CMM Health

Also, we don't have CMM operators. Operators run CNC machines which includes loading parts on the CMM and running the program with no manual alignments needed. I have dedicated fixutring and external alignments for that. Do you let your NON CMM operators clean the scales or is that something you have to do yourself? I've always told my people that only I and my other programmer would do.

Anyone here use the swift check artifact the Hexagon sells? Can you share the pros/cons about it?

We recently bought a Quik Chek artifact from Glastonbury Gage. Had to write my own programs for it. Just barely started on this journey so I can't tell you any pros or cons on the Quik Chek.
Discovered Hexagons Swift Check about a week after writing the PO. I probably would have gone with the swift check simply for the fact that Hexagon as supposedly done all the work for you and it's officially a Hexagon product and should be supported by them..

As far as it being only for dexing heads, you 'should' be able to use a star probe but really need to verify with Hexagon.

Where I work we run a verification program on a daily basis. It just measures the Dia and the X Y Z of the calibration sphere with each probe and compares them to the master probe that sets the 0,0,0 at the beginning of the program. At the end, if all values are within a few microns the program calibrates a "non existing" probe. All our programs check if the last calibration of this probe is within 24 hours and if so they proceed to the actual measurement. If not they prompt the user to run the verification program prior to measuring and in fact to "unlock" the cmms..

Another way to "increase trust" is to correlate your CMM programs to your previously established inspection techniques.

Due to the level of our work, I had to create a documented procedure for this. We call it our "CMM Program Correlation Procedure".

If you want, PM me your email & I'll send you the form we use.

Our process:
-I receive request for CMM program
-CMM program gets made. Is saved in a "WORKING DIRECTORY" (Only I have access to this folder)
-I run CMM program in real life & collect the data on all required dims
-I measure the part with hand tools and collect the data on all of those same dims
-Input dim data into the worksheet. The sheet compares the CMM results vs the hand tool results..it also compares that dimensional data against the allowable tolerance zone for each dim..once its done thinking about alllll that stuff it spits out a PERCENTAGE score for that row. Score less than or equal to 10% is acceptable. Score greater than 10% while still less than 25% you must "explain". Score greater than or equal to 25% is unacceptable.
-If the worksheet is acceptable, we keep it on file as objective evidence that the program is accurate. CMM program itself now gets moved to a "VALIDATED PROGRAM DIRECTORY" folder (we only use programs from this folder to measure products).
-Inspection paperwork gets updated to allow for the inspector to now use CMM PRG# XXXXX AS WELL AS the hand tools that their inspection sheet originally called out for. This does not remove a "micrometer" from the paperwork....this adds a "/CMM" to the paperwork to give them another option.

I do my own ball-bar checks as well as linear checks with a home-made step bar (that was measured and assigned 'nominals' based on a brand new CMM machine machine installed and calibrated and certified by the OEM). Step Bar has no 'certification' that is traceable, however it gets checked right after the annual calibration of the machine, data saved, and used for comparison until the next machine calibration.

Have used a Glastonbury gage in the past.

You can use just about anything - a good part, a bad part. Just send it to a measurement house to get certified so you know the official nominals.

Having a part for each program ensures the validity of the actual production program as well as the machines health.

Looking to get the CMM-CHECK rom Hexagon as well. Comes with programs and all. Plug-and-pray?

Does anyone know the price of the swift check from Hexagon?