Wilcox Associates Releases PC-DMIS 2009 CMM Software

By DE Editors

Wilcox Associates has announced the upcoming availability of PC-DMIS 2009 metrology software for Coordinate Measurement Machines (CMMs). PC-DMIS 2009 builds on the concept of Enterprise Metrology Solutions (EMS) by introducing modules that streamline the job of programming and extend the software’s capabilities to other types of measurement equipment.

Advancements of particular interest to The PC-DMIS user community include:

• Protected execution mode with a new security layer allowing customers to password protect their part programs from unauthorized modifications.
• AutoFeature programming by snapping point selections to the intersection of 3D grid lines.
• Extended probing support that adds an option to average tip size after performing a multiple angle tip qualification routine and a wizard for resetting probe tip offsets to nominal.
• Enhanced dimensioning capabilities that let users expand features to see all axes, nominal, and tolerancing information. New 2D/3D distance and angle dialogs let users see and check the correctness of the calculations. The software draws helper lines to show what it is calculating. Improved 3D distance calculation figures the shortest distance between two non-parallel or planar lines.
• Broadened support for GD&T operations and calculations lets users select among all types of GD&T standard calculation methods; automatically disables RFS when ISO is selected; provides for either parallel or cylindrical zones for parallelism, angularity, and perpendicularity. It also allows for the use of material conditions for angularity dimensions and lets users chose between axial and radial runout.
• Improved tool rack support includes new features for defining individual safety clearances for each slot in a multi-slot tool rack and for animating multi-cluster tool racks.
• Multiple graphics enhancements, such as animating and showing machine volume to aid part placement, displaying clearance planes as translucent images, and showing only the active tip on multi-tip clusters.
• Support for non-contact sheet metal features, which provides control for ring band radius during hole measurements, adds Laser Cone AutoFeature measurement and supports Perceptron Drop Algorithm for Edge Point measurements.

In addition, Wilcox has made additions to the PC-DMIS EMS product line. These include the new PC-DMIS Reshaper 3D modeling product, an updated and extended PC-DMIS Reporting Suite and a standalone PC-DMIS Planner that allows users of any CAD system to create inspection plans that can be automatically converted into inspection programs by PC-DMIS 2009.

For more information, visit Wilcox Associates.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.