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

This isnt the answer the Boss may want to hear but, sometimes when I get prompted by some engineers for data that may not really tell them anything, or you know darn well is "worthless" for what they are trying to do except make alot of work for you, I like to go with " I dont think its capable" or I will look into that ( possibly next month..) or something similar.... I had to dodge an Engineer at a customer for months who wanted me to contact hexagon and ask them to put in a enahncement into DMIS that would allow for the type of MATERIAL I was checking so it could accomodate the thermal expansion of the parts we were making / inspecting at varried temperatures....He really thought this was a simple straight forward request and was amazed that the software didnt do it already.

I had to dodge an Engineer at a customer for months who wanted me to contact hexagon and ask them to put in a enahncement into DMIS that would allow for the type of MATERIAL I was checking so it could accomodate the thermal expansion of the parts we were making / inspecting at varried temperatures....He really thought this was a simple straight forward request and was amazed that the software didnt do it already.

Actually, it does do that. We have Part Temperature Compensation. Run a search for Temp Comp.

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.

Can you post here your best guess at what the engineer wants?

I need to move my post to "what has DMIS done for me" in the OFF TOPIC. As in "feel stupid" yet again... I will look into that a bit closer tomorrow. Thanks Josh.

I need to move my post to "what has DMIS done for me" in the OFF TOPIC. As in "feel stupid" yet again... I will look into that a bit closer tomorrow. Thanks Josh.

Don't worry about it, I get schooled on PC-DMIS all the time by folks (some here) who know waaayyyy more than me.

I really don't like telling the engineers that the CMM is not capable if I know it is. Main reason being I want them to LIKE the CMM and what it brings to the table. If they feel like, as a tool, it is limited then it becomes really difficult to get money allocated when we want to upgrade. I am preparing to go to a Hexagon office in a week or so to test drive an Optiv Vision system and ask about upgrading our current machine. Initially the Bosses were partial to Zeiss because they felt the B&S machine we have was lacking. They bought a B&S ONE 7-10-7 years ago. I have finally won them over to the fact that it's not B&S it's just that they bought a machine that isn't designed to do all the things they want it to do. What it does do it does well and it's a solid machine but it's to small, it's not as accurate as they would like AND we really need Vision capabilities as well as scanning. They don't want to hear about the climate control either though. Hard to check anything down to .002mm without climate control in the lab on a B&S One 7-10-7. It's like they know it's important and that it affects outcomes but they just don't care. That's all fine and good but then they seem to want what they want when the report prints off. It's been a long hard battle but I think I've finally made my case to the right people and now thigs are lining up. My point being be careful if you use the excuse "The machine is not capable" because it could come back to bite you some day. Just my .02

My point being be careful if you use the excuse "The machine is not capable" because it could come back to bite you some day. Just my .02

+1.... Very well said.