New Tools in PolyWorks
2018 InnovMetric Software Inc. All rights reserved. PolyWorks is a registered trademark of InnovMetric Software Inc. InnovMetric, PolyWorks Inspector, PolyWorks Modeler, PolyWorks Talisman, PolyWorks Reviewer, IMAlign, IMMerge, and "The Universal 3D Metrology Software Platform" are trademarks of InnovMetric Software Inc. SmartGD&T is a trademark of Multi Metrics Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. This manual, as well as the software described in it, is furnished under license and may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of such license. The content of this document is furnished for informational use only, and is subject to change without notice. InnovMetric Software Inc. assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this document. Except as permitted by such license, reproduction in whole or in part in any way without written permission from InnovMetric Software is strictly prohibited. What s New March 23, 2018 PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018
Contents 4 Introduction 5 1. General 5 1.1 Changes to product branding 5 1.2 Modified workspace file format 6 1.3 New look for the graphical user interface 8 2. PolyWorks Inspector - General 8 2.1 Use piece templates to ensure uniformity among pieces 9 2.2 Assign an approval status to pieces 10 2.3 Easier-to-customize annotations 12 2.4 Improved reference target alignment 13 2.5 Faster CAD import 14 3. PolyWorks Inspector - CNC CMM Metrology 14 3.1 Automatically search for holes and locate hole centers to offset measurement points 15 3.1.1 Automatically search for holes on the part 15 3.1.2 Automatically locate the center of holes on the part 16 3.1.3 Options for offsetting measurement points 16 3.2 Detect potential collisions 19 3.3 Generate collision-free CNC CMM movements 19 3.3.1 Automatically insert go to position steps to avoid collisions 21 3.3.2 Automatically optimize go to positions between measurement objects 23 4. CNC CMM Plug-in 23 4.1 Changes to clearance movements during calibration operations 23 4.1.1 Customize the orientation when clearing reference spheres 25 4.1.2 Configure clearance parameters for each reference sphere 26 4.2 Configure the quill and adapter when editing the machine PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 3
Introduction This document presents the changes made to existing tools as well as the new tools in the PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018, the latest major release of the PolyWorks Metrology Suite. The fixes and enhancements included in subsequent intermediate releases (e.g., PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 IR1), available on InnovMetric s website, are documented in the IntermediateReleaseNotes.pdf file located adjacent to the intermediate release on the website, or in the Intermediate Release Notes document offered on the Help > What s New submenu of modules as well as the Workspace Manager. PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 4
General Changes to product branding 1. General This chapter presents changes made in the PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 that apply to more than one module. 1.1 Changes to product branding Changes have been made to better represent PolyWorks products: PolyWorks products are now distributed within the PolyWorks Metrology Suite, at times referred to as PolyWorks MS. PolyWorks Viewer has been renamed PolyWorks Reviewer to better reflect its inspection project reviewing capabilities. New icons have also been unveiled for products within the PolyWorks Metrology Suite: PolyWorks PolyWorks Inspector PolyWorks Modeler PolyWorks Reviewer 1.2 Modified workspace file format The PolyWorks 2018 workspace file format has been considerably modified to ensure more robustness, reduce disc space usage, and improve speed for certain operations. Note that once a PolyWorks 2017 or earlier workspace, and its projects, are converted to the 2018 version, they will be impossible to reopen in the previous version. To maintain compatibility, PolyWorks 2017 or earlier workspaces should be opened in read-only mode. PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 5
General New look for the graphical user interface 1.3 New look for the graphical user interface The graphical user interface in the PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 has been revamped, lightening the overall theme and simplifying the icons, making icon and object recognition easier. The original concept behind each icon was kept, ensuring a smooth transition to a more modernized look by remaining consistent with previous versions. PolyWorks Inspector 2017 PolyWorks Inspector 2018 PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 6
General New look for the graphical user interface Several improvements were made to the graphical user interface: Icon shapes and colors were simplified, including removing shading and three dimensional aspects. The default color gradient in the 3D scene pane was lightened to better display objects and to be consistent with snapshots. Color palettes for Reference and Data objects were revisited, providing users with two distinct color palettes to distinguish the types of objects at a glance: Reference objects have a gray palette, while Data objects have a colored palette (shown in the image below). Curves on CAD models are all displayed using the same color by default, despite the type of curve. Measurement objects, such as features and comparison points, are all displayed using the same default color. Bright green, red, and yellow are now primarily used to identify pass/fail statuses. The primary colors used in the graphical user interface are the same from one module to the next. PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 7
