Mastercam Probing
Mastercam Probing is an add-on for programming a touch probe on a machine tool, allowing measurement operations to be created directly in Mastercam as part of the same CAM program as the actual toolpaths. Measurement can be used for workpiece alignment, work coordinate system determination, in-process measurement, and inspection of the finished part before it is removed from the machine.
Measurement operations can be created based on the CAD model and postprocessed into the same NC program as other machining operations. Measurement results can also be used to control the process, for example by managing tool offsets, the work coordinate system, or subsequent machining operations. Mastercam Probing supports several probing systems, including Renishaw, Blum-Novotest, and Heidenhain solutions.
Mastercam Probing for Programming Measurements Directly in the CAM Environment
Mastercam Probing integrates measurement performed on the machine tool into Mastercam’s standard programming workflow. The programmer selects the geometry to be measured, the measurement method, and the required settings in Mastercam, after which the machine-specific postprocessor generates NC code compatible with the machine control.
Measurement operations can be used, for example, to measure surfaces, edges, widths, holes, and external circular features. Measurement can be placed in the program before machining, between machining operations, or for inspection of the completed part.
Measurement paths can be associatively linked to the part’s CAD geometry. If the geometry changes, the related measurement operations can also be updated to match the new model without having to rebuild the measurement programming from scratch.
Probe movements can be checked in Mastercam before running the machine. This makes it possible to evaluate approach movements and identify potential collisions with the part, fixtures, or other components in the work area.
Part Alignment and Automatic Work Coordinate System Determination
One of the key applications of Mastercam Probing is automatically aligning the part before machining. The probe can measure the part’s position and use the measurement results to define the work coordinate system, without manually locating edges or center points.
For a rectangular part, for example, opposite surfaces can be measured to determine the part’s centerline or center point. The center point of a hole or external circular feature can likewise be determined from multiple measurement points.
The probe can also detect angular errors in the part or fixture. If the machine tool, control, and postprocessor support this function, the measurement results can be used to rotate the work coordinate system or make other alignment corrections without reclamping the part.
Automatic alignment reduces setup time and improves setup repeatability, especially in production environments, pallet systems, and other applications where there may be slight variations in part positioning.
In-Process Measurement, Automatic Corrections, and If–Then Logic
With Mastercam Probing, measurement can be integrated into the actual machining process. For example, the machine tool can measure a critical diameter, the location of a surface, or another feature between machining operations and use the measurement data to determine how the process continues.
Measurement results can be stored in the machine control's variables. Depending on the capabilities of the machine, control, probing macros, and postprocessor, the measurement data can be used, for example, to update tool offsets, adjust the work coordinate system, or control the next machining operation.
If the machine control supports conditional program logic, measurement results can be used in If–Then statements. For example, the diameter of a finished hole can be measured, and the NC program can continue normally, perform a specified corrective operation, or stop the process depending on whether the measured value is within the allowed tolerance.
Mastercam Probing includes ready-made probing cycles for various types of geometry, while Cycle Builder can be used to modify existing cycles or create custom measurement routines to meet production requirements. This makes it possible to integrate measurement into an automated machining process even when the standard cycles alone are not sufficient.
Measurement can also be performed on a completed part while it remains in the same fixture. This allows critical dimensions to be checked before the part is removed from the machine and makes it possible to respond to any deviations while corrective machining can still be performed.
Renishaw Inspection Plus and Other Probing Systems with Mastercam Probing
Mastercam Probing can be integrated with various measurement systems used on machine tools. Supported solutions include Renishaw, Blum-Novotest, and Heidenhain probes, for example, but the available functions always depend on the machine tool, CNC control, probing macros, and machine-specific postprocessor.
With Renishaw systems, Mastercam Probing can use Inspection Plus measurement macros. The probing operation is defined in Mastercam, while Inspection Plus executes the actual probing cycle in the machine control and processes the measurement data generated by the probe touches.
This makes it possible to measure, for example, the position of the part, surfaces, holes, and external circular features as part of an NC program created in Mastercam—without requiring the programmer to write each probing macro manually.
Mastercam Probing therefore integrates CAM programming and the machine tool’s measurement system into a single workflow. Probing is planned in Mastercam alongside the toolpaths, and the machine-specific postprocessor generates an NC program suitable for the machine tool, CNC control, and measurement system being used.
Contact us if you’d like to integrate probing into your Mastercam programming and machining process.
