An application made to measure

Citation

(2003), "An application made to measure", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 75 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2003.12775eab.007

An application made to measure

An application made to measure

Keywords: Measuring machines, Software, CAD

Precision co-ordinate measuring machines (CMMs) are used for taking precise measurements of electric and electronic parts, machined parts and plastic moulded parts. Mitutoyo, a manufacturer of precision measuring instruments, has co-developed software based on its proprietary Geopak-Win application with open Cascade, to allow users to perform precision measurements directly on CAD models for off-line programming purposes (Plate 6).

Mitutoyo's CMMs use Geopak-Win software, which creates measuring routines and programs on a physical product. The company co-developed Cadpak-Win with open Cascade (a subsidiary of EADS Matra Datavision), and the application offers the same interface and common usage with Geopak-Win.

Plate 6 Perform precision measurements directly on CAD models with open Cascade

Mitutoyo could have employed a third- party application to provide this functionality, but this would have had a number of drawbacks. For example, other stand alone systems use dimensional measurement interchange specification (DMIS) interface which is a general communications language used for communication between different programming systems and manufacturers' CMMs. In many respects, this means working with the lowest common denominator and developing a customised program using open source code. Mitutoyo can offer special functionality and routines available within the Geopak-Win application to the user at the CAD stage. In addition, users have the same interface and similar functionality as in the Geopak-Win application, therefore greatly reducing the learning curve.

By performing off-line programming in Cadpak-Win and then directly transferring the data to Geopak-Win for the CMM, users can reportedly optimise the use of machine tool time and maximise utilisation of the measuring machine. The latest version of Cadpak-Win offers improved performance to accommodate CAD files in excess of 40 MB. CAD formats supported include Brep, IGES, 3D-DXF, STEP, and an optional Catia (V4) direct reader. There are more than 200 Cadpak-Win installations and Mitutoyo plans to continue the development of the application with the support of open Cascade.

Details available from: Mitutoyo (UK) Ltd. Tel: +44 (0) 1264 353123; Fax: +44 (0) 1264 354883; E-mail: marketing@mitutoyo.co.uk; Web site: www.mitutoyo.co.uk