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

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.

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.