Using the Execution Dialog Box

You can use the On Error command to tell PC-DMIS to skip commands that generate certain machine errors during the execution of a measurement routine. For information about On Error branching, see the "Branching on an Error" topic.

You can use the Check Calibration Limits command to check for probe calibration errors and raise alerts during execution. You can combine this command with the On Error command to control the execution. For information about the Check Calibration Limits command, see the "Creating a Check Calibration Limits Command" topic in the PC-DMIS Toolkit Modules documentation.

To begin all execution operations, open the Execution dialog box (File | Execute or File | Partial Execution).

Once the Execution dialog box appears, PC-DMIS attempts to execute all marked commands in the current measurement routine.

WARNING: When you do this, the machine moves. To avoid injury, stay clear of the machine. To avoid hardware damage, run the machine at a slower speed.

These include any moves and hits for the current feature (the feature about to be measured). These commands are only available if the measurement routine is stopped during execution, from an error, from the operator, or if the execution takes place in manual mode. If this takes place in DCC mode, you can resume the measurement routine execution by highlighting the desired hit or move from the Machine Commands list and clicking Continue .

Suppose a clearance move command was programmed with the wrong X, Y, or Z values. During the execution of that move, you might get a motion error. To continue, you would do the following:

Select the Machine Commands list.
Select the command following the offending move.
Click Continue.

Most CMM jog boxes also have a button assigned to erasing the last hit. Pressing that button on the CMM's jog box while in Execute mode, produces the same result as clicking the Erase Hit button on the dialog box.

This button is only available when a manual scan is executed.

To use the New Row command button:

Press Stop to pause the scan.
Click New Row . This indicates a new row to scanned.

Click New Row first. PC-DMIS automatically pauses the scan.
Move the probe to the next row.
Click Continue .
PC-DMIS scans the new row.

Continue - Resumes the execution of a measurement routine halted by a CMM motion error, or the Stop button.

You can choose the specific location within the current feature where the probe is to resume measuring the part. The default location is displayed in the Machine Commands list. To select another location, click the list and select the desired line. PC-DMIS continues the measurement process at that location once you click Continue.

The software does not know why you chose to pause an execution. Therefore, to safely resume a paused execution, check to ensure that the probe has a clear lane of travel to its next point. A message box reminds you to do this in these circumstances:

The probe is already inside the ClearanceCube.
The probe is outside the ClearanceCube but the first target position exists within the ClearanceCube.
Anytime the first movement intersects with the ClearanceCube.

For information on the ClearanceCube, see "Using the ClearanceCube" in the "Editing the CAD Display" chapter.

Stop - Halts the probe at its current position and suspends execution of the measurement routine.

This button does not stop the measurement routine execution if the current move is a PH9 orientation change. The measurement routine stops after the PH9 stops.

The topic "Manually Controlling a Feature's Measurement" discusses using Stop to switch to manual mode during the execution process.

Scan Done - Stops collecting data in a manual scan and processes the data for finding nominals, vector compensation, and other data.

This is only available if a manual scan is executed (learned).

As you execute the scan, PC-DMIS gathers data from the CMM. Simultaneously, PC-DMIS filters (or reduces) the data according to the scan method (Fixed Time, Fixed Distance, Fixed Time / Distance, and other methods) you provide. PC-DMIS excludes data that does not satisfy the criteria (such as Fixed Time or Distance increments) and keeps data that does satisfy the criteria.

Step Next - Continues the measurement process by stepping through each new command that moves the CMM.

This pauses the CMM between each step, which requires you to click Step Next to continue to step through the routine. This puts PC-DMIS into Step Mode. When PC-DMIS is in Step Mode, you can insert hits into features and insert new features between existing features or commands. If you insert a new feature, PC-DMIS displays a dialog box that enables you to do the following:

Skip to the HIT /BASIC command of the new feature.
Remeasure the new feature.
Continue to step through the measurement routine, and ignore the new feature entirely.

You can also simulate Step Mode offline.

Step Next appears in the dialog box when PC-DMIS pauses execution for a breakpoint (see "Using Breakpoints" in the "Editing a Measurement Routine" chapter).

Skip - Skips the next command displayed in the Machine Commands list. It also skips commands that depend on the skipped command.

For details on how PC-DMIS reports dimensions that use skipped features during execution, see the "Reporting a Dimension Using a Feature Skipped During Execution" topic in this documentation.

This displays the Jump to Feature List dialog box. From this list, you can select the next feature to execute and deviate from the automatically-generated execution path.

Jump to Feature List dialog box

After you select a feature from the list and click OK, PC-DMIS executes the selected feature. After PC-DMIS executes that feature, it returns to the pre-defined path and attempts to execute the next non-measured feature until you click Jump again and select a new feature.

Suppose you have seven circles labeled CIR1 through CIR7, and they are programmed to execute in that order. If after CIR1, you click Jump and select CIR6, PC-DMIS immediately measures CIR6. When finished, PC-DMIS returns and measure circles CIR2 through CIR5, and then it finishes by measuring CIR7.

Progress Bar - Indicates the percentage of the measurement routine that has finished executing.

The percentage is derived from the amount of executed commands and hits taken compared against the total number of marked commands and hits to take. The progress bar updates as it progresses through the measurement routine. You may find this useful when you have a large measurement routine and want a general idea of how long it takes to complete.

This functionality does not factor in individual scan hits or alterations to the number of executed items due to flow control statements.

Machine Errors - Displays any errors that occur during the execution of the measurement routine.

Some possible errors are an unexpected probe hit or an unexpected end of move. You can view the errors by clicking this list.

Time Remaining - Displays the execution time (in <hours>:<minutes>:<seconds>) that remains for a measurement routine or mini routine if the Record and display execution time check box in the Execution area on the General tab in the Setup Options dialog box (Edit | Preferences | Setup) is selected. For example:

If the Add to execution time (seconds) check box in the Execution area is also selected, PC-DMIS adds the number of seconds that are entered in the box to the measurement routine or mini routine execution time when the execution finishes.