Wilcox Associates, Inc. PC-DMIS® Version 3.6 Enterprise Metrology Solutions Installation Notes: 1) General System Requirements 2) Information about this release 3) Beta Test Site Agreement Form 4) New Product Information 5) Release Notes ****************************************************************************************************** ****************************************************************************************************** 1) General System Requirements Minimum Requirements: - PC-DMIS® 3.6 operates on computer workstations using the WindowsNT® 4.0, Windows2000®, or WindowsXP® operating system. No other operating systems are supported. - 300 MHz or higher Intel processor. - 128MB of RAM plus any requirements for the operating system requirements. (192 MB RAM if you use Windows2000® or XP®, 160MB RAM if you use WindowsNT® 4.0.) - 500MB of free hard drive space minimum for the application. - SVGA graphics card capable of open GL shading and with at least 16 MB of on board memory. We cannot specify an exact graphics card since every user has varying needs. - SVGA capable monitor. - CD-ROM drive. Recommended Minimums: - Windows2000® or WindowsXP® Operating System. - 1 Ghz or higher Intel processor for improved performance. - 256MB of RAM or higher. More RAM may be required if working with large CAD models. You should have RAM equal to 8 times the size of the largest CAD file you will use. (For example, if you use an IGES model of 250 MB, then 2 GB RAM is recommended.) - 500MB of free hard drive space plus allocated Virtual Memory of 8 times the largest CAD file used. - SVGA graphics card that supports OpenGL shading and that has WHQL certified drivers. On board video card memory should be based on the size of CAD file being used. - For small CAD files (less than 50 MB), 16 MB video memory. - For medium CAD files (50-100 MB), 32MB video memory. - For large CAD files (> 100 MB), 64MB video memory. WHQL (Microsoft Windows Hardware Quality Labs) video drivers can be downloaded automatically when using the Windows Update software. - SVGA capable monitor. - CD-ROM drive. - NOTE: Depending on your specific needs, the recommended system specifications for this version of PC-DMIS may be much higher. Be sure to consult with your PC-DMIS distributor to find out the type of computer system you will need in order to run this software at its optimum capability. ****************************************************************************************************** ****************************************************************************************************** 2) Information about this release. We at Wilcox Associates are proud to bring you this new version of PC-DMIS® 3.6. This Enterprise Metrology Solutions platform brings together new aspects of PC-DMIS® for the development of a complete manufacturing process control solution. Available in this release are variations of PC-DMIS® designed to assist with every aspect of the fabrication and quality control process. The newly created packages include PC-DMIS® Vision, PC-DMIS® NC, as well as the established PC-DMIS® Pro, PC-DMIS® CAD, and PC-DMIS® CAD++ platforms. Also included with this release is PC-DMIS® ONE, a simplified shop-floor DCC inspection package developed in cooperation with Brown & Sharpe. The testing of this version has been significant. We’d like to take a moment to discuss this process and also make you aware of the various components of testing. Testing is comprised of two parts. These can be described as functional testing and integration testing. The vast majority of testing effort goes on in the functional area. This is the testing that determines that specific functions that are core to the software, regardless of what type of machine is used, are working correctly. The integration testing is essentially a testing of the interface with a particular type of machine. In the ideal scenario, WAI would have access to at least one of every piece of hardware that is operating in the field running PC-DMIS®. However, in practical terms, this is impossible. This integration test plan is then performed on as many types of machines as we have available. Unfortunately, there will inevitably be machines to which we do not have access and that cannot be fully tested in this manner. To this end we have made an effort at closing this gap by partnering with our customers through the Beta Test Program. On the following pages you will find an application for this program. We urge you to consider signing up for the program as it provides the mutual benefit of helping us create the best product possible for you, our customer. Should you experience problems with your system after installation of PC-DMIS® 3.6, it could possibly be an integration problem. If it is a problem of this nature, it will probably be evident immediately upon first use of the possibly untested configuration. Should such a problem materialize, you will be given the highest priority for correcting these problems. Please call Tech Support immediately to report any integration problems. For existing users of PC-DMIS who currently have earlier versions of PC-DMIS® installed, it is advised that PC-DMIS 3.6® be installed into a new directory. In this way, you can be assured of continuous use of the existing version should problems arise with this newer version. ****************************************************************************************************** ****************************************************************************************************** 3) Beta Test Site Agreement Form As part of our ongoing efforts to improve the quality and ease of use of PC-DMIS®, we would like to actively involve our key customers in the development cycle. There are several advantages of being involved in the PC-DMIS® Beta Test Site Program. You will: • Preview cutting-edge PC-DMIS software enhancements • Provide direct input into the development of PC-DMIS • Receive a 25% discount on one PC-DMIS Software Maintenance Agreement (SMA)* To qualify for this program, you must meet and agree to the following requirements: • Have a machine/interface type required by WAI/Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Company for testing purposes • Be willing and able to download and run Beta versions of PC-DMIS® • Be willing and able to perform specific tests as required by