Hi, I would like to automate the calibration process. At the moment operators should calibrate the machines twice per week. Is there any chance that I can let this do automatically in PCDMIS like at 5 am?
You can kiss the "=== Clean ===" section goodbye if you automate calibration. To answer your question as to how to auto run a program at x:xx pm weekly?
A quick and easy method is to write up some vb in an Excel sheet under on 'Open' event and thru PCDLRN automate it as
R2ah1ze1l mentioned.
In Task Scheduler create a task to execute that excel file.
BOOM AUTOMATED! Lots of details left out there but I don't have time to type it up for you. I learned this stuff by reading up on this forum! There are some freaky smart people here that have paved the roads for us!!!
If you leave the calibration program open when you leave you would only have to write a code for a start time. That would only work if every night before you left the CMM was clear of any obstacles, the qual sphere set up, and the program open. I am not sure how to set it up for time but I would think in the program you code use the systemtime to execute at a specific time. Then every morning when you got in to work the calibration program would be complete.
I use an auto calibration at the beginning of every program to make sure qualification is done every time the program is ran. Unless you run the same part without changing the probe, I give the operator an option to skip the calibration. I report the calibration results on the report so I know if it was done. We don't send reports to our customers, unless specified, but that is rare, so its only there for us.
Before I took over programming we calibrated probably once a week and the numbers were so inconsistent, but that's the way it was set up. When they did calibrate it was all angles per probe and sometimes that took 20/30 min per probe. Now it takes a few minutes because I am only calibrating angles in the program.
Good luck and I would like to hear how you proceed.
Yes I guess setting it up and pressing execute before you leave every night would mean it was qualified when you come in the next day.
Simple works
Good luck and I hope things work out for you.
Not the case with the new Global Chromes. We have 5 of them and when the air goes down on a Saturday night sometimes the Z axis drops, and the probe hits the table. We can't get the operators to shut off the controller after Saturday shift. It is not always the same machine either. Hexagon - No problem there.