New to pc-dmis with some inquiries

[Mranaskw]

Hey guys

Im new amoung you here and to pc dmis also ,
I have recently bieng assigned to work in a lab as an operator in which we run several tests including cmm, but our work with it is very limited , only open and run already created file programs , but I was so fasinated with it and wnted so bad to learn all about it ,

The issue is that my employer wont assign a course for me , because there is already a cmm technicien job in which he will be in charge of all the editings etc.

also i wanted to buy the course but it was extremly expensive (+1000€) , should I lose hope of mastering this amazing feild ,

one last thing , can someone please write me the steps of creating a programe from scratch , we have a cmm probe with magnetic styli


hope there will be replies

[Darrollh]

Don't give up. The best way to do it at the moment is to SHOW your employer your thirst for knowledge. Aggravate the programmer with questions. Watch what they do. Open a program and look at its structure. Then when the guy either retires or moves on, you can step in their shoes. Ask questions here too. The folks here are very knowledgeable and will go at great lengths to help you. Good luck!!!

[Schrocknroll]

The funny/irritating thing about PC-DMIS is that if you measure anything with it manually, you have essentially started writing a program. Unlike other software, PC-DMIS is always in "Learn" mode. When you create a feature or a dimension, the code pops right into the program where ever your cursor is.

That being said, writing a good solid program that accurately and repeatably checks a part to the print is very different than just creating a program that will run in DCC mode.

If you are able to work with the CMM, make sure you create a test program to work in since, as I said before, you will be placing code within the program for almost anything you do, including probe angle changes.

[Quality ish]

We have a program called "Daily" or "Working", that is a basic template (probe, tip angle, move speed, scan speed, etc. If we don't have an existing program, I'll start measuring with this program, writing code as I go. If I get to a point and realize that I want to save it, I just "Save as" the part number, and go on from there.

[NinjaBadger]

Where in the world are you?

[Mranaskw]

Thank you all guys for you replies i wil stick to your instructions ,

Ninjabadger , Im from morocco

[Darrollh]

Wow! That's interesting! You speak French like Jeffman?

[louisd]

Another idea would be to create a hexagon account (https://support.hexagonmi.com/) then search for PCDMIS USER MANUAL. Download, bring it home, and read it!
Let your supervisors know you read the whole manual and you would like to pursue writing a simple program to check some parts with it.

[kuulpinoy]

Hello Everyone,
I was introduced to CMM back in 2008 in my previous job. I started as tumbler back in March, 2003 $9.00hr start. The manager saw that I have potential and was transferred to assembly Dept.$12.00hr and then to QA $15.00 Then the company was introduced CMM, so I was chosen and another person to learn CMM Zeiss Calypso in Indianapolis for 5 days. I was fascinated with it's sophistication so I kept learning as much as I can, but unfortunately I was promised with $$$, but did not deliver and opportunity knocked and moved on . Started at my new Job as a CMM operator May, 2010. The ,main programmer left the company for Tesla. So I was the next person in line. I was sent to PCDMIS and GD&t trainning beginning and intermediate that's it. The rest is on me to learn my own. I know I can learn more If they send me to more into programming course. I just do what I can to program by figuring things out and also PCDMIS FORUM, which is an AWSOMME FORUM!

[Quality ish]

I took as many courses involving PC-DMIS as I could through HEXAGONMETROLOGYU. Many of them are free, and helped me get a basic understanding of the degrees of freedom, and what features would constrain them. Some are for CMM, some for Romer Arms, etc, but the basic PC-DMIS information is consistent. Once I'd done all the free ones, I paid for online courses here and there, as I could afford them ($49 and below). Most of them give you three months or more to complete them, and I was done in days, including the tests (yes, certificates are awarded) Now I have something like 18 different certificates from HexagonMetrologyU that I'm trying to use to convince my employer to send me to school (I've invested in myself. Are you willing to help me learn to do a better job for you?)

Maybe if you show some certificates to your employer, showing that you've got a basic grasp of the knowledge required, they'll be more likely to send you.

As somebody else said: Sending you to school is a lot cheaper than repairing the machine in many cases.

[sealevel]

Another idea would be to create a hexagon account (https://support.hexagonmi.com/) then search for PCDMIS USER MANUAL. Download, bring it home, and read it!
Let your supervisors know you read the whole manual and you would like to pursue writing a simple program to check some parts with it.

^^^ THIS ^^^
Obviously, you're around a real CMM at your job. Apply what you see day in day out to the fascination you have stated by plodding through the .pdf manual.... preferably of the release you guys use.
get it here::::::::::::
ftp://wilcoxassoc.com/docs/v2019r1manual/ (for example for 2019 release)
For me? Yeah, the week of Demon 101 was ok (and I didn't pay for course/trip) but the treasure is in digging in to the manual. If you're as you say.... enthralled with everything PC-DMIS..... read, read and if you hit the boring/dry stuff? Plod thru it anyways. DO NOT SKIP pages. They're all in a sequence for a reason. The greatest thing about the endeavour is the feeling when you were foggy on something, read it again...and the light came on... nice!
READ THE MANUAL before just asking someone here to give you the steps to make a program.
my 2¢.... and good luck!

[Douglas]

I thought that read 'injuries' and thought yep that is pcdmis alright

[Mranaskw]

I took as many courses involving PC-DMIS as I could through HEXAGONMETROLOGYU. Many of them are free, and helped me get a basic understanding of the degrees of freedom, and what features would constrain them. Some are for CMM, some for Romer Arms, etc, but the basic PC-DMIS information is consistent. Once I'd done all the free ones, I paid for online courses here and there, as I could afford them ($49 and below). Most of them give you three months or more to complete them, and I was done in days, including the tests (yes, certificates are awarded) Now I have something like 18 different certificates from HexagonMetrologyU that I'm trying to use to convince my employer to send me to school (I've invested in myself. Are you willing to help me learn to do a better job for you?)

Maybe if you show some certificates to your employer, showing that you've got a basic grasp of the knowledge required, they'll be more likely to send you.

As somebody else said: Sending you to school is a lot cheaper than repairing the machine in many cases.

can you please provide me with the website for the paid courses you took with certifications

[Schrocknroll]

can you please provide me with the website for the paid courses you took with certifications

Go to the top of this page and you'll see "Online Training". Click on that and it will take you to learning.hexagonmi.com which has a lot of Online courses you can take.

[BIGWIG7]

also YOUTUBE is a helluva source.

check out the videos from CMM XYZ. they do some great intro and advanced tutorials.

IN ADDITION, the entire manual is in PCDMIS itself.
Open PCDMIS, HELP, INDEX

Everything you need to know to get started is there.
Importing cad files
How to create Alignments
How to build a probe file
How to build reports
How to do all the fundamentals.

It is all there.

But the most important thing is having a solid grasp of surface plate inspection methods.
The CMM is just another tool in an inspectors arsenal. Understanding GDT before you ever open PCDMIS is an important necessity.

Now, you can survive without all that background, but the more you understand GDT, SURFACE PLATE, and basic manufacturing methods is going to help immensely with how you write programs and evaluate data from the CMM.

Good luck.