WAI/ Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Company when necessary. These tests must be performed as outlined and within a mutually agreed upon, reasonable time frame. ________________________________________ _________________________________________ Company Name Contact Name ________________________________________ _________________________________________ Address1 Address2 ________________________________________ _________________________________________ City, State, Zip Phone ________________________________________ _________________________________________ E-mail Address Fax SMA Expiration ___________________ CMM Type ____________________________________________ Manual/DCC __________________________________________ CMM Serial # ________________________________________ Controller Type _____________________________________ Portlock # __________________________________________ Interface Type ______________________________________ Operating System ____________________________________ I have read the PC-DMIS Beta Test Site Program Agreement and agree to all terms stipulated: ________________________________________ _________________________________________ Company Name WAI / Brown & Sharpe Mfg. Company ________________________________________ _________________________________________ Company Representative Name Representative Name _________________ ___________________ Date Date *If any of the terms of this agreement are not met by either party, this agreement will become null and void and any discounts will be immediately revoked by WAI/Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Company. All technical correspondence should be directed to Tim Wernicke of WAI via E-mail or telephone (262) 338-0887 Please mail, e-mail or Fax this completed form to: Tim Wernicke Wilcox Associates, Inc. 932 Tower Lane West Bend, WI 53090 Phone (262)338-0887 Fax (262)338-8006 e-mail twernicke@wilcoxassoc.com ****************************************************************************************************** ****************************************************************************************************** 4) New Product Information PC-DMIS® Version 3.6 Enterprise Metrology Solutions possible options: PC-DMIS® Vision - Designed specifically for non-contact measuring applications. The initial product offering functions on the RAM Onyx, Datastar, OMIS/OMIS II optical machines. Later maintenance releases (MR) will support the TESA VISIO optical machine and the Perceptron and Metris laser contour probes. It is expected that the available options will change rapidly with this product as new interfaces are developed. PC-DMIS® NC - A true measuring package available for use on a computer controlled machining center for initial layout and setup inspections, first piece inspection, and even final inspection of machined parts. PC-DMIS® Pro - A simplified user interface designed for basic inspection but with many available options for somewhat complex measuring needs. PC-DMIS® CAD - Designed for working with imported CAD models to increase the ease of creating inspection programs as well as analyzing complex geometries. PC-DMIS® CAD++ - The complete version of PC-DMIS with Gear and Blade meausuring package options. PC-DMIS® ONE - Integrates a Brown & Sharpe manufactured CMM inspection cell on the shop floor with a simplified but fully capable DCC touch screen interface. ****************************************************************************************************** ****************************************************************************************************** 5) Release Notes PC-DMIS® Version 3.6 is a significant development release of the software. Initial Release Date: April 14, 2004. **** Prior to the release of Version 3.6, Version 3.5 MR2 was last official release of PC-DMIS® by Wilcox Associates, Inc. and the Brown & Sharpe Metrology Group of Hexagon Metrology. ----------------------------- ENHANCEMENTS AND NEW FEATURES IN VERSION 3.6 --------------------------- Major Enhancements: - Muti-arm CMM support was expanded from 2 to 4 possible CMMs. - Support for Renishaw SP25 probe and the FCR25 tool changer. - Chorus can be launched as a legacy product from within PC-DMIS. When the user exits Chorus, PC-DMIS will restart. - Chorus Settings Migration allows migrating user settings from Chorus that have a counter-part in PC-DMIS. The user is prompted if they would like to migrate their settings when Chorus is detected on a system and a new user launches PC-DMIS. - Support was added for Chorus’ DMIS extensions. - A new comment type was added for directing output to the probe readouts window. - An option was added to comments to allow the user more control over which comments should appear in the inspection report. - Basic hits and move points now have a relearn option. When used with basic hits, the user is prompted to take a manual hit. The values from the hit taken by the user become the new nominal hit. When used with moves, the user is prompted to move the probe to the desired move position at execute time. This new location is saved and used during subsequent executions of the part program. - Support for the DEA F-Panel was added. - Tutor/PC-DMIS translator first release allows importing Tutor part programs within specific limitations. - A CAD Import Wizard was added to simplify the process of importing multiple cad files. - Many Automation enhancements were added with a target of supporting Blade measurement and NC machining centers. Specifically enhaced abilities in the evalutation of features and dimensions, changing tip radii and offsets, an ability to execute a block of commands, a set hit method for changing hit values, an ability to execute a CNC Journal File, more access to various application and part program settings, and access to execution end condition information. - Speed optimizations for evaluation of expressions. - Dimensions have been made to appear red should one of the features on which they depend be deleted. - Profile dimensions have been enhanced to remember previous settings and to use an internal best fit alignment during evaluation unless the users specifies otherwise. - A Shutdown button was added to allow users to shut down PC-DMIS from a machine error dialog. - When entering a passwords for protected settings, the password are obscured by using the star (*) character. - The