Starting a Productivity+ GibbsCAM

plug-in session

The aim of this module is to guide users through the stages required to start a Productivity+
GibbsCAM plug-in session, including probe creation and definition.

Screenshots may vary from those shown depending on the installed version of the Productivity+ GibbsCAM plug-in.

Set-up a probing tool

Open a new GibbsCAM session or existing GibbsCAM file. (Select File > New or File > Open)
Select the Probing pull down tab and Create Probe Tool.

This will create a Probing Tool Tile.

To configure the probe, double-click on the tile in the tool list to display the probe definition dialog:

This screen lists all the probes that have already been defined for your system. The probe name,
diameter and Effective Working Length (EWL) are shown in the top half of the dialog, with a simple
graphical representation of the probe in the bottom half of the dialog.

Note: Probe details are held in your Probe database file, the location of which can be found (and
amended) under Options > System > File Locations
You may select the probe to be used from this list or create your own. For more information on any of
the probes currently defined for your system, select the probe name and click the Advanced button.
This will display all the probe settings. Clicking on any of the parameters in the Advanced screen will
provide help on the meaning of these settings. To return to the standard probe definition dialog, click
the Simple button.

Editing a probe definition

To edit the definition of the selected probe, click on the Edit button. The Edit dialog will provide help on
the various parameters that can be edited.
The tool change ID will indicate an error (a red cross to the left of the field). This is by design and acts
as a prompt to users to modify probe ID before generating any probing programs.

Note: You will not be permitted to edit any probe definitions if your probe definition (database) file is set
to read-only.

Creating a new probe definition

To define a new probe with default values, click on the Create button.

Deleting a probe definition

To delete the currently selected probe definition, click on the Delete button.

Importing a probe definition

Information stored in a probe database can be shared between separate installations of the software.
The Import... button opens a dialog allowing other probe database files (*.RenPD files) to be
duplicated into the current live database.
If duplicate entries are encountered during the import operation, the name of duplicated probes will be
appended with a numeric serial number as part of the import process.

Creating a Probing Operation

The GibbsCAM plug-in uses the geometry taken from the model to create the probed measured
features.
Note: This guide does not provide information on how to do this, as this is a GibbsCAM operation; only
plug-in specific operations are covered in detail in this document.
Drag the Probe tile from the Machining Palette to the Process list (left hand image below).
Drag the Probe Tool tile on to the Probing process tile (right hand image below).

This will open the main Productivity+ dialog where inspection cycles are defined.

Just as geometry features are selected when defining machining operations, you must select the
relevant geometry when inserting a measurement statement.
For example, when inspecting a line, first select the line that has been created in the GibbsCAM
geometry creation process, then click on the line icon
on the measurement statements toolbar of
Productivity+. This inserts a Measured line statement into the inspection cycle. Similarly, you must
select the relevant arc or circle before clicking on the circle icon
you intend to measure.

and so on for all types of features

Measured Point statements may also be added to an inspection program using the dynamic point
method, which does not require the point to be present in the GibbsCAM geometry.
To use this method, select the
icon on the measurement statements toolbar, then use the mouse
to select the required point or points on the part to measure.
When you have selected all the points, press Enter. A Measured Point statement will appear in the
inspection cycle for each point selected.

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HOWSOEVER ARISING, FOR ANY INACCURACIES IN THIS DOCUMENT.
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*H-4007-0063-01*
Issued 05.12 Part no. H-4007-0063-01-A