Coordinate measuring machine (CMM) manufacturer LK Metrology, based in Derbyshire, UK, has introduced a new version of its CAMIO software, 8.5, designed to raise productivity in the inspection department, improve the quality of data collected, reduce measuring cycle times and accelerate time to market for new products. The software is used not only on the company's own CMMs but also on other manufacturers' platforms, to which it may be retrofitted.
LK has introduced CAMIO 8.5, the latest version of its CMM programming software.
Regardless of whether stamped, moulded or machined parts are being inspected, CAMIO drives accurate and efficient programs for measuring geometric features as well as analysing surfaces and generating part-to-CAD comparisons. CAMIO’s interoperability across CMM platforms, sensor technology and manufacturing sites is a significant advantage.
The latest CAMIO 8.5 software includes a number of programming updates. Reference point system alignments have been reorganised, toggling between probe angles has been simplified, more precise and pronounced warning messages are provided for users when setting up the machine with program parameters outside minimum or maximum limits, the GOTO command now allows the user to specify the number of axes for movement, and the ACIS CAD engine and support for third party CAD formats have been updated.
Interface upgrades encompass: improvements to window docking to allow users to customise the interface for a specific task or application more easily; CAD layers displayed in a separate window for better access; CAD orientation buttons to enable a user to keep the current zoom level; and mouse/pointer coordinates in the status bar for quick estimation of dimensions. Laser and point cloud improvements include a new offset parameter for point detection, and export of point clouds in Geomagic® GDP format to interface with 3D Systems' processing software to create accurate models from scan data or for quality control measurements.
To ensure that CAMIO 8.5 is easier to use, setup of the Machine Launch Utility for offline programming has been simplified, there are additional options for opening and/or printing CAMIO reports, and it is possible to relocate a single rack stall instead of all the stalls. Renishaw's PHS1 servo positioning head is now supported along with the ACR2 modular extension arm autochange rack that allows any number of racks to be positioned anywhere within the machine volume. Renishaw's SP80 head and autochange rack are similarly supported.