PolyWorks Inspector - General Use piece templates to ensure uniformity among pieces 2. PolyWorks Inspector - General PolyWorks Inspector now makes it possible to use piece templates to create truly universal projects projects that are ready to be used with a variety of devices and that contain all pieces measured by the different devices. In addition, general changes were made to offer a better user experience and an improved performance. 2.1 Use piece templates to ensure uniformity among pieces Inspection projects now include piece templates that can be used as a source when creating new pieces, which helps ensure uniformity among pieces. Each piece template can contain the information needed to perform a particular inspection task. For example, different piece templates can be created for the following: Different devices that use different measurement methods, such as when a CNC CMM and a probing arm are both used to perform the same inspection Different devices that use the same measurement method, such as laser trackers that have different reflector names and probing modes Different measurement sequences, such as when partial and full inspections must be performed alternately On the shop floor, operators can use a single inspection project and specify the piece template that corresponds to their needs. To create a piece template, choose the Tools > Piece > Template > New menu item to access the New Piece Template dialog box, or press the corresponding button on the Multipiece Inspection toolbar. Then, in the Copy from list box, choose the source from which to create the piece template. Piece templates can be created from the current piece or from an existing piece template. Note the following: To edit an existing piece template, choose the Tools > Piece > Template > Open menu item; then, specify the piece template that will be edited. You can also choose a piece template in the list box located at the top of the tree view. Piece templates are not considered by the Statistical Process Control tools. PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 8
PolyWorks Inspector - General Assign an approval status to pieces 2.2 Assign an approval status to pieces The Approval status piece property has been added to indicate whether a piece has been approved or rejected. This can be used, for instance, to quickly view piece conformity in piece reports. The value for this property can be set to Approved, Rejected, or Undefined. It can be modified in: piece properties; the Object Control SPC dialog box. It can also be viewed: when opening a piece; in piece reports generated in Object Control SPC; in measurement object table reports. PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 9
PolyWorks Inspector - General Easier-to-customize annotations 2.3 Easier-to-customize annotations New tools have been added and existing tools have been modified to make it easier to customize 3D scene annotations: It is now possible to lock/unlock the position of annotations. When an annotation is locked, its position remains unchanged with respect to its object. Once an annotation is repositioned, it is automatically locked into position. A mini toolbar is displayed in the 3D scene when hovering the mouse pointer over an annotation. It offers operations used to position, edit, lock/unlock, and hide annotations. Annotations hidden by other annotations in the 3D scene can be displayed by hovering the mouse pointer over the corresponding object. PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 10
PolyWorks Inspector - General Easier-to-customize annotations Hidden annotations can be restored by hovering the mouse pointer over the corresponding object and clicking the Restore Annotation button; distance and angle features can also be repositioned by clicking the Position Annotations button. The Edit Annotations button has been removed from the 3D Scene toolbar, as a corresponding button is now offered on the mini toolbar. The Drag Annotations button has been replaced with the Position Annotations button on the 3D Scene toolbar. The annotation toolbar offered when creating and editing control views is now also offered when positioning annotations as well as when creating or editing snapshots. The following changes have also been made: The Fixed annotation positioning mode is no longer offered. Additional options related to annotation positioning modes are now offered. The position of all annotations can be locked or unlocked. All annotations can be hidden or restored. PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 11
PolyWorks Inspector - General Improved reference target alignment 2.4 Improved reference target alignment The reference target alignment has been improved to better support alignments that use dependent features bound to reference targets. Dependent objects and their source objects are now updated during the alignment. A typical case is when deviations need to be balanced. For example, consider the alignment of a symmetrical part, such as a car hood, where the specifications require that the deviations be balanced equally in the Y direction. To align this part, reference target points can be used to lock the Z direction, holes can be used to lock the X direction, and comparison points can be defined on both sides of the part. To balance the deviations, midpoints can be constructed from the comparison points and used for the alignment. When the alignment is launched, it will iterate until deviations on both sides are equal. This improvement will also be useful when aligning blades, since the deviations of blade edges or blade assemblies can now be balanced. PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 12
