about X and Y (RX,RY) and translation in Z (TZ). The secondary cylinder will constrain translation in Xand Y (TX, TY). The tertiary line will constrain rotation about Z (RZ).
Now assume the same datum features, but the order of datums has been changed toprimary plane, secondary line, tertiary cylinder. Again, the primary plane will constrainrotation about X and Y (RX,RY) and translation in Z (TZ). The secondary line willconstrain rotation about Z (RZ) and translation in Y (TY). The secondary lineeffectively defines the X axis. The tertiary cylinder will constrain only translation in X(TX), since this is the only degree of freedom remaining.
From this example, it is clear that the order of datums is important sincePlane,Cylinder,Line does not produce the same alignment as Plane,Line,Cylinder. Itis important that the user understand this and not think of datums in the traditionalsense of Level,Rotate,Origin that is used for other alignments.
The Feature Control Frame tab gives helps you construct a Feature Control Frame(FCF). It provides you with the tools to define datum features, select the features usedin the FCF dimension, an editor to define the specific symbols, tolerances, anddatum's used in your FCF, and a preview area to see the current state of the FCF asyou build it. For information on the various items in this tab, see the list of controlsbelow:
– This box displays the name for the FCF. You can edit it if you want somethingdifferent.
This list displays available features for the particular FCF type. Somefeatures may exist in the part program, but are not available to the feature controlframe. For example, a plane feature is not available to Circularity. PC-DMIS updatesthis list after you select the first feature. This ensures that when you create a pattern offeatures for the FCF, those features are compatible features.
Shows all the datum's defined with DATDEF commands. It only lists datumfeatures above the current cursor position in the Edit window.
This list shows the same features that you selected from the Featureslist. Each feature has a check box associated with it. When you select a check box, PC-DMIS draws a leader line in the Graphics Display window from the FCF to that feature.By default, PC-DMIS initially displays all possible leader lines, but you can clear checkboxes to turn off leader lines as well.
GD&T Dialog Box - Feature Control Frame tab
ID
Features
Datum's
Leader Lines
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–
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Q1-2008
H GD&T PC-DMISOW TO APPLY IN [CONTINUED]
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NEWS
Q1-2008
PC-DMIS T™ AND GEOMETRICAL OLERANCES
H GD&T PC-DMISOW TO APPLY IN [CONTINUED]
Feature Control Frame Editor
Planar Zone
– This area lets you apply changes to the FCF. You canselect fields with the mouse or by pressing TAB and then ENTER to place the field intoedit mode. If the field is editable, it will either display a drop-down list of availableoptions, or it will display a box into which you can type text. When finished editing afield, press ENTER, TAB, or click on a different field to exit the edit mode. PressingSHIFT + TAB will move backwards to the previous field.
When a field is empty a short description is displayed with brackets around it foridentification. These descriptions correspond to these fields:
<MC> - Material condition<D> - Diameter
– This button appears in the FeatureControl Frame Editor area of this tab, if you have a TruePosition FCF and the tolerance zone is set to a planarzone. To enable this button, select the diameter symbolfrom the FCF editor and set it to blank as shown here:
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<Dim> - Dimension or feature control frame type<PZ> - Projected zone<num> - Number of features<nom> - Nominal of feature size<+tol> - Plus tolerance<-tol> - Minus tolerance<tol> - Tolerance<dat> - Datum<sym> - Dimension symbol<add notes here> - Note field in the first line<add optional design notes> - Optional design notes in the last line
Tolerance Shapes Modifiers
GeometricControl
(Symbol)
ToleranceZone
PrimaryDatum
SecondaryDatum
TertiaryDatum
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Q1-2008
Once the Planar Zone button appears, you can click it to open the Planar ZoneDirection dialog box.
The Planar Zone Direction dialog box lets you specify the direction vector for the planarzone in one of two ways:
Select the Axis option. Then from the Axis list, select an axis from the list:X, Y, or Z.Select the Vector option. Then in the I, J, and K boxes, type the directionvector.
Datum Definitions This button provides you with easy access to the Datum Definitionsdialog box, allowing you to define datums for your current FCF dimension.
– This area contains the Composite check box. Thischeck box controls whether or not the primary dimension row and secondarydimension row should use the same symbol in a single merged cell that spans bothrows.
If you clear the check box, the primary and secondary rows display with separatesymbols, even if the symbol represents the same thing.
– This section displays hints and instructions to assist you inbuilding valid FCFs.
– This section displays a preview of the FCF with the current settings. It willnot include any of the empty fields or empty descriptions that appear in the FeatureControl Frame Editor section, for example fields that have brackets, such as “<dat>”.
In the Feature Control Frame Editor area be aware that some of the icon fields, if theyare not supported will not appear for certain dimensions. For example, if you haveCircularity dimension, PC-DMIS displays the tolerance field, but hides any datum ormodifier fields.
(Circularity, Straightness, Cylindricity, Flatness) – These don'tsupport datum's or modifies, so these fields will not appear. Profile in some cases willfall in this category when checking for "Form only". But "Form and Location" for Profiledimensions allows the display of modifiers.
