CMM Inspection Program Editing with Global UI Responsiveness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coordinate measuring machine (CMM) programming systems lack intuitive and immediate feedback during inspection program editing, making it difficult for users to understand the effects of edits on inspection efficiency and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A system with a user interface that includes a CAD file processing portion, a 3D view, and an editable plan representation, which are automatically responsive to editing operations, providing real-time feedback on the impact of changes on inspection program execution time and throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If existing CMM programming systems provide multiple windows with different types of information about programmed operations, then users can access comprehensive inspection data, but users find it difficult to track where and how programmed operations fit within an overall inspection plan and understand the effects of edits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple information windows into a single integrated user interface that displays the inspection plan, 3D workpiece visualization, and execution time feedback together. This unified interface allows users to see how individual operations fit within the overall inspection plan while maintaining access to comprehensive inspection data, thereby resolving the contradiction between information completeness and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback by automatically updating the estimated execution time display in response to user editing operations. When users modify the inspection plan, the system immediately recalculates and displays the new execution time, enabling users to understand the effects of their edits without needing to manually track changes across multiple windows. This immediate feedback mechanism enhances ease of operation while preserving comprehensive information.
2Loss of information
If users manually track and analyze the effects of editing operations on inspection efficiency, then comprehensive understanding can be achieved, but significant time and effort are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic execution time calculation and updates in response to user editing operations. Instead of requiring users to manually analyze and track the effects of their edits, the system autonomously recalculates the inspection plan execution time and displays the updated information immediately. This self-service approach provides comprehensive understanding of edit effects while eliminating the time-consuming manual analysis process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automatic feedback by continuously monitoring editing operations and immediately updating the execution time display. When users add, remove, or modify inspection operations, the system automatically recalculates the total execution time and presents the updated information without requiring user intervention. This automated feedback loop eliminates manual analysis time while maintaining complete understanding of edit effects.
3Loss of information
If detailed information about each programmed operation is displayed separately, then comprehensive inspection data is available, but it becomes difficult to understand the various effects that certain types of edits may produce
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges detailed operation information with aggregate execution time feedback in a unified display. The interface shows both individual operation details and the overall execution time impact together, allowing users to understand how specific edits affect the total inspection time while maintaining access to comprehensive operation information. This integrated approach resolves the contradiction by presenting detailed information in a context that makes edit effects immediately understandable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides immediate feedback by automatically calculating and displaying the execution time impact of editing operations. When users modify individual operations, the system instantly updates the displayed execution time to reflect the cumulative effect of all changes. This real-time feedback mechanism enables users to understand edit effects without having to manually analyze detailed operation information, thereby improving ease of operation while preserving comprehensive data.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided for programming workpiece feature inspection operations for a coordinate measuring machine. The system includes a computer-aided design (CAD) file processing portion and a user interface comprising a 3D view, and editable plan representation. Both the 3D view and the editable plan representation are configure to be automatically responsive to operations in a first set of editing operations, regardless of whether the operations are performed in the 3D view or the editable plan representation of the user interface. The first set of editing operations may comprise deleting (or adding) at least one workpiece feature in the 3D view or the editable plan representation of the user interface, for example. Various other portions of the system (e.g. other user interface windows) may also be automatically responsive to the first set of editing operations, regardless of where the editing operations are performed in the user interface.