CAPPS NC for DMU Millplus IT

[mcpgmr]

We are looking at CAPPS NC to program "in machine inspection" with our MP-10 probes on our DMU 5 axis mills. I personally never heard of it until recently. We have Millplus IT controls and Renishaw can not provide us with the solution we are looking for. Our customer is dictating that we inspect in the machine by programming the probe off-line with a seperate system then what we program the machines with. I've seen the other posts regarding "in machine inspection" and understand the pros and cons but we have to do what the customer wants. No if's and's or but's.

 

Does anyone have any experiance with CAPPS NC? Maybe a reccomendation on another package that can program the probe offline and have the software talk to the control to make offsets? It can not be a plug in or add on to MC. I am new to all this so whatever information I can gather will be very helpful. Thanks in advance,

[robk]

You could take a look @ Renishaw's Productivity+ as well as OMV.

Looks like they still have the 90 day free promotion as well.

[mcpgmr]

You could take a look @ Renishaw's Productivity+ as well as OMV.

Looks like they still have the 90 day free promotion as well.

 

 

Thanks Rob. We went down that road and Renishaw can not support the Heidenhain Millplus IT. They bailed out while trying to develop a post for it. They directed us to AAT's CAPPS NC CNC Metrology. We have a on-line demo scheduled for next week. Very pricey system. Looks like it will do the job though.

[robk]

NX also has On Machine Probing Module. I can't vouch for it since I never used it.

[mayday]

we are getting very close to setting up 4 machines with CAPPS NC. We had in house demo's with our parts already and have not found a better system. It's the only one that we found that supports full 5 axis probing without getting lost with C axis part rotation. The nice thing is it can run stand along where others need the software running. Also the ability to make autimated tool comp adjustments and workoffsets. The programming side seems very user freindly.

[mcpgmr]

Thanks guys! I think were on the right track with CAPS NC.

[dforsythe]

We use PC DMIS NC for all of our 4 and 5 axis on machine inspection.

 

After we finish the nc program we write the inpsection program off line also. Then send it all down to the floor in one folder and the machinist take care of the rest. after the inspection id done it outputs the full report to a printer in the QC dept for review.

[mcpgmr]

dforsythe , What machine tools and controllers are you using?

[dforsythe]

dforsythe , What machine tools and controllers are you using?

 

we have pc dmin nc installed on 2 haas with 5x trunions, 4 haas with 4th, a haas EC-500 hz, and 2 big Awea gantry style mills with fanuc 16m.

another good feature is the inspection department can use the same program if needed by just changing a few things like the probe.

[mcpgmr]

Well, I contacted PCDIMIS today and found out they don't support the Millplus IT control. We may be replacing the machines anyway. Constantly breaking down and service sucks.

[dforsythe]

Well, I contacted PCDIMIS today and found out they don't support the Millplus IT control. We may be replacing the machines anyway. Constantly breaking down and service sucks.

 

MCPGMR,

 

PC DMIS is an extremely powerful software, able to check anything from true pos to profile of a surface at any angle during a 5 axis rotation. it also supports 3D probing ( calc hits normal to a vector not the plane you’re in ). that being said, if i had a choice between pc dmis and something that could update tool offsets " like capps nc i would probably go that direction.

 

long story short, pc dmis will handle any feature you could imagine, but will not help with the adjustment of tool height or comp. we slip in a few renshaw calls for this. its kind of a pain in the A##.

 

Not to mention we just got a quote back from vericut to configure the control to handle all the moves and it was pretty high.

 

Good luck with your decision.

[mcpgmr]

Thanks for the additional info Damien. We will most likely replace or add new machine tools that are more flexible in terms of addapting the CNC Metrology stuff. We have to if we want to be competitive in the aerospace market. Especially with the near net molded composite parts. It could be a year or two before anything happens but when it does we want to be ready for it. Thanks again.

[Watcher]

CAMAIX, an important Mastercam resseler in Germany developed a very nice solution for Millplus probing and simulation within Mastercam. Give then a call!

 

ProbeSystem Add-On for MC

 

JM2C

[mcpgmr]

Thanks for the info watcher. Unfortunately we can't use a MC plug in. The customer dictates that we must use a different software to inspect. Looks like CAPPS NC is the solution.

[mayday]

Millplus probing and simulation within Mastercam

With the dedicated advanced software that a very few out there offer, why would anyone chance an integrated system like that?

bad enough getting updates to moldplus and the like everytime MC updates old bugs, let along down time on probing

just sayin