PolyWorks Inspector - General Faster CAD import 2.5 Faster CAD import The technology used to import CAD models in native CAD file formats has been improved. Computer resources are now put to better use. Among other things, the process is now multi-threaded when possible, allowing users to benefit from all the available CPUs. As a result, importing native CAD files is much faster: the larger the model, the greater the gain. For example, see the figure that follows: Gain 40% 20% Small part ~15 MB Large assembly/part ~100 MB Size of the CAD model PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 13
PolyWorks Inspector - CNC CMM Metrology Automatically search for holes and locate hole centers to offset measurement points 3. PolyWorks Inspector - CNC CMM Metrology PolyWorks Inspector 2018 offers tools that allow CNC CMM users to minimize timeconsuming interruptions and manual manipulations, as well as detect and avoid costly collisions when planning and performing automated CNC CMM operations. New tools are now offered to automatically find holes and hole centers on highly deviated parts to offset measurement points without having to edit them manually. Also, the collision detection functionality, now equipped with powerful tools used to insert and optimize go to positions between measurement objects, can be activated both offline and online, allowing users to quickly fix the measurement path and avoid potential collisions. 3.1 Automatically search for holes and locate hole centers to offset measurement points Measuring deviated parts, such as sheet metal part prototypes, can be challenging when circular holes found on the actual part do not match up with the holes on the CAD model. The Search hole and Locate center functionalities are used to automatically search for holes and locate hole centers on highly deviated parts before CNC probing the circle feature. These tools are offered for circles that have an internal orientation. Measurement points are offset according to the location of the actual hole on the part, without having to manually edit them, allowing users to efficiently acquire meaningful results while avoiding potential collisions. The image below represents the actual part being measured (green). The holes that need to be measured on the part do not match the holes on the CAD model (blue circles), making it difficult to accurately measure them without adjusting the measurement points. PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 14
PolyWorks Inspector - CNC CMM Metrology Automatically search for holes and locate hole centers to offset measurement points 3.1.1 Automatically search for holes on the part The Search hole check box is used to automatically sample the surface to find a hole on the part by CNC probing in a spiral movement within a search zone until the probe enters the hole (in the example to the right, the blue circle represents the CAD model hole as compared to the actual hole on the part). This can be useful when probing small holes that are not much larger than the probe tip and that deviate from the CAD model. Once the probe finds the hole, the CNC probing of the circle feature is automatically launched using the measurement points that have been offset according to the new location of the circle feature and the parameters specified on the circle s property sheet. The location of the actual hole on the part can be more precisely determined by also selecting the Locate center check box. For more information on this new functionality, see the following section. 3.1.2 Automatically locate the center of holes on the part When Locate center is used, measurement points are automatically offset according to the center located for the circle on the part. For example, this can be useful when a local plane needs to be CNC probed on a narrow band on the edge of a large hole that deviates from the CAD model (in the example to the right, the blue circle shows how the hole on the CAD model does not match up with the hole on the actual part, represented in green). To locate the center of an actual hole on the part, the probe tip enters the hole at a location that corresponds to the center of the hole on the CAD model. The probe stops at a depth that corresponds to the Offset to plane value specified, which is offered when the Locate center check box is selected. Three points are then CNC probed within the hole to find the center of the actual hole on the part. Once the center is found, the CNC probing of the circle is automatically launched using the measurement points that have been offset according to the new location of the circle and the parameters specified on the circle s property sheet. PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 15
