Using Probes - About Probe Qualification

Using Probes - About Probe Qualification

About Probe Qualification

 

In order to digitize an entire part, you may need to use multiple Probes. Management of Probe qualification varies amongst the selection of digitizing devices available. The manufacturers of some devices provide communication interface software that manages probe-specific qualification information that Probe Manager can use without having to qualify individual Probes. Others require Probes to be qualified every time they are reattached in order to maintain the highest accuracy. If you are using an indexable Probe head, such as on a bridge CMM, you must qualify each Probe position you use before you can collect any data.

When qualifying Probes, you create a database of Probe characteristics and relationships. RevWorks uses this database to normalize data collected with different Probes and maintain part alignment. Specifically, RevWorks uses qualification data to:

  • Quantify the differences between Probes within Probe Sets such that RevWorks can accurately relate data collected with different Probes used

  • Compensate features for the actual measured radius of a ball Probe.

When physically removing a Probe tip from the digitizing arm, re-qualification of the probe may be necessary. This depends on the requirements of the specific device you are using. If you are removing a probe head from a CMM you must re-qualify a reference probe and may also need to re-datum the part. See About Using Probe Manager With Your Digitizer for specifics on the capabilities and requirements of the various devices supported by RevWorks.

For Probe Manager to preserve data alignment when you switch probes while digitizing a part, you can qualify probes when you create probe sets. Thus, when switching among qualified probes, Probe Manager accommodates for differences among the probes and maintains data alignment no matter which qualified probe you select within the probe set.

When you qualify a probe, Probe Manager displays information about the probe in the right side panel of the Probe Manager window.

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