Loading and Positioning Resources

This procedure describes how to load or insert resources to inspect a product (e.g., a CMM) into the PPR tree.

In this procedure, two of the resources will be loaded using the catalog browser.  The resources loaded directly into the .CATProcess document are a CMM and a probe.
The PPR tree should already have the SAMPLE PART listed under the product node and the FIXTURE part listed under the resources node.

 

 Each resource loaded from the catalog browser is treated as indivisible.  Although the parts that make up the resource appear on the PPR tree, selecting any part of a resource means that the entire resource has been selected.

There are two catalog libraries available:

  • startup\INSPECTV5lib\Catalogs\DEVICES\OLD_LIB:  This library contains inspect resources originally created from DELMIA D5 data.  This library of catalogs was the original library available to V5 users.
  • startup\INSPECTV5lib\Catalogs\DEVICES: This library contains inspect resources created within V5.  It contains more data than the original library.  It includes components such as laser trackers, and it contains two probe head catalogs: one each for manual and motorized probe heads.

    The paths for the catalog libraries are given relative to the startup directory.  The location of the startup directory varies, depending on how you (or your system's administrator) has installed V5.

Using the Catalog Browser

  1. On the Activity Management toolbar, click Catalog.

    The Catalog Browser window appears.
    If the catalog browser appears empty or if it does not have the INSPECTV5lib catalog available, take the following steps:
     

    1. Select the open folder icon (banded by blue, in the image below). 

      A File Selection dialog box appears. 

    2. Navigate to the directory in which the Inspect catalog appears.

      The catalog is in a subdirectory of the startup directory.  The location of the startup directory depends on how your V5 product was installed.  Use your operating system's search function to identify the startup directory's location.  From startup, the path is:
      • startup/INSPECTV5lib/Catalogs/DEVICES (for catalogs with resources created in V5)
      • startup/INSPECTV5lib/Catalogs/DEVICES/OLD_LIB (for catalogs with resources created in D5)

    3. Select the INSPECTV5Lib.catalog file and click Open on the File Selection window.

      The INSPECTV5lib catalog appears as in the image above.

  2. In the left panel, double-click CMM.

    The items in the CMM catalog appear in the right panel.

  3. Locate the PRISMO CMM using one of the methods described below:

    • Scroll through the CMM list in the right panel.
    • Use the Filter button to locate the device.
     

    1. When you click the Filter button, the Filter dialog box appears:

    2. From the list to the right of the Name field, select either exact match (==) or partial match (*=).
       

    3. In the text entry box to the right, enter either the full name PRISMO (capitalization is important) or a portion of the name, depending on whether you selected exact or partial match. 

    4. Click OK .

      PRISMO appears in the right panel.

  4. Click on PRISMO in the right panel.

    In the geometry area, a set of white crossed lines and the CMM data appears.

  5. Move the CMM to a place within the geometry (final positioning occurs after the CMM is loaded, therefore precise placement is not necessary in this step) and click.

    The CMM is now loaded into the PPR tree under the resource node.

Positioning the Resources Using Snap

The part and its fixture are usually designed in the same reference frame (design in context) because best practices recommend that the CMM should be positioned relative to the part and fixture, not vice versa.
 

  1. Click Device Selection .

    Device Selection enables you to select an entire device, rather than discrete parts of a device.

  2. On the Layout Tools toolbar, click Snap.

    The Snap Options message appears.

  3. Click on the CMM.

    The Define Reference Plane (From) dialog box appears.
    The define plane mode is selected by default.

  4. Select a point on the face of the CMM.

    A white box defines the plane; a white arrow pointing away from the plane defines the direction of the snap.

  5. Click OK.

  6. Select the fixture.

    The Define Reference Plane (From) dialog box again appears.

  7. Select a point on the bottom of the fixture.

  8. Click OK.

    The Snap Options dialog box appears.

  9. Verify that the Attach check box is not selected.

    Depending on the initial position of the fixture relative to the CMM, select the Alternate directions check box.

  10. Click OK.

    The fixture and sample part are snapped to the top of the CMM.

  11. Use Catalog per steps 1-5 to load the probe head PH10.

    When you select the probe head (or other items loaded from the catalog), you see a green manipulation handle that surrounds the device.  This manipulation handle enables you to move the selected device more easily. When you move the cursor on the manipulation handle, you see crossed white lines that also help you visualize where an object is moving in the geometric space .  For more information, see "Using the Manipulation Handle" in the 3D Simulation for Manufacturing User's Guide.
     

  12. Use Snap to position the probe head onto the CMM using steps 6-15, with the three exceptions noted below.

    • You want to snap the probe head to the CMM, so once you have selected Snap, select the probe head and then the CMM.
    • Instead of selecting a plane on the surface of the CMM or probe head, first position the cursor over the parts until you see the green connector arrows (see images below), and then click.  Using the connectors means you do not see the Define Reference Plane (From) dialog box.

      You cannot see the connectors if you are in cache mode.

      (In the image of the connector on the CMM below, a view of the part has been omitted to better show the arrow; normally the part and fixture would be present.)

    • When you get the Snap Options dialog box, select the Attach check box.
    You can use Jog to see the resources (e.g., the probe head) "in action" on the CMM.
      With Jog, you can select the CMM or smaller devices such as the probe head. 
      If you move the cursor over the probe head, you can see arrows on the geometry, showing the direction of movement allowed on the probe head.
     
      Use either the compass or the dialog box to move the device. 
      Use the Reset button when you are finished jogging the device.

Loading and Positioning the Tool Sample
 

  1. Click on the link to the TOOL_SAMPLE.CATProduct file.

    The TOOL_SAMPLE.CATProduct file opens in a product window.

  2. Drag and drop the TOOL_SAMPLE.CATProduct file into the Resource List node of the process window.

    Tool Sample should appear both in the geometry and in the PPR tree.

  3. Use Steps 6-15 to snap the tool sample to the probe head, with the following caveats:

    • Remember that you want to snap the tool sample to the the probe head. Once you have selected Snap, select the tool sample and then the probe head.
    • You should use the connectors in the tool sample and the probe head for snapping.  Remember that these connectors will not be visible if you are in cache mode.
    • Do not select the Attach check box in the Snap Options dialog box. 
This procedure completes putting your resources in place; you are ready to start adding activities to your inspection process.  The first inspection activity should be defining the machine coordinate system.