Frequently Asked CMM Questions

Frequently Asked CMM Questions

With almost 40 years in business and a wealth of experience in CMM’s and metrology throughout the team at Status, we’ve had our fair share of customer questions and queries over the years. To make it easier for our customers and prospects to get answers to some of these instantly, we’ve collated some of the most common and have answered each one below.

mitutoyo used cmmWhat is a CMM?

CMM is short for coordinate measuring machine. It is a machine used by manufacturers to accurately measure and inspect the geometrical characteristics of an object, usually a specific part or component, to ensure stringent quality requirements are met and that they conform to the intended design. A modern-day CMM machine consists of three core components, being the machine body (often made from granite) that includes an X, Y and Z axis, the measuring probe and a data collection system. The granite body’s and bridges have remained largely unchanged since the first CMM was manufactured by Ferranti in 1959. However, the probes and software continue to develop at a brisk pace.

What is the best CMM?

The best CMM is one that is regularly upgraded with the latest software, probes and controllers to help it keep up with today’s rapid inspection demands and one that is maintained and calibrated frequently. There’s no single best CMM on the market but even the latest showroom models can’t perform optimally without the correct software.

What can a CMM measure?

A CMM can measure small to large machined parts and components to very high degrees of accuracy. CMM machines come in a wide range of sizes and weights so the size of the machine will often dictate the size of components it can measure. CMM’s can obtain a range of measurements from a given part, including straightness, flatness, roundness, cylindricity, conicity, angularity and more. Any characteristic of a component that exists in one, two or three dimensions can be measured by a CMM.

How to improve quality process?

A CMM machine can directly improve your quality process by ensuring parts and components meet stringent quality standards. If you already have a CMM machine in place but aren’t happy with its performance then several upgrades can be made to bring it in line with the performance of the latest showroom offerings.

The team at Status can update almost any type of CMM, regardless of whether you purchased it from us or elsewhere. The first step is to decide on the benefits that you want to achieve with the upgrade – greater accuracy, improved throughout, increased reliability etc. and from there we can decide on the relevant upgrades to make to help you achieve it. If you’re not sure about what you want to achieve then we can provide a full CMM audit, with no obligation or cost to you.

cmm calibration

What are CMM machines used for?

CMM machines are used to measure the geometry of machined parts and components using a probe. They are widely used in manufacturing and assembly processes in a vast range of industries such as aerospace, automotive, pharmaceutical, marine and more, where specific quality standards must be met.

What does a CMM machine do?

A CMM machine measures and inspects objects on an X, Y and Z-axis using a probe. CMM’s are used by a huge range of manufacturing businesses and industries including aerospace, oil and gas, automotive, military and more, where stringent quality standards need to be met.

Which type of CMM is widely used?

There are four types of CMM:-

  • Cantilever
  • Horizontal Arm
  • Bridge
  • Gantry

However the Automatic Bridge CMM is the most widely used within the UK.

Which CMM software?

When it comes to CMM software, there really is nothing better on the market currently than Hexagon MI’s PC-DMIS. It’s the world’s leading CMM software solution with over 80,000 registered seats worldwide. One of the huge benefits to PC-DMIS is the consistent updates and upgrades it gets with new features and functionality added regularly.

PC-DMIS is also available in several versions to suit the measuring needs of different businesses. The flagship package is PC-DMIS Pro which doesn’t require CAD data and offers advanced measuring, analytics and reporting capabilities. PC-DMIS Pro comes standard on all Status CMM’s and is the top choice amongst our customer base.

Improved Software - PC-DMIS HexagonWhat is PC-DMIS?

PC-DMIS is a CMM software solution, created by Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence. It is one of the most popular CMM software choices across many industries for several reasons. It is capable of measuring the most simple prismatic parts to extremely complex aerospace and automotive components. It’s packed with excellent features and tools, enabling manufacturing operations to inspect more parts in a shorter time. Status can install PC-DMIS and transform your existing inspection capabilities. We’re currently offering a free demo of the software with no obligation to purchase a license.

What is a CMM upgrade?

A CMM upgrade is designed to keep your CMM running at optimal efficiency. CMM’s last for many years, physically, but the associated technology – software, controllers and probes are constantly advancing. These are all areas however that can be upgraded to bring an outdated CMM inline with the latest showroom machines for a fraction of the price.

The team at Status can update almost any type of CMM, regardless of whether you purchased it from us or elsewhere. The first step is to decide on the benefits that you want to achieve with the upgrade – greater accuracy, improved throughout, increased reliability etc. and from there we can decide on the relevant upgrades to make to help you achieve it. If you’re not sure about what you want to achieve then we can provide a full CMM audit, with no obligation or cost to you.

What is CMM retrofitting?

CMM retrofitting is similar to a CMM upgrade to enhance your CMM’s performance. However, with an upgrade, you choose which elements to replace. A CMM retrofit is a turnkey solution that involves completely replacing the CMM’s existing software, controllers and probing, and in some cases, rewiring.

A CMM retrofit will give your machine a completely new lease of life – lowering running costs, increasing inspection capacity, improving reliability and accuracy and boosting your profitability.

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