Planning for Inspection

PC-DMIS Inspection Planner Suite makes the transmission of design intent from CAD to inspection entirely paperless and dramatically reduces the time spent programming CMMs and other measurement devices. IP Suite consists of two distinct modules, IP Planner (resident in CAD) and IP Measure (resident in PC-DMIS measurement software).

PC-DMIS IP Planner is an add-on software module that leverages the GD&T capabilities of advanced CAD systems to develop and embed electronic inspection plans within the CAD model. IP Planner lets design engineers use the CAD system to define electronically an inspection plan containing all the information relevant to the inspection of the component.

IP Planner effectively creates a virtual, marked-up blueprint of the part, defining each feature to inspect and the method for inspecting it. It allows the engineer to specify datums, dimensions and the necessary metrological relationships among features. It does this using a set of integrated tools tailored for the specific CAD system.

PC-DMIS IP Measure uses the paperless Inspection Plan in the enhanced CAD model to generate automatically a part inspection program, eliminating much if not all of the associated labor. The software begins by laying down a predefined pattern of hits on each feature and creating a probe path among them. Subsequently, IP Measure software optimizes the probe path, dimensions the features and creates a template for reporting the measurement results. When working with a 3D solid model, it also uses its collision detection algorithms to check for any interference between part and probe.