#### To Load in a Custom PMMC Probe Changer Model

A custom PMMC probe changer model consists of two parts: the rack and the port(s). These models have the following requirements:

- They need to be stored in a ".draw" file format.

- They need to have a consistent 0,0,0 coordinate system location. This needs to be defined in the model's CAD creation software before you import the model into PC-DMIS. The trihedron in this image indicates where this position should be defined:

Sample Two-Tier PMMC Model Showing the 0,0,0 Position (Red and Green Trihedron)

- All the geometry must be stored in one cad level.

You can load a custom PMMC Probe Changer model into PC-DMIS by following this procedure:

1. Create a new part program.

2. Import the custom model files into PC-DMIS as you would a standard part model. PC-DMIS generates a .cad file for the model during import.

3. Find out what X and Z values should be for the rack. The Y value is not needed.

Sample Model of the Rack

- To determine the X value, measure a point on the surface, indicated by A in the above graphic. Make a note of the X value.

- To determine the Z value, measure the midpoint between the two surfaces, indicated as B in the graphic above. Make a note of the Z value.

4. Find out the X, Y, and Z values should be for the port.

Sample Model of the Port

- To determine the X value, measure the center point of the port opening, indicated by A in the above graphic. Make a note of the X value.

- To determine the Y value, measure the mid-point between the two surfaces, indicated by B in the above graphic. Make a note of the Y value.

- To determine the Z value, measure the bottom surface of the port, indicated by C in the above graphic. Record this value somewhere. Make a note of the Z value.

4. Inside Windows Explorer, rename the ".cad" extension to a ".draw" extension.

5. Copy and paste these .draw files into the same directory where the model files that ship with PC-DMIS are located. By default, these are located in the Models\Toolchangers\ subdirectory under the PC-DMIS install directory.

6. Create an empty text file named userprobechanger.dat in the same directory as the probechanger.dat file. This should be in the C:\ProgramData\WAI\PC-DMIS\<version> where <version> is your current PC-DMIS version.

7. Open the userprobechanger.dat file inside of a text editor and configure its contents so that a custom model entry follows the format given below. Items in angle brackets indicate the where you would put your own text:

ITEM:<DRAW FILE NAME> ARM

comment lower <Rack X> 99999 <Rack Z>

comment garage <Port X> <Port Y> <Port Z> leitz_Ref_2-Tier_port.draw

cadgeom 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 <DRAW FILE NAME>.draw

<DRAW FILE NAME> - The name of the .draw file (without the .draw filename extension).

<Rack X> - The X value of the rack from step 3 above.

<Rack Z> - The Z value of the rack from step 3 above.

<Port X> - The X value of the port from step 4 above.

<Port Y> - The Y value of the port from step 4 above.

<Port Z> - The Y value of the port from step 4 above.

For example, a finished entry in the userprobechanger.dat file for a single-tier rack might look something like this:

ITEM:Custom_Model ARM

comment lower 110.798 99999 394

comment garage 82.75 4.675 -19 leitz_Ref_2-Tier_port.draw

cadgeom 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 Custom_Model.draw

Note: See below for information on defining a two-tier rack.

14. If you followed the above procedure correctly, your custom PMMC model should now appear in the Model list of the Animated Probe Changer dialog box. See "To Display the Probe Changer in the Graphics Display window:" topic.

Defining a Two-Tier Rack

PC-DMIS also supports a two-tier rack (click here to view
). The line “comment upper <Rack X> 99999 <Rack Z>” is used to specify the upper tier on this type of rack. Therefore, a two tier model would require your entry in the .dat file to include both "comment upper" and "comment lower" lines, while a single-tier rack would need to include the "comment lower" line.

For example, the following entries show a two-tiered rack definition followed by a single-tiered rack definition:

ITEM:Leitz_Ref_2-Tier ARM

comment upper 82.5 99999 447.7

comment lower 182.5 99999 162.7

comment garage 82.75 4.675 -19 leitz_Ref_2-Tier_port.draw

cadgeom 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 Leitz_Ref_2-Tier.draw

ITEM:Reference_Frank ARM

comment lower 110.798 99999 394

comment garage 82.75 4.675 -19 leitz_Ref_2-Tier_port.draw

cadgeom 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 Reference_Frank.draw