Define a Probe

For this tutorial, your probe needs to support these two probe angles. They must be calibrated:

Alternately, you may use a star probe with tips that can measure the top face and the front face of the part. If your probe on your machine can do either of these, then just make sure the probe in the Probe Utilities dialog box (Insert | Hardware Definition | Probe) matches what is on your machine.

Note that the instructions in the remainder of this tutorial assume that you have a probe with a wrist with the above calibrated angles.

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This tutorial uses a calibrated PH10MQH indexable probe with a 2 mm ruby tip on a 50 mm stem. The information here explains how to select or create a similar probe.

PH10 Indexable Probe

Your probe definition must have these two active tip angles. They must be calibrated:

T1A0B0
T1A90B-180

This tutorial does not cover the probe tip calibration process. If you need to calibrate a probe tip, see the "Calibrating Probe Tips" topic in the "Setting Up and Using Probes" chapter.

If the Probe Utilities dialog box is not open, select Insert | Hardware Definition | Probe to open it.

With the Probe Utilities dialog box, you need to select or create a similar contact probe.

Probe Utilities dialog box with some calibrated probe tips

Once you click OK, PC-DMIS uses that probe to measure your part.

For more information on how to define probes, see "Defining Probes" in the "Setting Up and Using Probes" chapter.

To Select an Existing Probe

With the Probe Utilities dialog box, select the drop-down arrow for the Probe File list.
Choose a probe. It must have the two calibrated probe tips mentioned at the top of this topic. Calibrated probe files do not have an asterisk next to their tips in the Active tip list.
Choose tip T1A0B0.
Click OK.

To Create a New Probe

With the Probe Utilities dialog box, follow the procedure below. This procedure lets you choose the probe, any extensions, and the probe tip angles to use. The Probe description area displays the available probe options in alphabetical order.

From the Probe file box near the top of the dialog box, type a name for the probe.
From the Probe description area, select the statement: No Probe defined.
From the Probe description list, select the desired probe head and press Enter.
Select the line Empty Connection #1, and continue to select the necessary probe parts until you build your probe.

Empty Connection #1 line

Your finished probe must have the two calibrated probe tips mentioned at the top of this topic.
When you are done, click the OK button to save your probe and close the Probe Utilities dialog box. PC-DMIS inserts a LOADPROBE command in the Edit window that points to this probe.
From the toolbar area, locate the Settings toolbar and look at the Probe Tips list. The defined probe tip appears there as well.

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You can also click the ProbeWizard icon () on the Wizards toolbar to access the Probe Wizard and define your probe that way. The Probe Wizard helps you define your probe using a simpler interface.

Once you have a probe with the above calibrated tips, the next step defines what features to measure for the alignment.

Step 6: Define a Probe

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