(Parallelism, Perpendicularity, Angularity, Runout,Concentricity, Coaxiality) – These allow datum's and modifiers.
(True Position, Profile with Form and Location) – These allowdatum's and modifiers.
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Feature Control Frame Options
(SeeAppendix)
Actions and Procedures
Preview
Notes on the Feature Control Frame Editor
Form dimensions
Orientation dimensions
Position dimensions
Other dimensions (Distance andAngle Between) – These don't allow datum's.
Distance and Angle Between are not supported in FCF's. They are available only aslegacy dimensions. Symmetry in FCF's requires at least one datum.
H GD&T PC-DMISOW TO APPLY IN [CONTINUED]
PC-DMIS T™ AND GEOMETRICAL OLERANCES
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PC-DMIS T™ AND GEOMETRICAL OLERANCES
Also, only these dimensions can have multiple lines in the editor:
Profile also supports composite callouts (two lines in the FCF). In addition, flatnessper unit area (V42+) is a two line callout.
True PositionParallelismPerpendicularity
In FCF's, circularity is calculated using a Chebychev algorithm. In legacy dimension,the circularity is calculated from the least squares solution (or user selected featuresolution algorithm) of the measured feature.
– in this example the shape of the diameter tobe produced and measured should be round within a tolerancezone of 0.025 The tolerance is specified by a zone bounded bytwo concentric circles.If legacy dimensioning is activated then figure 1 will appear ready for the tolerancerequirements to be inserted. Alternatively if legacy dimensioning is not active thenfigure 2 will appear ready for the tolerance requirements to be inserted.
Measure required featureSelect from the dimension sectionSelect feature (1)Change feature label if required (2)Insert toleranceSet outputs with advanced tab
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Circularity
Circularity also known as Roundness
FORM TOLERANCES
circleCircularity
(cir1)(datum diameter)
(3) (0.025)
� Create
H GD&T PC-DMISOW TO APPLY IN [CONTINUED]
0.025
Figure 1
Figure 2
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Straightness
Straightness can be defined as the maximum allowabledeviation away from a straight line or axis within thetolerance zone
Measure required featureSelect from the dimension sectionSelect featureInsert required toleranceChange label(optional)
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Flatness
Flatness can be defined as the maximum allowable deviation on a surface within thetolerance zone
Measure required featureSelect from the dimension sectionSelect featureInsert required toleranceChange label (optional)
LineStraightness
(lin1)(0.1)
(Angled Edge)
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PlaneFlatness
(pln1)(0.1)
Create
H GD&T PC-DMISOW TO APPLY IN [CONTINUED]
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PC-DMIS T™ AND GEOMETRICAL OLERANCES
Q1-2008
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PC-DMIS T™ AND GEOMETRICAL OLERANCES
Q1-2008
H GD&T PC-DMISOW TO APPLY IN [CONTINUED]
Cylindricity
Common standards for Geometric Tolerancing are:
In FCF's the cylindricity is calculated using a Chebychevalgorithm. In legacy dimension, the cylindricity is calculated from the least squaressolution (or user selected feature solution algorithm) of the measured feature.
Cylindricity can be defined as the maximum allowable deviation of all points on asurface of revolution equi distant from a common axis within the a tolerance zonedefined by two cylinders
Measure required featureSelect from the dimension sectionSelect featureInsert required toleranceChange label(optional)
ISO (Various, including 1101:2004, 5458:1998,5459:1981)(web site www.iso.ch)British Standards BS8888:2006 Technical Product Specifications(web site www.bsi.org.uk)ASME Y14.5 M(web site www.asme.org)Company specific check to see if your company has its own adaptedGD&T standards
•
•
•
•
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CylinderCylindricity
(cyl1)(0.1)
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0.010
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Q1-2008
N D EEW IMENSIONS FORMAT A REAL XAMPLE
With the new version ofPC-Dmis you can continueusing dimensions in the oldformat just selecting theoption “use legacydimensions” in this menu
Feature Control Framesallow you to select geometrictolerances to match the onesshown by your drawings.
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Beatriz BerazaApplications ~ Spain
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H TINTS AND IPS
Q1-2008
N D EEW IMENSIONS FORMAT A REAL XAMPLE [CONTINUED]
Here you can establish datum's as referencesfor the element being controlled
In the advanced options tab you should selectthe reference frame between current alignmentand datum reference. Be careful! Depending onthe case the theoretical data can differ!
Now it is also possible to establish flatness perunit area
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PC housekeeping
PC-DMIS programs
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If you need to reinstall PC-DMIS do thisfrom the original CD or ask you local officefor a replacement
Regularly back up your PC files
Do not use spaces in your feature names use theunderscore, for example CIR_1
You will need full administrator rights toInstall PC-DMISThe license key (portlock) that you haveplugged into your PC (Printer or USB type)will dictate what functionality is availableafter installationEnsure your Graphics drivers are up to dateand are WHQLcertified.
If possible give all operators their ownWindows log in as this will allowPC-DMIS to generate their own personalprofile, in which case PC-DMIS keeps thescreen layout and settings for thatindividual ready for when they log on again.
