What is the Probe Assembly Dialog?

The Probe Assembly is the combined probe system consisting of the probe head, extension bars, touch probe, and styli elements. The complete geometry is stored in CMM-Manager to calculate collision-free probe paths.  The Probe Assembly dialog provides the operator with the following capabilities:

1. Multiple probe assembly support: CMM-Manager maintains a probe assembly list to support multiple probe assembly configurations.
2. Displaying the detailed probe elements of the probe assembly.
3. Setting up the probe assembly.
4. Saving the defined probe assembly to a file so that it can be loaded later.
5. Setting the current active probe
   

           

Open the Probe Assembly Dialog

Select Probe Assembly from the Probe Ribbon Bar

     

Click the Probe Assembly button on the Status Bar

Probe Assembly List

The following buttons are available within the Probe Assembly List:

1. Add - A new Probe Assembly is added to the end of the list in sequential order; a unique name may also be entered. The operation copies the parameters from the highlighted assembly in the list.
2. Load - Loads a CMM-Manager Probe Assembly File (these have a .cfg extension).
3. Delete - The selected assembly is removed from the list. All other assembly sequence numbers after it are moved up the list by one. Probe Assembly 0 is the default probe assembly and cannot be deleted.
4. Save - Saves all probe assemblies to a CMM-Manager Probe Assembly file.
5. Load One - Loads a CMM-Manager Single Probe Assembly File (add to the end of the list).
6. Save One - Saves the selected probe assembly to a CMM-Manager Single Probe Assembly file (these have a .cf1 extension).
7. Set Active - Allows the user to set the current probe if the current probe and physical probe are out of sync (specific to I++)

Assemble / Add Probing Elements

NOTE: Disc- and Cylinder-type styli cannot be defined on Probe Assembly 0.

Probe Assembly Setup provides the following boxes and command buttons:

1.    Non-repeatable - Specify if the probe is non-repeatable.
2.    Hard Probe - (For manual machines) Specify if the probe will give during a touch event.
3.    No Probe - Specifies that no stylus will be added to the probe assembly. This will delete all probe tips.
4.    Disable Manual Change Prompt - Enabled when No Probe is checked. Specify if the user should be prompted to attach a tip manually during tip change.

Extensions & Touch Probes - allows the operator to select the required extension bars and touch probes from a pick list of models shown in the Available Models list. This is a dropdown list of the defined extensions and touch probes used to build the Probe Assemblies. Select the probe elements in accordance with the actual component's model numbers and click the  button to build the assembly.   Three buttons are included:

1. Add - allows the specification of a cylindrical probe extension by typing the diameter and length into a popup box for elements not in the Available Models list. It also allows you to specify the assigned station and port numbers if the extension has an autojoint.

1.      Delete - removes the selected extension bar or touch probe from the list box.
2.      Clear - removes all of the extension bars and touch probe assignments from the list box.

The stylus type chosen determines which window appears.

3P / 6P window	Star Stylus window
Disc / Cylinder Stylus window

For the Star Stylus, the list of 1 to 5 single styli are displayed. Information listed by stylus number is the stylus number or Index (0 to 4)

Assuming the head is in A0B0 facing the operator:

      Tip 0 is straight down/ normal to probe. 

      Tip 1 is pointing towards the operator.

      Tip 2 is pointing to the right.

      Tip 3 is pointing backwards away from operator

      Tip 4 is pointing to the left.

 Probe Stylus Editor

The Probe Stylus Editor allows you to modify the parameters of any of the four styli types (3P, 6P, Disc, and Cylinder). Note that you must select a Star stylus in the Probe Assembly dialog to edit a Disc stylus.

The Probe Stylus Editor window appears in one of four versions, depending on the stylus type selected in the Probe Assembly dialog.

Enter or change any or all parameters in the input boxes to match the styli being used.

Click the OK button to accept the change. The new values are shown in the styli list and the probe assembly graphic is updated with the new model.

Editing Stylus Knuckle and Star Holder

Select the Stylus Knuckle check box to add a user defined Stylus Knuckle.  Click the Edit Knuckle button to open the Stylus Knuckle Editor.  Enter values to define the configuration of the Knuckle including all lengths, angles and offsets.

   

Click the Edit Holder button to open the Star Stylus Editor. 

   

More info on Star and Knuckle components - Renishaw Star and Knuckle Parameters

Save Changes - Wrapping Up

1. Update Assembly - saves the information for the currently selected Probe Assembly in the Probe Assembly List. If the selected Probe Assembly is the active Probe Assembly, the Display Window is updated with the new Probe Assembly model. (NOTE: If the selection of the probe assembly is changed in the Probe Assembly List before clicking this button, all modifications made to the previously selected Probe Assembly will be discarded.)
2. Reset Assembly - resets or "returns" all extensions and touch probe elements and styli parameters to the last saved state or the state at the last Update command. All the displays will show the original values and graphics.