Once you install the EQUATOR add-on, you can use Inspect to measure parts with any supported Renishaw Equator™ system, such as the Equator 300 or Equator 500.
To measure parts in Inspect on an Equator system, you must meet these requirements:
First, you need a calibrate file (.cal extension) for the part you want to measure. (See "Creating a Calibrate (.Cal) File" below.)
Second, you must run CMM Compare. (See "CMM Compare" below.)
Once those are done, you can then measure parts. (See "Measuring Parts" below.)
Run a measurement routine and measure your master part on a CMM.
In PC-DMIS 2021.2 or later, use the CreateEquatorCalibrationFile wizard from the Wizards toolbar to create the .cal file.
When PC-DMIS generates the .cal file, it gives the file the same name as your routine but with a .cal file extension.
Copy both the measurement routine (.prg) file and the .cal file to the PC-DMIS part program folder on the Equator system.
About CMM Compare
Before you can measure parts, you need to run a CMM comparison on your master part. (See "Running CMM Compare" below.) This master part is not a perfect part, but it is the production part that you measured with the CMM in "Requirements" above to generate the .cal file.
When you run CMM Compare, your Equator system measures the master part and creates a compensation map. This map correct errors by using the results from your CMM.
The Equator system creates a list of offset values from the master part and stores them in a .mst file.
This is sometimes called "mastering" or "zeroing" your Equator.
During a real part measurement, the software then applies these offsets to your measurement results.
For more information, see this video on the Renishaw website.
CMM Compare and Scheduler
You likely need to run CMM Compare regularly according to a defined schedule.
You can schedule when to run CMM Compare with the Scheduler add-on. If the Scheduler add-on detects that your CMM Compare is due, Inspect informs you that you must first run CMM compare before you can measure your part. To do this, use the Scheduler section in the Settings screen.
This ensures that you run CMM Compare on a regular basis.
Place your master part onto the Equator table and secure it so that it doesn't move.
Before you can run the CMM compare you need to have the .cal file from the original measurement of the part on the CMM. See "Requirements" above.
From the Details pane, click the Perform CMM Compare check box.
Then from your part tile, click Execute to run a comparison on your "master" part.
Follow any on-screen instructions to measure your master part.
Once you've performed a CMM Compare, the Equator system applies your part's .cal file to your measurements with the Equator system. If you don't have a .cal file from the CMM compare, it cannot measure your parts.
To measure a part:
In Inspect, from the Details pane, clear the Perform CMM Compare check box.
Then from your part's tile, click Execute to run a measurement routine for that part.
Follow any on-screen instructions.