Can a hexagon CMM run Modus software. It’s from Renishaw. Can a hexagon CMM run both and just switch over? Is that something that is commonly done with pcdmis and other CMM software?
I don't think there is a way to run both PC-DMIS and Modus on the same CMM. My boss here just left Renishaw a year or so ago and he says that a Modus retrofit involves replacing all the control elements, Scales, controller, etc. After all that you can't get the machine to run PC-DMIS anymore.
I worked with a Renishaw Equator back when it was kinda new. Renishaw gave me a basic script that could be used to make .CAL files with PC-DMIS programs, but is it ever a pain. It has been a few years so things may have changed, but I found that if you measure everything with simple measured features (no scans, no auto features) you can create a .CAL file from PC-DMIS using their script and then export the DMIS program to run on the Equator with just a few tweaks. There were always a couple little things that did not export well like a few parameters, most of which you would want to change for a different machine anyways. However, if I recall, I think I had to redo all the dimensioning in Modus. So, any reporting features available in Modus could be used after the fact, including GD&T stuff.
With that said I really have to suggest you use Renishaw's service of creating programs and .CAL files for you. I often spent 50-60 hours to make relatively simple CMM programs for the Equator. With that many hours spent on each program it would have cost the company far less to have Renishaw do the work and they could use a lot more of the software functions, making a better/faster program.
I do not miss working with an Equator at all. Good luck.
I don't think there is a way to run both PC-DMIS and Modus on the same CMM. My boss here just left Renishaw a year or so ago and he says that a Modus retrofit involves replacing all the control elements, Scales, controller, etc. After all that you can't get the machine to run PC-DMIS anymore.
I worked with a Renishaw Equator back when it was kinda new. Renishaw gave me a basic script that could be used to make .CAL files with PC-DMIS programs, but is it ever a pain. It has been a few years so things may have changed, but I found that if you measure everything with simple measured features (no scans, no auto features) you can create a .CAL file from PC-DMIS using their script and then export the DMIS program to run on the Equator with just a few tweaks. There were always a couple little things that did not export well like a few parameters, most of which you would want to change for a different machine anyways. However, if I recall, I think I had to redo all the dimensioning in Modus. So, any reporting features available in Modus could be used after the fact, including GD&T stuff.
With that said I really have to suggest you use Renishaw's service of creating programs and .CAL files for you. I often spent 50-60 hours to make relatively simple CMM programs for the Equator. With that many hours spent on each program it would have cost the company far less to have Renishaw do the work and they could use a lot more of the software functions, making a better/faster program.
I do not miss working with an Equator at all. Good luck.
