New PC-DMIS NCi Interactive On-Machine Metrology

Interactive capabilities eliminate major sources of manufacturing process uncertainty.

(Danville, CA) Wilcox Associates Inc, the world’s leading supplier of dimensional measurement software for CMMs, has introduced PC-DMIS NCi (Numerical Control Interactive).  PC-DMIS NCi is an adaptation of PC-DMIS CMM, the world’s leading measurement package.  It is the latest addition to the company’s line of in-process metrology software and to its Enterprise Metrology Solutions (EMS) family of metrology products.

Ken Woodbine, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Wilcox Associates, said, “For years, users of spindle probes have struggled with limitations in the functionality and capabilities of CNC probing software.  Now, PC-DMIS NCi provides real-time feedback to their machine tools based on measurements taken as they produce their parts.”

PC-DMIS NCi sets up a bi-directional link between the metrology software and the machine tool’s controller.  Because of this, users can take full advantage of PC-DMIS’s sophisticated tools for interactive alignments and relative measurements.  Further, the software provides for the updating of work offsets (x, y, z and rotational) and probe offsets based upon the evaluation of measurement data.  It also allows for the writing and reading of data to and from the controller.

Users develop inspection routines directly off CAD models using point and click programming techniques unavailable in other software.  This CAD integration makes creating inspection programs  quick and easy. 

During measurement, PC-DMIS NCi uses data captured from on-machine measurements to compare actual results to the CAD model. First time analyses of critical features are available as the part is being manufactured to eliminate major sources of uncertainty from the manufacturing process.

With PC-DMIS NCi, programmers have access to the full set of PC-DMIS reporting and evaluation tools.  In addition, the product includes Wilcox Associates Data Page/RealTime SPC software, which allows for the continual analysis of machine tool performance.

New PC-DMIS NCi is currently available for a wide range of machine tools equipped with either Siemens or Fanuc controllers.  It also includes support for most articulated wrists and rotary tables.  Interfaces to additional controllers and devices are under development.

PC-DMIS NCi is part of the Wilcox Associates’ EMS (Enterprise Metrology Solutions) for collecting, analyzing and communicating dimensional information in support of lean manufacturing. Other products in the EMS suite include: PC-DMIS, PC-DMIS NC, PC-DMIS Vision, PC-DMIS Portable, Inspection Planner, DataPage/RT and DataView. The Wilcox EMS software family is supported by a staff of more than 60 software engineers as well as by the worldwide resources of Hexagon Metrology. 

For more information on PC-DMIS NCi and other Wilcox EMS products visit www.pcdmis-ems.com.

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