Precise, Practical and Productive

Inspection Introduction

Inspection has been a well-known software to generate FAI (First Article Inspection) report, to get approval and authorization on the report for QC checking for the sample or production units. When the software rolled out during 2014, the simplified user interface and operation procedure allow non-CAD users to pick it up easily. Users will use the software to do checking, create tolerance for the input data and generate latest QC report whether to use CMM data or key in the value manually, while using color to show if the data pass or failed the tolerance value. Instead of using SOLIDWORKS drawing, it also supports .jpeg picture format or .pdf drawings. So, you can use it without the SOLIDWORKS 3D design package.

Relationship Between Inspection & CMM

We’ve always seen eh videos about Inspection: how they create the balloon; how they trace the tolerance value; how they use color to interpret data; and only heard about the Pro version can use CMM machines to generate FAI report.

Hence, “How we can use the benefits of CMM devices on Inspection?” – This is the mystery path that we going to cover in this section.

At first, when we heard that Inspection Pro supports CMM, we all thought that we can just plug in the CMM devices then let the machine do the job to collect data to Inspection software. Well, it’s kind of true, but there’s a trick behind this operation procedure. Instead of directly plug in the machines to do it, we import the data obtained from the CMM machines. Yes, and you might think this is crazy. if you have different types of CMM machines, you might need to invest a little bit of time to understand and customize the template to ensure the data are exported correctly in Inspection. So, before you implement the solution, make sure you check your CMM model, and cross section if there’s any existing template for your machine to speed up the troubleshooting process.

Hopefully in near future, R&D team can include this enhancement for the CMM machine, like the sync feature used in SOLIDWORKS 3D printing.

Required time to study how to fine tune the captured data setting between Inspection and CMM datasheet

Setting It Up

Before you start implementing the data import feature, you may require attending the Inspection training. Get familiar with the user interface and features to ensure you are clear on the inspection workflow, getting the idea how the data is related or connected to the software.

Hence, you need to check your CMM machine model. Different CMM machines come with different templates provided by Dassault Systèmes. For example, PC-DMIS, Calypso, Faro CAM2, and others that will be shown in the software.

Each template must be created or fine-tuned based on the datasheet generated by the CMM model. If your machine is not listed in the software, you may be required to spend some time to discover the data. CMM data spreadsheet comes with coordinate systems and value obtained from the CMM measurement.

In the CMM template editor, you will have to add the correct data connection to specific section, such as, Axes, Columns, and the shape of the geometry measured or captured by the machine. The next part you may need to add on the tolerance value, to generate the correct result based on the data captured from the drawings.

The example of CMM data obtained from the machine

Section to import the data template from the CMM datasheet

Insert the CMM data in the correct section to ensure the inspection can generate the result

The result generated from the inspection after captured from the drawings

Seek Support

If you are having issue of dealing and understand on how the data import feature in SOLIDWORKS Inspection works, you can always seek support from your local reseller, to support your implementation and escalate the matter to our principal.

If you are interested in seeing the SOLIDWORKS Inspection demo to getting more information for CMM with Inspection Pro, please contact us for a demo session.

Stay tuned to our blog page for latest updates, information and hidden features in our solutions.

Until the next time, Henry out.