I'm a new CMM user, having recently taken the PC-DMIS 101 training, and I'm having difficulty synchronizing my imported CAD with the machine. I've searched through the forum for similar issues, but nothing has helped yet. I may simply be skipping a step, as I'm inexperienced. Here's my issue:
I import a CAD (STEP) file into PC-DMIS, and it shows up on the cad view. I create features for an alignment (plane, cylinder, plane in this case) using the program mode by selecting points with the mouse, and then I create the alignment feature itself. When I execute the program, I move the stylus with the joystick to manually probe those features on the part. However, when I'm finished, the graphics of the features appear at different locations on the screen and don't "jump" to the CAD like I recall from training. If I try to run any other movements in DCC after that, I get an out-of-stroke error, since the targets (e.g., other features I programmed using the CAD) are far away from the probe-measured features, and the machine doesn't like that.
I've tried simple fixes like restarting the CMM, the computer, and the software a few times. I've also tried using an iterative alignment with a plane, line, and point, as well as other alignments. I also tried re-exporting the CAD from our CAD software and then re-importing it into PC-DMIS. I've considered that I could manually move the CAD by offsetting it, but that seems like a cheat that would work once and now for future files.
Am I way off base, or am I just missing a simple step? I'd appreciate any suggestions and help. Thanks!
First things first your out of stroke error is simply your moves are out past where the CMM can travel. As far as the measurements away from the part, remember where actually you home the machine to be 0,0,0 in the X,Y,and Z in the upper left hand corner, that's where it PC-DMIS thinks its starting, and when you put the part in the middle of the table, and you start to establish your manual alignment, based off the reference points created from the CAD. DO NOT TREAT YOUR CAD MODEL AS AN ACTUAL PART, REFERENCE ONLY. If you done everything correct, normally if you put your cursor anywhere past your alignments. You'll see the features go back to the CAD model
First things first your out of stroke error is simply your moves are out past where the CMM can travel. As far as the measurements away from the part, remember where actually you home the machine to be 0,0,0 in the X,Y,and Z in the upper left hand corner, that's where it PC-DMIS thinks its starting, and when you put the part in the middle of the table, and you start to establish your manual alignment, based off the reference points created from the CAD. DO NOT TREAT YOUR CAD MODEL AS AN ACTUAL PART, REFERENCE ONLY. If you done everything correct, normally if you put your cursor anywhere past your alignments. You'll see the features go back to the CAD model