Oberkochen, 26.04.2005. Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology (IMT)
has developed several interfaces that permit the use of CALYPSO
CAD-based measuring software with coordinate measuring systems
(CMMs) from non-Zeiss manufacturers.
In the future, all 3D coordinate measuring machines can be
operated with the CALYPSO I++DME client via the I++DME interface
provided they are equipped with a corresponding I++DME server to
serve as a counter interface. Carl Zeiss IMT also offers a
variety of direct interfaces that allow direct connection of
CALYPSO to the existing hardware. This is not limited to 3D
measuring machines. Interfaces are also available for
articulated arm measuring machines, laser trackers, and computer
tomographers.
Retrofits of older measuring machines are now also possible
with a new controller unit and sensor system. Carl Zeiss IMT
offers retrofits with proprietary components as well as standard
components which allow users to benefit from CALYPSO by
selecting the solution best suited to their needs. The
Oberkochen, Germany-based metrology specialists bring this fact
to light with a timely expression: "CALYPSO – One fits
all".
Practical advantages for measuring in the process chain
CALYPSO is built around a CAD core. This integration permits the
import of comprehensive 3D models from the CAD. As a result, all
geometric elements of the 3D model, whether required or not, are
available for measurement plan generation in the measuring
software.
However, users are not initially interested in information on
geometric elements, but require information on the features.
These include dimension, form and position tolerances. This is
exactly where CALYPSO with its feature-oriented architecture
differs from other standard software packages. The CALYPSO
philosophy works primarily with these features. One feature,
squareness tolerance for example, contains all elements required
for this inspection. It includes cylinder and its reference
plane, the calculation formula, the associated reference
coordinate system with its alignment elements and the selected
measurement strategy. As all properties of the feature are
available in the feature itself, the features can be combined
with each other as desired, left out or added. In doing so, all
travel paths required between the features (including all
relevant elements!) will always be dynamically recalculated.
Measuring plans for the single manufacturing segments can be
thereby very easily created. Changes to tolerances or runs can
be made quickly and easily since everything only changes within
a feature and does not influence the complete run.
Nowadays, the features to be inspected must no longer be
selected or assigned "by hand". It is accomplished
completely automatically through a feature list (characteristic
input) created by production. This enables CALYPSO to complete
the chain from construction (CAD 3D model) via measurement
planning (feature list) to inspection (measurement plan) on the
measuring machine.
With advantages that deliver clearly a measurable benefit to
the customer, CALYPSO is the world's most widely used measuring
software package in the powertrain area of the automobile
industry today (motors, gears, drive train and undercarriage).
Until now, these benefits were limited to owners of a ZEISS
coordinate measuring machine. Carl Zeiss now offers the
possibility of adapting CALYPSO to other measuring systems. As a
result, customers always have the opportunity to employ CALYPSO
as an optimal solution for all of their measuring machines and
for all their requirements.