PolyWorks Inspector - CNC CMM Metrology Detect potential collisions 3.1.3 Options for offsetting measurement points Options are available to set the parameters used to offset measurement points. These options are offered on the Objects > Features > Probe > Curve-Based page of the PolyWorks Inspector Options dialog box (shown below). In addition, a new option uses the Search hole and Locate center measurement point offset results to adjust the absolute offset, except for when a relative offset is specified. 3.2 Detect potential collisions The collision detection option, introduced in PolyWorks Inspector 2017, can be used both offline and online to detect potential collisions when using the CNC CMM plug-in. Potential collisions can be detected when: preparing and executing measurement sequences; performing probing and scanning operations outside of a measurement sequence. Once enabled, potential collisions between the tool assembly and the CAD model, as well as with the CNC CMM table, are detected and flagged red in the 3D scene, based on the collision detection parameters specified. The following CNC CMM operations are verified: CNC probing or scanning (shown in example (a)) tool orientation changes (shown in example (b)) go to positions (shown in example (c)) PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 16
PolyWorks Inspector - CNC CMM Metrology Detect potential collisions (a) (b) (c) PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 17
PolyWorks Inspector - CNC CMM Metrology Detect potential collisions When preparing or executing a measurement sequence, the collision icon (shown below) is also displayed in the Sequence Editor for steps that could result in a collision if executed. When a potential collision is detected, users are warned that a collision could occur if they proceed, giving them the opportunity to cancel the operation or pause the measurement sequence (shown above) and investigate the problem. When rectifying potential collisions, the display is updated, in both the 3D scene and the Sequence Editor, as changes are made, giving the user immediate feedback. Note that collision detection with the CAD model is only relevant for the part once properly aligned. Collision detection can be enabled, once the CNC CMM plug-in is selected, on the new Collision Detection page of the PolyWorks Inspector Options dialog box (shown below) by selecting the Collision detection (Beta) check box. Default detection parameters can be specified as well. Collision detection can also be enabled by clicking the collision detection split button (shown to the right) located on the main status bar. The split button also displays whether the collision detection option is enabled or not. Note that this version of the collision detection functionality is a beta release. For more information on the collision detection functionality, see the PolyWorks Inspector Reference Guide available from the Help menu. PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 18
PolyWorks Inspector - CNC CMM Metrology Generate collision-free CNC CMM movements 3.3 Generate collision-free CNC CMM movements Preparing and executing a collision-free measurement sequence is essential, but inserting or editing go to positions manually can be time-consuming. Users have to take into account the complexity of the CAD model and whether or not the probing or scanning assembly could possibly cause a collision somewhere along the measurement path, while creating the optimal path. PolyWorks Inspector 2018 provides users with an enhanced collision analysis toolbox, allowing both offline and online users to quickly generate collision-free CNC CMM probing and scanning measurement paths by automatically inserting and optimizing go to positions. 3.3.1 Automatically insert go to position steps to avoid collisions When preparing or executing a CNC probing or scanning measurement sequence, users can generate a collision-free measurement path by automatically inserting go to position steps using a fixer or a shortcut menu. The fixer can be used to avoid potential collisions one at a time by placing the mouse pointer over the collision icon in the Sequence Editor pane (shown below) and clicking the Insert Go to Position steps fixer in the Possible actions section. PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 19
PolyWorks Inspector - CNC CMM Metrology Generate collision-free CNC CMM movements The shortcut menu can be used to automatically insert go to position steps to avoid multiple collisions at once. Users can do so by selecting the steps in the Sequence Editor pane, right-clicking, and selecting Insert Go to Position Steps under the Possible Actions shortcut menu item. PolyWorks automatically inserts the least amount of go to positions needed to avoid any collisions and the Sequence Editor and 3D scene (shown to the right) are updated accordingly. PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 20
PolyWorks Inspector - CNC CMM Metrology Generate collision-free CNC CMM movements 3.3.2 Automatically optimize go to positions between measurement objects To ensure that the measurement path is as efficient as possible, avoiding unnecessary CNC CMM movements, a new tool allows users to optimize go to positions between measurement objects. This is useful, for example, when mirroring measurement sequence steps used to measure symmetrical parts. To optimize go to positions between measurement objects, users can simply select measurement sequence steps in the Sequence Editor pane and choose the Optimize Go to Positions menu item, available by right-clicking the selected steps (shown below) or by selecting Edit > Optimize Go to Positions in the Sequence Editor pane. PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 21
PolyWorks Inspector - CNC CMM Metrology Generate collision-free CNC CMM movements Measurement path before optimizing go to positions Once selected, the go to positions in the measurement path between the measurement objects that are selected are removed and new go to position points are automatically inserted to create the shortest measurement path, while ensuring that the path is collisionfree. The collision detection display is updated accordingly in real-time, giving the user immediate visual feedback in both the 3D scene and the Sequence Editor pane. Measurement path after optimizing go to positions PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 22