Do not use Mathematical symbols or punctuations infeature names other than underscore.Do not copy, cut or paste features into or out of analignment.
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PC-DMIS Q T™ UICK IPS
Q1-2008
S H T PC-DMIS UOME ONE LINE INTS AND IPS FOR SERS
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File management
Neil Capper
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Make sure you know where your programs, probes and alignments arebeing stored. Knowing how your search paths are set within PC-DMISmakes for less mistakes when calling back named files as they could beold duplicate names. Also it is good practice when creating a newprogram to save copies at various stages even using <File Save As…>and give the program slightly different version names, this gives youbackups as you go. (Remember to clean old programs off your system).
If you are back saving programs or opening programs jumping more than2 versions of PC-DMIS at a time please be aware that certain functionalitymay not be supported so please check.
If you are printing results from yourprogram then use either the print com
mand or File Printing. Do not use both atthe same time.
Applications ~ UK
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PC-DMIS Q T™ UICK IPS
Q1-2008
S H T PC-DMIS UOME ONE LINE INTS AND IPS FOR SERS [CONTINUED]
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H M UK NEXAGON ETROLOGY EWS
C S I – Y JUSTOMER UPPORT MPROVEMENTS OUR TWO EAR OURNEY
NEWS
Q1-2008
“Our goal in the aftermarket business is to continuously improve, expand and deliverour portfolio of products and services for the UK customers and be recognised as theNo1 in this Market”
In 2004 when Hexagon Metrology took over what was then DEA Brown and SharpeLtd. The goal was to take a company with a worldwide reputation for the manufactureand sales of Co-ordinate measuring machines and make it into the number onemetrology solutions company. To achieve this Hexagon expanded their marketpenetration through acquisition of other metrology companies, with these in place they
then started on the road to broaden their metrology rangeand heavily invest in new technology, all then boundtogether with the number one CAD measuring softwarePC-DMIS.
“Our Purpose is to provide excellent value and responsiveness to our customers whilstensuring profitability in the aftermarket business” .
It was recognised that as our product portfolio grew we needed to match that with ahigh level of customer support, through services and products.
“It is essential, in order to secure growth and profitability, that we continually review thenew products, services and business development plans. As we move forward thechallenges are three fold; firstly handling the increasing demands from the Market for'value for money', 'quality' and 'responsiveness'; secondly a continuous investmentlevel in the customer support business infrastructure to ensure we remain efficient, andfinally creation of a proactive Management environment so we can act to expand intonew market sectors with our products”
Many changes have been introduced in this period some small some major changes toour structure.All have been undertaken with the goal of improving customer support. Itdoes not stop there continuous feedback and improvement are now our norm, we havea new cross business customer database on the way and early in 2008 we willintroduce a new telephone system that will improve our customer contact withinHexagon Metrology Ltd.
David Brown,General Manager / DirectorHexagon Metrology Ltd.
David Brown
David Brown
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H M UK NEXAGON ETROLOGY EWS
C S I – Y JUSTOMER UPPORT MPROVEMENTS OUR TWO EAR OURNEY [CONTINUED]
Q1-2008
New Europe widetraining methodsoverhauled, manualsand candidateworkbooks introduced
Hexagon machineservice administrationmoved to Telford
Component storeslocated to Telord
Portable service groupconsolidated in MiltonKeynes
Refurbishment ofTelford site, revampedshowroom andreception, plus adedicated subcontractInspection area built
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C PONTACT OINT
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Q1-2008
UK C IONTACT NFORMATION
All customer support is coordinated through our Telfordhead office. For best response times please use thenumbers below as this number is answered by a team ofpeople who if they cannot help directly will get you to theperson who can quickly.
Mechanical maintenance, service and or repair ofCMM's, Arms and trackers including Calibration /verification, contract or at point of need optionsavailable. CMM,Arms and laser trackersProbe replacements and competitively priced styli
Software Support Contracts (PC-DMIS), Partprogramming and measurement package solutions,Operator cover, Elbow support / Skills and producttraining, Upgrades and retrofits
Mechanical service and calibration of CMM's,Calibration / verification of CMM's andArms
UKAS Calibration LaboratoryAccredited measurement trainingInspector coverFixture design / Modular fixing kits, small to large partholding plus enclosuresContract Inspection, fixed machine, portable and highaccuracy
Mechanical services
Software services
Mechanical services
Other services
FOR CUSTOMER SUPPORT
0870 446 2667
0870 446 2668
Hexagonmetrology.com
(all calls at national rate)
or
Services available for Hexagon Metrology products:
Services available for other metrology products:
Puplication Data:
Editor:
In Co-operation with:
Creators:
Printers:
Hexagon Metrology GmbH
Vertrieb COSiegmund-Hiepe-Strasse 2-12D-35578 WetzlarGERMANY
Hexagon Metrology Ltd.Metrology HouseHalesfield 13TelfordTF7 4PLUK
Peter HelbersIan WilcoxSusanne Volkmer
Friedrich-Druck GmbHD-35581 Wetzlar-MünchholzhausenGERMANY