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Software standardises co-ordinate measurement

A Mitutoyo (UK) product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Sep 23, 2002

Precision co-ordinate measuring machines are used for taking precise measurements of electric and electronic parts, machined parts and plastic moulded parts.

Precision co-ordinate measuring machines are used for taking precise measurements of electric and electronic parts, machined parts and plastic moulded parts.

Mitutoyo, the leading manufacturer worldwide of precision measuring instruments, has codeveloped software based on its proprietary Geopak-Win application with Open Cascade, to allow users to perform precision measurements directly on CAD models for offline programming purposes.

Mitutoyo's co-ordinate measuring machines (CMMs) use Geopak-Win software, which creates measuring routines and programs on a physical product.

The company co-developed Cadpak-Win with Open Cascade (a subsidiary of EADS Matra Datavision), and the application offers the same interface and common usage with Geopak-Win.

Mitutoyo could have employed a third-party application to provide this functionality but this would have had a number of drawbacks.

For example, other stand-alone systems use DMIS (dimensional measurement interchange specification) interface which is a general communications language used for communication between different programming systems and different manufacturers' CMMs.

In many respects, this means working with the lowest common denominator and developing a customised program using open source code.

Mitutoyo can offer special functionality and routines available within the Geopak-Win application to the user at the CAD stage.

In addition, users have the same interface and similar functionality as in the Geopak-Win application, therefore greatly reducing the learning curve.

By performing offline programming in Cadpak-Win and then directly transferring the data to Geopak-Win for the CMM, users can optimise the use of machine tool time and maximise use of the measuring machine.

The latest version of Cadpak-Win offers improved performance to accommodate CAD files in excess of 40Mbyte.

CAD formats supported include Brep, IGES, 3D-DXF, STEP, and an optional Catia (V4) direct reader.

There are more than 200 Cadpak-Win installations and Mitutoyo plans to continue the development of the application with the support of Open Cascade.

Find out more about this article. Request a brochure, download technical specifications and request samples here.

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