CNC CMM Plug-in Changes to clearance movements during calibration operations 4. CNC CMM Plug-in Changes were made to the CNC CMM plug-in to minimize the risk of potential collisions when performing automated CNC CMM operations. It is now possible to customize the orientation used when clearing a reference sphere during calibration, and movements have been considerably modified. Quills and quill adapters can now also be configured when editing the machine and are taken into account when detecting potential collisions. 4.1 Changes to clearance movements during calibration operations Major changes were made to how clearance movements are performed during calibration operations. It is now possible to customize the orientation when clearing reference spheres. In addition, the changes that follow were made. Users affected by these changes will need to validate their measurement sequences: The Along Machine Quill clearance orientation has been improved. Clearance parameters are now specified in the reference sphere configuration: The default clearance orientation is Along Reference Sphere Stem. The default clearance distance is 20.0 mm. 4.1.1 Customize the orientation when clearing reference spheres During calibration operations, potential collisions must be accounted for while reference spheres are being cleared and tool orientations changed. This is especially true for users with crowded setups. The new Custom clearance orientation can now be used to specify a custom (I, J, K) orientation when clearing reference spheres, offering more ways of avoiding collisions. This new orientation performs the same clearance movements as the Along Reference Sphere Stem orientation, but with respect to the custom orientation. Note that the Along Machine Quill clearance orientation has been improved so that it now performs the same clearance movements, but with respect to the orientation of the quill. Typical scenario See the following figures for an example of the sequence of movements performed when the tool clears the reference sphere: 1. The user specifies a custom orientation so that the clearance movement is performed upward with respect to the reference sphere center. Clearance orientation PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 23
CNC CMM Plug-in Changes to clearance movements during calibration operations 2. The tool is moved along the clearance orientation. 3. The tool is moved perpendicular to the clearance orientation so that the swivel pivot point is centered with the reference sphere. 4. The tool orientation is ready to be changed. Clearance distance Note that for scanning tools, the clearance distance is between the reference sphere and center point of the field of view. Advanced scenario Some cases are more complex and require an additional clearance movement to avoid a potential collision with the reference sphere, as in the following example: 1. The user specifies a custom orientation so that the clearance movement is performed upward with respect to the reference sphere center. Clearance orientation PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 24
CNC CMM Plug-in Changes to clearance movements during calibration operations 2. In this case, the angle between the clearance orientation and the tool orientation is less than 90. 45 3. In such cases, a clearance movement is first performed to clear the reference sphere. Approach distance Note that for scanning tools, the center point of the field of view is positioned on the reference sphere. 4. The clearance movements explained in the previous example are then performed. 4.1.2 Configure clearance parameters for each reference sphere Clearance parameters have been moved from the calibration dialog boxes to the new Configuration tab of the Create/Edit Reference Sphere dialog boxes: The fact that clearance parameters are now part of the reference sphere configuration offers significant advantages: Clearance parameters are now specific to each reference sphere. When a reference sphere is specified as part of a calibration operation, the clearance parameters specified for that reference sphere are automatically used. It is therefore possible to specify a different clearance distance and orientation for each reference sphere. PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 25
CNC CMM Plug-in Configure the quill and adapter when editing the machine Clearance parameters are now part of the CNC CMM workstation configuration. This means that the clearance parameters will be available in the configuration if it is used by other users on the same workstation, or if it is exported to another workstation. 4.2 Configure the quill and adapter when editing the machine Quills as well as quill adapters (commonly referred to as cubes ) can be configured when editing the machine. That way, the probing or scanning assembly is more accurately displayed in the 3D scene (shown in the example to the right). The configured quill and adapter are also taken into account when detecting potential collisions. The quill can be configured on the Components tab of the Edit Machine dialog box (shown below). If an adapter is needed, for example when vertically CNC scanning objects with a horizontal arm, it can be configured by selecting the Adapter check box (shown above). Examples of supported adapter configurations are shown to right (the light gray represents the adapter). PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2018 - What s New 26