Simulating on-machine probing

Automation has become an important—almost essential—part of manufacturing. As new technologies emerge, it is increasingly practical in both cost and implementation for small and large shops alike to embrace some form of automation. Although many kinds of automation are available for manufacturing, one that is becoming popular at machine shops is on-machine probing, as well as the digital technology that drives it.

With on-machine probing, shops can perform part setup and inspection tasks using the same setup and hardware used to machine a part. When combined with a pallet system, which is a form of automation that allows parts to be loaded automatically into a machine, on-machine probing permits a machine tool to run completely unattended.

That said, just as a CNC machine requires an NC program to tell the machine how to cut a part, a machine must be told how to probe a part. There are a few ways to do this. Perhaps the most common method is to have the machine operator perform the probing cycles directly on the machine controller after a new job is loaded. However, this requires the operator to stop the machine and manually probe each part, which does not lend itself well to automation. This approach also increases the risk of user error because the operator must manually enter data, and even simple probing cycles can be quite complicated.

CAMplete TruePath helps users set part data and check stock to ensure that the entire process is ready for automation.

Fortunately, probing cycles can be included as part of an NC program. Manufacturers of on-machine probes provide a set of NC programs, which are installed on a machine’s controller. These programs can be called up as subprograms or cycles directly from an NC program, so probing is performed automatically after a part is loaded. This procedure reduces the risk of operator error and increases the runtime of a machine because it does not need to be stopped to manually probe each part.