A computer-assisted method for determining dimensional properties of a measurement object using a coordinate measuring machine. An image representation of the measurement object is shown to a user and the user selects a first geometric element of the measurement object, resulting in the display of eligible test features for the selected first geometric element. The eligible test features are automatically determined from a plurality of typical test features stored in a database, by the selected first geometric element being assigned to one of a plurality of predefined measurement elements stored in the database. A defined measurement sequence is generated in a computer-assisted manner based on the test feature selected by the user. Individual measured values are recorded on the first geometric element using the defined measurement sequence. A numerical value based on the individual measured values is determined, which represents a dimensional property of the first geometric element corresponding to the selected test feature.

A combination of electronic hardware, a microprocessor (embodied, e.g., in a personal-style computer (“PC”)), and control software blended together with unique systems integration techniques. When stationed at a machine tool, the result is an grated, interactive and intuitive machine tool or workstation capable of computer aided design (CAD), optional reverse engineering parts via coordinate measurement machining (CMM), toolpath generation computer aided manufacturing (CAM), and direct machine tool control (Direct CNC) by one person at one work station with a common human machine interface (HMI) and common file formats.

A system is provided for programming workpiece feature inspection operations for a coordinate measuring machine (CMM), including a user interface that comprises a workpiece inspection program simulation portion configurable to display a 3-D view of a workpiece; an editing user interface portion comprising an editable plan representation of a current workpiece feature inspection plan for the workpiece; and an editable alignment program plan representation for the workpiece. The system is configured with the editable alignment program plan representation being automatically responsive to editing operations, regardless of whether the editing operations are performed in the 3-D view or the editable plan representation. The editing operations include deleting or adding at least one workpiece feature to or from the editable alignment program plan representation.

A method efficiently measures an object having a feature. The feature has a plurality of cross-sections that each have a surface. The method provides a coordinate measuring machine having a discretely indexable wrist coupled with a measuring probe. The wrist has a given wrist orientation, relative to an arm of the coordinate measuring machine, that is adjustable between a plurality of different orientations. The probe is able to measure different surfaces as a function of the different wrist orientations. The method segments an object to be measured into a plurality of segments that are each measurable with a given wrist orientation.

A method for inspecting components includes providing a plurality of different three-dimensional component CAD models with each three-dimensional component CAD model of the plurality of different three-dimensional component CAD models sharing at least one common geometric feature. The method further includes generating an inspection sequence for the at least one common geometric feature, collecting feature manufacturing data for the at least one common geometric feature during manufacturing of a plurality of different components corresponding to the respective plurality of different three-dimensional component CAD models, analyzing the feature manufacturing data associated with the at least one common geometric feature, modifying the inspection sequence for the at least one common geometric feature based on the analyzed feature manufacturing data, and inspecting components based on the modified inspection sequence.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for automatic generation of probe path for surface inspection and part alignment. A mesh model is obtained of at least a portion of a three dimensional model of a part to be manufactured using a computer-controlled manufacturing system. Vertex points from the mesh model are collected to be an initial set of probing points in a three dimensional space of a working coordinate system of the computer-controlled manufacturing system, and filtering out points are filtered out from the initial set of probing points based on coverage of the least a portion of the three dimensional model to produce a final set of probing points. The final set of probing points is provided for use in alignment or surface inspection of the part by the computer-controlled manufacturing system.

A numerical controller includes a coordinate management unit that updates machine origin offset data indicating a positional relationship between a machine origin of a machine tool and a machine origin of a robot depending on movement of the machine origin of the machine tool or the machine origin of the robot; and an interference check processing unit that detects interference between the machine tool and the robot on the basis of a position of a first interference definition area and a position of a second interference definition area, and the updated machine origin offset data.

A method efficiently measures an object having a feature with a plurality of profiles each having a surface. The method provides a CMM having a wrist coupled with a measuring probe. The probe has an optical probe with an angle of incidence with respect to a surface normal of a plurality of points to be measured. The wrist has a first given orientation that is adjustable to a second given orientation. The method measures the feature to be measured by segment groups to obtain a 3D data set for each group. The method removes data points from at least one 3D data set that are outlier data points. The method interpolates the surface formed by the data points. The method calculates a surface normal vector for the data points set. The method removes data points from the interpolated 3D data set whose surface normal are outside the angle of incidence.

A measuring program compiling device and a measuring program compiling method thereof are provided. The method includes analyzing a first measuring program to obtain a plurality of first measuring parameters corresponding to the first measuring program, and converting the first measuring parameters into a plurality of second measuring parameters corresponding to a plurality of planning operations; generating a plurality of standardized measuring parameters according to the second measuring parameters and a plurality of computer aided design (CAD) image parameters; receiving a plurality of parameter input operations corresponding to the planning operations to update the second measuring parameters; generating a standardized measuring program corresponding to a CAD file according to the standardized measuring parameters; and converting the standardized measuring program into a target measuring program executed on a target measuring device according to specification data of the target measuring device.

A method efficiently measures an object having a feature. The feature has a plurality of cross-sections that each have a surface. The method provides a coordinate measuring machine having a discretely indexable wrist coupled with a measuring probe. The wrist has a given wrist orientation, relative to an arm of the coordinate measuring machine, that is adjustable between a plurality of different orientations. The probe is able to measure different surfaces as a function of the different wrist orientations. The method segments an object to be measured into a plurality of segments that are each measurable with a given wrist orientation.