alignment dialog automatically resets check boxes for ease of use. - The dimension information box style has been changed to be more aesthetically pleasing. - Hyper-view autoreporting has a new “Use All Viewsets Mode” that creates a report with one viewset per page and uses all viewsets defined by the user in the part program. - A new save viewset button was added that simply overwrites the current viewset without any prompt. - Text box labels in the CAD view now save visibility and positioning information for each view. - An outlier removal option added to some constructed features. - The import/export dialogs have been re-designed and updated for ease of use and to improve organization. - A new expression allows extraction of high points from a scans. - New expressions are available for getting all toggle string values. - New expressions give the ability to access qualification tool data. - Expression can now set the internal DMIS ID of a type. - Expanded Relative Measure capabilities to allow the user to specify three different features to represent each RMeas axis. - The ability to graphically manipulate and delete hits from the autofeatures was added. - Many more CMM models have been added for simulation. - Toolchanger Simulation has been added to the machine and probing simulation. - The Machine Setup dialog was redesigned to be more intuitive. CAD/Graphics Enhancements: - A new plane display mode can display planes as a triangle or an outline of hits. - New CAD selection methods for auto features can select a surface face with a hole in it and obtain the circle information needed for a circle or round slot. Also, if the slot is made of different elements, such as arcs & lines, the new routine will find the round slot information with only one mouse click. I-DEAS: - Export to I-DEAS DCI. - An I-DEAS DCI Import translator. - Better support for I-DEAS assembly files. UNGRAPHICS: - Added new register settings to allow users to specify from which UG layers to import data. a. 1-10 Layers 1 thru 10 b. 1,3,5 Layers 1, 3, and 5 c. 5-100 Layers 5 thru 100 d. 200-256 Layers 200 thru 256 - New register settings allow users to specify whether to import data from "Invisible" layers. - New register settings allow users to specify whether to import data from the "Work" layers. - New register settings allow users to specify whether to import data from "Visible Only" layers. - New register settings allow users to specify whether to import data from "Selectable" layers. - Enhanced assembly file support . - Support for Unigraphics versions 16, 17, and 18 were fully implemented. - Support for NX 1.0 (UG V19) and NX 2.0 was implemented. SolidWorks DCI: - Enhanced assembly file support . - Support for SolidWorks 2001 Plus SP 06 and SolidWorks 2003 were implemented. Enhancements focused toward users of portable manual CMM's such as Faro, Romer, SMX, Krypton, etc.: - A new Execution Layout changes PC-DMIS so that the learn-time layout is different from the execute-time layout. The default execute layout, hides all toolbars and the edit window. It will maximize the CAD view and cause the readouts window to display. The user can change the execute layout as desired during execution. Any changes made will be used during subsequent executions. - New alignment buttons have been added to the QuickStart toolbar for a 3-2-1 alignment and for a leapfrog alignment. A CAD=Part option has been added to the QuickStart dialog when using the alignment buttons so that CAD=Part is part of the process. The 3-2-1 Alignment allows the user to optionally add in rotational offsets and translate offsets by pressing the Translate/Rotate buttons. - A quick print toolbar button has been added to the Edit Window toolbar that allows the user to print a report with the click of a button. - The install program was changed to detect configuration files that are part of the install set and install those files. PC-DMIS has been changed so that if it sees these files when a new users start PC-DMIS, it becomes their default configuration. - A new expandable Status Window was added that shows the status bar prompts so a user can see prompts from a distance. - QuickStart buttons with wizards for all manual scans were added. - Rubber-Banding was added from the probe to cross sections during manual scanning. A Multisection Scan Type was added to manual scans allowing the user to scan across multiple sections at a time when creating a manual scans. - Improved FindNoms for scans allows the user to select the surfaces to use during the search for nominal data. If there are two surfaces that fall within the findnoms tolerance, the user can be asked which surface to use for the analysis. Controller specific scanning enhancements: - Support for the new VHSS scan algorithm on Brown & Sharpe / DEA Common (Leitz) firmware controllers with firmware version 17 or later has been added. To use the new algorithm there is a registry key, “VariableHighSpeedScanning” in the [Leitz] section. The default value is FALSE to indicate the old High Speed Scan (HSS) algorithm is in use. When the VHSS is enabled,it is possible to specify if the returned points are at “Constant Spatial Density” (CSD) or at “Variable Spatial Density” (VSD). By selecting the first option, CSD, the point density of the measured points is kept constant during the scan (for instance, 1 point per millimeter). By selecting the second option, VSD, the point density is modulated by the scan speed. That would mean that it is equal to the specified value at the nominal scanning speed (for instance 1 point per millimeter), but where the speed is reduced because of the surface curvature, the distance between measured points decreases proportionally to the speed. This method for data acquisition may be selected if we want to measure more points where the curvature of the surface is strong while we accept to measure fewer points where the part is more planar. With the old HSS, the only available method was the variable spatial density (VSD). - The HSSDAT scan method for Circle Basic Scan on Leitz (Wetzlar) CMM’s has been susbistuted by the SCADAT CIR command to enhance accuracy and machine response. ****************************************************************************************************** ******************************************************************************************************