Need Help with Quick fixture, Cad of CMM Table, and part CAD

I do it all with cad software. Have never even tried using quick fixtures.

If you have access to CAD software its more than worth the time to model your most used fixtures. Also keep in mind that most "fixture" companies will give you the CAD models for their products. If not check on the McMaster catalog and see if a CAD version of the item is listed.

If you can't get the CAD then grab some calipers and make simple models of your fixture elements.

You mean you dont import just the part into PC-DMIS at all? You use solidworks or mastercam, import your part onto the fixtures, then upload the whole thing into PC-DMIS?

Yup, all as one model, with the origin already in the proper location.
By the time I left the machine shop we had mostly 100% cad for all CMM setups. The complicated parts included a tooling ball in the corner of the plate, all the operators had to do was load the part as show exactly on the screen, then hit go. The machine would navigate itself to where the tooling ball "should be" ask if it looked correct, then lower in Z, ask if it was good to go, then it would pick up the tooling ball and start the program. 

How long would it take you usually to make the cad once you had your fixturing made in the cad software?  Imagine not a terribly complicated part, but something different then what you usually saw.

Sorry for the 20 questions but I think this maybe the way I'm going to have to go. Its a change to what we have been doing, but the owner wants the programs "Idiot proof" and this seems like it would work if I do it correctly.

That is VERY dependent on what CAD software you have 
I used SolidWorks before, now at this job I am forced to use only Creo 7 which makes me want to flip my desk over and scream on a regular basis. Its UI and functionality are trash compared to SolidWorks or even Sketchup.... Anyways... 

Once you have your tooling in a library, it should only take a few minutes to construct it. If you have the part available then go into "lego mode" and figure it all out, then assemble the model. If you don't then it could take a bit longer, but within an hour should be reasonable. 

Do not underestimate the power of banding strap material, hot glue, or gauge blocks. Cheap tooling vises are great to have as well.

I will start doing this on the side when I have time to get a feel for it. I have been messing around in ON-Shape with my free time. If I need to ill start taking classes with Solid Works. Thank you for your help. Iv used hot glue but never strapping. Ill keep that in mind

https://www.youtube.com/@vertanux1/playlists Check this dude out (increase playback speed though) That's how I learned about Creo, he does SolidWorks too. 

I don't know what machine you have or what size parts, our CMM came with a tooling plate and basic tooling standoff post kit. Worked for 75% of the parts we had.
If you don't have a basic tooling plate I would recommend having your shop make you one, they are prohibitively expensive from certain places. Nothing fancy, just a sheet with a grid of threaded holes in it. Same for the standoff posts. 

With this method is there a way to still use clearance cube or do you strictly use clear planes and avoidance moves?

In my now outdated (PCDMIS 2015/16) opinion, clearance cube was a horrible pain and waste of time.
I have heard they have made great strides to improving it. For me now though its kinda useless with parts that are 20' long and 6' tall, we just drive the CMM up over around and between things sticking off the parts. 

If you can shrink your cube so it covers a reasonable distance from the part itself, and not the model of your CMM table it should probably work fine? 

In my now outdated (PCDMIS 2015/16) opinion, clearance cube was a horrible pain and waste of time.
I have heard they have made great strides to improving it. For me now though its kinda useless with parts that are 20' long and 6' tall, we just drive the CMM up over around and between things sticking off the parts. 

If you can shrink your cube so it covers a reasonable distance from the part itself, and not the model of your CMM table it should probably work fine? 

Or just trim your model so it only exports the section of the CMM table that's under your part.

In 2022 I haven't had any big problems with it. I cant seem to find a way to make the cube only fit over the part. It encloses everything that it sees as a cad, so my table and fixturing. I have no problem using clear planes and avoidance, I was just curious

Clip planes are your friend here too, I usually slice off the table and most of my fixture when doing the bulk of the programming. Once its ready for collision detection and finalizing things I turn it all back on. 

I know this is unrelated to the topic of the thread but have you even seen the CMM "Head" in the graphic display window rotate with the part?

This isn't a weird alignment or anything just level, rotate, and origin. This view is looking straight down at the screen with everything being "straight".  Usually when this happens I just start a new program from scratch and it doesn't happen again. I was hoping you would a better answer.

Online or offline programming? 
I have seen that when your part is not sitting "straight" on the table so the machine is "showing you reality", or there is an error in the alignment somewhere.

I'm using the online seat but no Physical Measurement's have been done yet, im still waiting on the part. I thought it could be an alignment issue but I haven't been able to find any errors. 

Is your imported trihedron aligned to the axis of the machine? 

Thats what everything looks like after import. All I did was rotate the part along X so the surface being machine is facing up

Start a new topic with your alignment code posted, let the masses attack it.