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Importing CMM results into a CAD software (SOLIDWORKS) for comparison

wowie
Hello All,

An engineer has asked me if I am able to import the CMM result I get into SOLIDWORKS so they can compare it to the CAD model. I have never tried and I don't know where to start. Is it possible? If so, how can I do it? I will try to research the topic and I hope I can get someone's help in this forum to help me along. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance...
  • Did you pay for the rights to import solidworks?
  • Hello All,

    An engineer has asked me if I am able to import the CMM result I get into SOLIDWORKS so they can compare it to the CAD model. I have never tried and I don't know where to start. Is it possible? If so, how can I do it? I will try to research the topic and I hope I can get someone's help in this forum to help me along. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance...

    There are two answers: one is YES, the other is NO.

    YES: you can manually export all measured features in the program as a single, simple, and static 3D wireframe CAD file, and you can even choose which alignment (coordinate system) to export it in. It's easy, simply File -> Export -> IGES or STEP, and follow the prompts. But read on...

    NO: the features will not match the calculated results from different datum scheme callouts - they will only match whichever PC-DMIS alignment you chose to export them in. Certain engineers, namely the ones who do not grasp GD&T too well, will not be able to understand this... and unfortunately they just happen to be the ones who ask to have CAD data exported to them because they also cannot understand the CMM report.
    Note that if you have only a single datum scheme, and you make the alignment to that scheme, then this isn't a problem.

    There's an additional issue with this analysis method: let's say a hole is egged out of round, but any CMM will take the hit data, fit a perfectly (I'm talking CAD-imaginary-world-perfect here) round circle to them and that's what gets exported. It doesn't REALLY represent the part, and can cause the engineers to think it's fine. Basic geometry lacks form data, for that you would have to scan the part and export that raw data.
  • You can use the COP export operator to export the point cloud in .igs format. This will export just the hits, not the best-fit wireframe geometry. This avoids the "perfect circle" misinterpretation issue that Josh mentions but makes it more difficult to perform other types of analysis. The great benefit is that it clearly shows exactly how you are measuring each feature and it can be easily automated so you get a point cloud with every run with no operator intervention. The point cloud will export relative to the active alignment at the time the export command is called. You can easily create multiple point clouds in a single program to export different feature groups relative to the alignment of interest for each group.
  • Why not just send them the CAD report? Adjust your point lables accordingly so hopefully the engineer will be able to understand what he/she is looking at. It is, or can be, time consuming but I think what your being asked to do wll end up being rather time consuming anyway. With the CAD report they get to see the pretty pictures and that's what they really want in the end, to see the model in relationship to the points. Hexagon should have a "Crayola" tool bar where the programmer can write notes with crayon on the reports in different colors. If you go this route just make sure you approach the engineer with a juice box /milk carton and a cheese stick and preferebly after they've had their after recess nap.
  • Why not just send them the CAD report? Adjust your point lables accordingly so hopefully the engineer will be able to understand what he/she is looking at. It is, or can be, time consuming but I think what your being asked to do wll end up being rather time consuming anyway. With the CAD report they get to see the pretty pictures and that's what they really want in the end, to see the model in relationship to the points. Hexagon should have a "Crayola" tool bar where the programmer can write notes with crayon on the reports in different colors. If you go this route just make sure you approach the engineer with a juice box /milk carton and a cheese stick and preferebly after they've had their after recess nap.

    I export as IGES on occasion. It is just an extra tool. Usually it is for designers rather than as a quality function. It has its uses. The CMM can do more than just inspect parts. Slight smile

  • Hexagon should have a "Crayola" tool bar where the programmer can write notes with crayon on the reports in different colors. If you go this route just make sure you approach the engineer with a juice box /milk carton and a cheese stick and preferebly after they've had their after recess nap.

    We tried this, they kept eating the crayons.
  • You can use the COP export operator to export the point cloud in .igs format. This will export just the hits, not the best-fit wireframe geometry. This avoids the "perfect circle" misinterpretation issue that Josh mentions but makes it more difficult to perform other types of analysis. The great benefit is that it clearly shows exactly how you are measuring each feature and it can be easily automated so you get a point cloud with every run with no operator intervention. The point cloud will export relative to the active alignment at the time the export command is called. You can easily create multiple point clouds in a single program to export different feature groups relative to the alignment of interest for each group.

    This is all kinds of awesome.
  • Hello All,

    An engineer has asked me if I am able to import the CMM result I get into SOLIDWORKS so they can compare it to the CAD model. I have never tried and I don't know where to start. Is it possible? If so, how can I do it? I will try to research the topic and I hope I can get someone's help in this forum to help me along. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance...


    Why don't you "send" this engineer to a GD&T classe, so that he could understand the report without going to CAD software ?
    How I hate when someone ask me why the theo on Catia is not the same than the measured on PC-DMIS, or when another ask me how to construct a vector on the CAD !!!!!!!
  • It seems that I cannot give the engineer what he wants using this CMM. We do have a Romer Arm, so I may still be able to do it as soon as I learn how to use it and how to export the points. Thank you all for your input and it I appreciate understanding PC-DMIS a little better.
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