Unfortunately, most of these kinds of decisions are based on $$$ instead of the things you note.

It can be done effectively... it just has to be approached in the right manner. The #1 issue with inspecting a part on the machine that produced it isn't that the machine is checking itself, it is that the connection between the coordinate system that manufactured the part and the coordinate system that is inspecting the part isn't broken. You MUST break that connection in order to get an accurate measurement. On a 5-Axis machine with a FANUC control, that means having G68.2, G54.4, machine parameters set correctly, AND the probing software that supports probing with those functions active. Don;t have ALL those things squared away and there WILL be trouble in paradise.

I had the file checked and I was told was suspected pirated software used to create the file why I never responded back.

OTI-FPT will give the chipload from the tool description. OOI-FPT or just FTP will give you the operation chipload. I would suggest just adding a field in the operation file so it generates for each operation. I recently updated my sheet to add some fields. I.E. XY stock Z step Edit: added a pic

Yeah because of what I just mentioned above. When the above is done with a NIST Traceable artifact then the process is not just using the machine to inspect the part it is the process that is support the device which happens to be a CNC Machine. The device collecting the measurements doesn't matter at that point since the process to ensure what is collecting the measurements is validated and verified all is good. A CMM that is not correctly calibrated is not better than a machine tool that is not calibrated correctly either.

Well I learned last week a major very respected builder does their machine calibration services using levels and squares not an interferometer. The issue was our programming process used was called into question. Print states one thing, but then 20 other things state 20 other things. Print is the authority unless some inspector decides no they want a +/-.0005 on a part with a +/-.010 wall thickness on the print. Or a 16 finish when the print calls out 125 and add hundreds of hours of processing time to the project. Cut 6 pockets the same exact way and 2 of the 4 are acceptable, but then as we get to longer tools the deviation between the two tools doing the work became greater. Root cause analysis looks into the root of the problem. Machine has not been calibrated in over a year. I happened to be onsite when they were going through the machine calibration and what an eye opening experience that was. Levels and squares with a spindle gauge. No external way to verify the machine is going where it is told to. This is the extent of the full volumetric machine calibration process. I called James and make sure I hadn't lost my mind and was an internal interferometer installed on the machine in question I was unaware of. NO NOT ONE HE SUPPORTS and he was unaware of one being installed either. We both agreed even it one was that at someone point would have to be calibrated. Why is this an important topic of conversation and how is it related? Here is some light reading for those that take their jobs seriously. All the hates keep on hating. Machine tool calibration: Measurement, modeling, and compensation of machine tool errors There is too much to quote that is important.

Took a quick look and it seemed easier to make a video than to write it all out (plus, I'm pretty much out of space to upload pictures and files!), hope that's okay:

Thanks for all the replies. I ended up going with the Mill 2 setup sheet and I got a lot of fields down: Here you can see the checkboxes I added, plus SFM and RPM (thanks rgrin!). I think my main problem now is styling. That being said, I wanted to say that I do understand this a little better. When people were saying that the naming convention was important, they weren't kidding. The name in parentheses is the XML tag that the interpreter goes down to. It's almost like you're peeling back layers of an onion, except you can't really go back up, but you can dig deeper down. Another thing I'd like to say is that I still have 0 clue how to use the scripting section. If anyone has any experience with that, please advise. I think it would be a great idea to write some unofficial documentation on this so that everyone can start writing ActiveReports, because when you start to dig down deep and really learn how it works over the course of a few weeks or so, you really start to have fun making things your own and figuring stuff out. Suffice it to say, I got most of my setup sheet done thanks to this forum and thanks to everyone's help. I really appreciate it.

Adding non manufacturing time adds TAKT time. Added TAKT time = higher cost. That said, WIP = Inventory. Inventory = Money. Money = Taxation Parts in inspection = WIP therefore there's a cost no matter where the part is within the factory. If you can integrate and automate processes you can bring down the labor component of part cost. "There are no perfect solutions, only compromises." Thomas Sowell

Ask the pushers if they want the machines making more chips or checking parts. Maybe your management team thinks differently, but my management team always wants to make more chips. Some of them may not understand much about manufacturing, but they all understand more chips = more parts = more $$ ...food for thought, a CNC can do a CMM's job but not visa versa.

I'm fairly lost when it comes to setting up new sheets in active reports since I've got mine setup the way I like. It appears the default setup sheet (mill) report has FPT displayed. You might be able to track down how they did by going through that one? In the -Setup Sheet (MILL-TOOL) rpx file, they have FPT datafield listed as OTI-FPT. Maybe try that?

Support is the biggest concern with dmg without a doubt. Matsuura mam-52v system looks like it it would fit the bill as well. Ill check on availability. Seems like that is the biggest factor that we have been running into.

Support should be the #1 consideration when buying a 5-Axis machine. Much like a multi-tasking lathe support will make or break that machine. You could buy "the best" (whatever that is) machine but when the good for nothing AE shows up to train you, he (or she) has no clue about cutting parameters to utilize the machine to maximize it's capability, it's going to be on YOU to figure out. Oh sure, they'll tell you "... that's the CAM system's responsibility...", and it is, but only to a certain extent. When they cannot explain to you the role of point spacing, cut distance, and tolerance, and how it relates to machine performance, you ARE in for trouble.

I would agree that Hermles spindles is their weakspot. I'm not a fan of greased spindles and moving to their higher RPM air oil spindles loses alot of power. Unfortunately, I can't compare their performance vs high performance as we don't have one of their high performance lines. I also am not a huge fan of their automation as it's thru the main cabin door which kind of sucks from an ergonomics stand point. If I had to pick my favorite MTBs right now, it would be Yasda, Makino, Matsuura, Hermle, and Okuma. I think they all have their pros and cons and you just need to figure out which ones you prefer and which ones does the work you need it to do the best.

Hello, Yes, that's what I have been doing, was just wondering where I could the server, password and username info. Thank you.

Personally, I'm an Okuma guy. We bought an Okuma MU1000H in 2013 and have run it hard 24 hours a day 6 days a week for a decade. It has been such a good machine we bought a 2nd one in 2023. With a 170 station tool magazine and a 2 station pallet setup they are consistently the most productive machines in the plant. A 6 station pallet changer is available for these, but that would take up too much space for us. We struggled to find room for the 2nd machine. They build vertical trunnion machines as well from 4000mm tables to 8000mm. Okuma 5 axis machines

You should be able to pull the Feed per tooth straight from the Mastercam operation.

Thanks Dylan, that's good information.

That's perfectly normal LOL serious though, back in the day I was part owner of a small shop We had 2 Hass VF1's with 5C collet indexers.. We made boatloads of money with those 2 machines.

Whether or not inspecting on the same machine that made the part will meet your needs, will depend on your needs. If you want to do it properly, you should meet the same bar as for other measurement methods; get your machine laser / ballbar calibrated, do a measurement repeatability and uncertainty test, etc., and make sure that your uncertainty is less than 1/10 your tightest tolerance. You can include measuring a gauge block / pin / ring as part of your inspection process to warn you of any calibration drift, thermal expansion issue, or other problem.

Thanks for the reply... but that did not change the look of the solid.

even after the spindle caught fire???