PC-DMIS vs. Metrolog XG software

[jr33338888]

I am currently using Metrolog XG software, and I do like it. I have tried CMM Manager, which is not very user friendly and lacked some key options.


Has anyone used Metrolog XG software that can compare between it and PC-DMIS or Virtual DMIS. My employer is looking to buy a second CMM, and they come attached with the software packages. I would like some opinions on whether we should go with a PC-DMIS, Virtual DMIS or stick with Metrolog XG.

The people who would be working on the CMM are R&D people that don't have any formal CMM training. So, user friendliness is key.

[Wes Cisco]

something to think about. . . if you like thinking!

I should think the key factor would be which software can best handle the jobs it will need to perform, not userfriendliness. Calipers are easier to use than micrometers, but when you need accuracy to .0001" calipers can't do the job. If they are smart enough to work in R&D they are smart enough to learn the software with the proper training of course. If you are going to spend the $ on the hardware and software you need to spend the $ to train the people using it too!

[Jan d.]

I am currently using Metrolog XG software, and I do like it. I have tried CMM Manager, which is not very user friendly and lacked some key options.


Has anyone used Metrolog XG software that can compare between it and PC-DMIS or Virtual DMIS. My employer is looking to buy a second CMM, and they come attached with the software packages. I would like some opinions on whether we should go with a PC-DMIS, Virtual DMIS or stick with Metrolog XG.

The people who would be working on the CMM are R&D people that don't have any formal CMM training. So, user friendliness is key.

I am not personally using it but I have a few people here that use it.

XG is certainly NOT as good YET as the old Sylma. Sylma had great and easy to use interference checks which is not implemented in Xg (yet is what the French tell us).

And here is my uneducated opinion: XG produces very clean DMIS code. I know that LK-DMIS reads it very nicely (I presume PC-DMIS does the same). And you can than produce a DMIS out file and pull it back into XG for analysis. Seems to run very nice and very clean.

However, my issue is that PC-DMIS has gone well beyond regualr DMIS. Scripts and other details (in my case the whole issue of being able to run CNC machines) are just not even close to being addressed in DMIS. Therefore the programs you generate using XG are inherently less slick to run then true PC-DMIS programs. I know that LK DMIS claims great adherence to the standard so it does not support all these details that go beyond the standard.

If your concern is ONLY operator ease of execution, forget XG. If you have a greater plan for the future where all your machines are integrated into a system where all data will be dumped to one location (=XG) for processing, XG will probably one of your best choices.

In the meantime, I stay within PC-DMIS because they are the only ones that offer an NC module.


Jan.

[Underspec]

I've never used XG but I've used CMM Manager. I can say that PCDMIS is very User-Friendly. All my inspectors do not have formal training and they use it 24hrs a day. The key is to include direction in programs. I include external command to bring up digital photos of setups and edit those photos to show exactly where fixtures / parts go on our grid plate.

[jr33338888]

What did you think of CMM Manager?

I'm still pretty new to this field, so I'm not sure if CMM manager is just navigated different from what I'm used to with Metrolog, or if it is difficult to use in general.

[Snaggy]

Hi, I have used Metrolog XG software in the past and absolutely hated it. When my present company wanted me to look at new CMM's and software, PC Demons was the only one I would consider. We got two new CMM's both running PC- DMIS. Happy days!

[TREVOR CLAFFEY]

My company is in the dame position. I've used PC-DMIS in the past and liked it. We just had a demo of CMM-Manager and did not like it at all. It seemed very difficult to use, and we had a hard time getting an offline program to work. There is a company down the road from us that uses Silma XG v7.002. I saw a demo of it and was really impressed. Not sure which direction were are going to go now. All of our programming will be done offline, so which ever software has the best offline programming capablity is the one we will go with.

[inspector212]

I was forced( by corporate ) to switch to Metrolog for nine months. We said "screw you" and went back. There are a few things I learned;
there are no auto features in Metrolog, it takes about 6 steps to create an edge point
you cannot rotate to a 3D line(you have to project it to a plane)
the tech support is lacking(by no means as good a PC-DMIS)
the learning curve is about twice that of the Demon,
you have to measure features in the alignment that you intend to inspect them in, if not then you have to redefine it (annoying)
there is no "updating to the current alignment" if you modify an alignment,
there is no pattern offset
Metrolog is meant to be written in DMIS, if you don't then it is more difficult

These are a few that I remember offhand. My opinion is to go with PC-DMIS because even with its flaws it is by far easier to use, has less of a less learning curve, you don't have to learn DMIS, it's more user friendly, it costs less, has better tech support and this lovely forum.

You don't know what you got until it's gone.

[Jan d.]

Update from here. We were very happy Silma users for our Zeiss UMESS machines. However, we feel XG is not living up to its promise at this point and our Zeiss's are now upgraded to Calypso. I am having a feeling that our Zeiss guys will not migrate to XG.


Jan.