Could I report measurements from a subroutine in a main program?
Details:
I check these large valves on my 7107. The pocket is the same for all the valves however the end connections change. My fixtures holds the valves by the end connections so the location of the pockets moves around the CMM table. I thought I was being clever by copying 1 program, moving a face either in or out for the alignment and then save as new part number and boom. 2nd program done. I did it again for a 3rd part number, another boom, so things are going pretty good. Now I've run into a problem. I was using a 25mm steel disc probe to check these deep diameters and I found corrosion on my disc probe and it looks like my steel cal sphere is starring to show the same corrosion around its equator. So I switched to a star probe. In 1 program, I had to create and combine 4 auto circles to report some diameters 3 times and a few other edits. Now I have to repeat that process from my other programs to I could get rid of this disc probe. I was thinking maybe if this was in a subroutine, I could use my main program to align to the part, call the sub, and then check my various end connections and be done. That way, if there are any pocket edits, I could edit the subroutine and be good with all my other program? My star probe was loaded with slots 2-5 but now i'm thinking of making it a complete 5 way star which means I would have to do a lot more manual editing for each of my programs.
Well I made a lot of progress but it looks like the benefit might not outweigh all the work that going to go in. I need to report and extract the measured dimensions from the subroutine into my main program. To do that I have to write a ton of variables. The report goes into either a passing or failing folder. So I have to create a generic dimensions for every measurement to track that. I also send measured data to my .csv which is more variables to keep track of. Its working so far but i'm still not done finishing it up. Then i'd have to repeat this process with my other 2 programs. This may not be a time saver as I thought it would be.
Well I made a lot of progress but it looks like the benefit might not outweigh all the work that going to go in. I need to report and extract the measured dimensions from the subroutine into my main program. To do that I have to write a ton of variables. The report goes into either a passing or failing folder. So I have to create a generic dimensions for every measurement to track that. I also send measured data to my .csv which is more variables to keep track of. Its working so far but i'm still not done finishing it up. Then i'd have to repeat this process with my other 2 programs. This may not be a time saver as I thought it would be.