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CAD Synchronization Issues

Andy M
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!
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  • And....that was it! figured it out. I leveled to Z, rotated, and set the X&Y origin, but forgot the Z origin for my alignments! And alignment theory is like the first lesson we studied at training, so I feel stupid. I fixed that up, and on the next run, my alignment immediately snapped to the CAD after the alignment and the DCC portion started running correctly (albeit at minimum speed because I'm nervous). I'll probably start more newbie threads when I get to debugging, but this fixed my issue. Thanks for the help, everyone!
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  • And....that was it! figured it out. I leveled to Z, rotated, and set the X&Y origin, but forgot the Z origin for my alignments! And alignment theory is like the first lesson we studied at training, so I feel stupid. I fixed that up, and on the next run, my alignment immediately snapped to the CAD after the alignment and the DCC portion started running correctly (albeit at minimum speed because I'm nervous). I'll probably start more newbie threads when I get to debugging, but this fixed my issue. Thanks for the help, everyone!
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  • in reply to Andy M
    The not setting the Z zero to the leveling plane is extremely common early on, and still will bite the experienced programmer on occasion, so consider it a rite of passage...

    Now, this is unorthodox, and some will bite back, but here's the deal. You've been taught 1) level, 2) offset (rotate), 3) origin. That's solid advice, you'll never go wrong following that. However, you can set your Z zero to a plane immediately after leveling to it.
  • in reply to Andy M
    it seems to be the new way of teaching the alignment. Level, rotate, and then origin the three axis. I much prefer Level, origin, rotate, origin and then the final origin. I find that people are less likely to forget the origin if they do it right after the level or rotate of the same feature.
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