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External alignment file

Lepage
I have heard that one can save an alignment as a file to be called up later and used in another program to where you can have a number of programs which use this one alignment file and therefore e.g. only need to do one initial align that can be used for a number of programs.
I have tried this and the program has ignored the inserted external alignment command file completely.

Does anyone know what the right procedure is to get this to function properly?
  • Save alignment / recall external alignment ??

    Nearly every program I generate recalls an external alignment of the receiver we have on each machine. Each machine has it's own saved so a program written on any CMM will run on any CMM. The fixture the part is placed in will fit the receiver on each machine so the "location" is the same relative to the receiver. Just gotta watch operational envelopes from machine to machine.

    Have fun,

    TK
  • You have to make sure that your SEARCH PATHS are set correctly. I have mine set to CURRENT for the SAVE & RECALL. Of course, this means that the alignment program AND check program MUST be in the same directory.

    Ok, good I've done that. One more question. Do I have to equate the alignment after inserting the recall command into the other program?
  • If you are adding the recall external alignment to an existing program, add the statement prior to any manual alignment features. Then, run the program including the manual alignment one time to teach the location of the part in relation to the external alignment.

    For new programs, just make sure you add a recall statement referencing the external alignment before you start teaching any manual alignment features. Then it's just programming like normal.
  • I use following it works for me. Will need to set the paths.

    Build your alignment program and use this format on the last line of your program.

    SAVE/ALIGNMENT,A1,your_program_name.aln,BOTH

    Use this format in the program you want to import the alignment into

    RECALL/ALIGNMENT,EXTERNAL,a1,your_program_name:a1

    I have heard that one can save an alignment as a file to be called up later and used in another program to where you can have a number of programs which use this one alignment file and therefore e.g. only need to do one initial align that can be used for a number of programs.
    I have tried this and the program has ignored the inserted external alignment command file completely.

    Does anyone know what the right procedure is to get this to function properly?
  • You also have to choose where you save and recall alignments (in the config folders)
  • No, you don't have to do ANYTHING other than recall the alignment.

    Ok, great! Thanks for the help.
  • You have to make sure that your SEARCH PATHS are set correctly. I have mine set to CURRENT for the SAVE & RECALL. Of course, this means that the alignment program AND check program MUST be in the same directory.

    i use a folder in the root install of pc*dmis named (oddly enough) 'RECALL'. Then set search path to this and no worries. All external alignments go in there.

    Save alignment / recall external alignment ??

    Nearly every program I generate recalls an external alignment of the receiver we have on each machine. Each machine has it's own saved so a program written on any CMM will run on any CMM. The fixture the part is placed in will fit the receiver on each machine so the "location" is the same relative to the receiver. Just gotta watch operational envelopes from machine to machine.

    Have fun,

    TK

    we use pretty much same system. our 'receiver' is called the 'zerorail' and is just an 'L' with legs of equal length bolted to the granite. And yeah, each machine has it's own. call me paranoid, but i hid the machine # (right click) in the zerorail.ALN file properties... just in case some cave monkey had acted on the urge to swap 'em. at my place? no 2nd shift incident surprises me anymore.
  • I have been working on the same thing here trying to get the three CMMs to run one program with a master location. We made sub plates with a central location and I created the program to save the zero point of the plate on each of these machines. It recalls fine at the individual level and even when you open the program up on a different machine after just running it on a different machine. Load the part at the zero point and move the probe down to zero it looks good but when I click on th marked set to run it. The locations from the manual pickup change to match that of the previous machine, the machine envelopes and home positions are not quite the same about 6 inches different. Everything looks good until I press execute then all heck breaks loose.

    I want to be able to utilize one program with out manually picking the part up every time no matter what machine I am on. In the old Measure Max software I was able to dictate the home position of each machine so the center of the table of each machine was zero. I have not tried skipping the manual pickup all together by deleting it and going straight to DCC programming yet. Any ideas?
  • Scott, we have most programs ask operator if part is fixtured correctly (link to a powerpoint file if they need) and when asked if OK? program goes right into DCC, regardless of machine. (our 2 CMMs don't have the same home position either, i don't think any out there are identical twins)
    Maybe you could post the code? With 2 (obviously) different 'zero' alignments stored/recalled on the individual CMM boxes under the same name, you should have no problems.
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