CMM Inspection Program Editing With Integrated Alignment Planning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) lack intuitive and easy-to-use systems for creating and editing inspection and alignment programs, particularly for unskilled users, with insufficient visualization of editing changes and separate programs often requiring manual creation and execution.

Innovation Solution

An integrated programming and editing environment for CMMs that allows simultaneous creation and editing of inspection and alignment programs, with automatic generation of separate programs for convenient execution, featuring a user interface with 3-D simulation and real-time feedback to visualize the effects of edits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If separate inspection programs and alignment programs are created manually, then program functionality is achieved, but user time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprogram creation efficiencyVSAvoidprogramming system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines separate inspection program creation and alignment program creation into a single integrated programming environment. Users can simultaneously develop both types of programs using unified tools and interfaces, eliminating the need to manually create separate programs and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining full functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically generates alignment programs based on inspection program requirements before execution. This preliminary automatic generation eliminates manual alignment program creation, saving user time and reducing complexity while ensuring proper coordination between inspection and alignment operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If detailed program editing features are provided, then program customization is improved, but ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprogram editing capabilityVSAvoiduser interface simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements real-time visualization feedback that immediately displays the effects of program edits as users make changes. This feedback mechanism allows users to understand program behavior without complex documentation, maintaining ease of operation while providing detailed editing capabilities. The visualization shows how edits affect inspection paths, alignment sequences, and program execution flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intelligent intermediary layer between user edits and program execution. This intermediary automatically processes edit commands, validates changes, and translates user-friendly operations into detailed program instructions. Users interact with simplified interfaces while the intermediary handles complexity in the background, maintaining both ease of operation and editing versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If program effects are visualized in real-time, then user understanding is improved, but system processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprogram effect visibilityVSAvoidediting process time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements partial real-time visualization by updating only the portions of the program affected by user edits rather than regenerating entire programs. This selective updating approach provides sufficient visual feedback for user understanding while minimizing processing time overhead. Critical path elements are visualized immediately, while non-critical elements are updated asynchronously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11520472B2Inspection program editing environment including integrated alignment program planning and editing features

Publication Date: 2022.12.06 MITUTOYO CORP

AI summary

A system is provided for programming workpiece feature inspection operations for a coordinate measuring machine (CMM), including a user interface that comprises a workpiece inspection program simulation portion configurable to display a 3-D view of a workpiece; an editing user interface portion comprising an editable plan representation of a current workpiece feature inspection plan for the workpiece; and an editable alignment program plan representation for the workpiece. The system is configured with the editable alignment program plan representation being automatically responsive to editing operations, regardless of whether the editing operations are performed in the 3-D view or the editable plan representation. The editing operations include deleting or adding at least one workpiece feature to or from the editable alignment program plan representation.