#### Performing an Automatic Calibration

In addition to the usual multiple arm calibration, PC-DMIS allows you to perform an automatic calibration of the arms.

PC-DMIS provides a command that automatically calibrates the current probe during part program execution. PC-DMIS will begin the calibration routine once it executes the command.

To insert this command, select the Insert | Calibrate | AutoCalibrate Multiple Arm menu option.

The following command block is inserted into the Edit window:

AUTOCALIBRATE/MULTIPLEARM, ARM_THAT_MEASURES=BOTH, CALIBRATION_MODE=DCC , QUALTOOL_ID=cal_m, MEASURE_AT_CENTER=0,0,0

A description of the items in this command block is given here:

Item | Description
ARM_THAT_MEASURES= | Indicates which arm will perform the measurement (not which arm will hold the tool). Choices are BOTH, ARM2 or ARM1.
CALIBRATION_MODE= | Indicates whether you will perform the calibration in MANUAL or DCC mode.
QUALTOOL_ID= | Specifies the name of the qualification tool used.
MEASURE_AT_CENTER= | The X, Y, Z location to be used for measurement when using CALIBRATION_MODE=DCC. This will not be present on the command is using CALIBRATION_MODE=MANUAL

Pressing F9 accesses the AutoCalibrate Multiple Arms dialog box.

AutoCalibrate Multiple Arm dialog box

Most of the items in this dialog box are the same as those used in the Multiple Arm Calibration dialog box. Below are two significant differences:

- First, PC-DMIS currently only supports the Origin Only calibration type for this command. Therefore, Origin Only and the number of spheres cannot be changed. Since PC-DMIS only supports one sphere for this command, there isn't a separate button for editing all the sphere locations. You can specify the one sphere location in this dialog box, using the X, Y, and Z Center boxes. They specify the X, Y, and Z coordinates for the one sphere location when using DCC Calibration.

- Second, you cannot specify the probe and tip for Arm1 or Arm2. They are shown in the lists on this dialog box for information purposes only. The AUTOCALIBRATE/MULTIPLEARM command will get them from the content of the program in which the command is used.

First Arm Probe | For display only. This is determined by the LOADPROBE command for Arm1 that precedes the AUTOCALIBRAT E/MULTIPLEARM command
First Arm Tip | For display only. This is determined by the TIP command for Arm1 that precedes the AUTOCALIBRATE/MULTIPLEARM command
Second Arm Probe | For display only. This is determined by the LOADPROBE command for Arm2 that precedes the AUTOCALIBRATE/MULTIPLEARM command
Second Arm Tip | For display only. This is determined by the TIP command for Arm2 that precedes the AUTOCALIBRATE/MULTIPLEARM command