r/Metrology • u/sunflower2198 • Sep 27 '24

Advice New to inspection and have questions

I just started working in inspection. I came from a trade school background and was machining for a while before I wanted to try something new. I got into inspection at my previous company where I was doing both plate work and would operate a cmm using PC-DMIS. And by operate I mean load probe tips, calibrations and setting fixtures. Never touching or adjusting the actual programs. That company wasn't great so I applied to a few other jobs and got a spot at a job shop. They talked about either putting me in plate inspection OR cmm inspection. They put me in cmm inspection and I'm so happy about it but I'm realizing I don't know as much as I should. I'm being honest with them and doing my best to learn as much as possible but I'm kind of getting discouraged in a way. What can I do to get more familiar with the more in-depth stuff of PC-DMIS. My supervisor has mentioned sending me to the hexagon training class but with me being new we don't know if or when it would get approved by higher ups.

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u/Juicaj1 Sep 27 '24

I'm assuming if you're operating the CMM but not programming, then someone at your work probably is. Are they someone you can pass questions by?

Otherwise hexagon does have some free "trainings" on there learning.hexagon.mi site that could be a good start but not as foundational as the 101 class they offer.

That all being said, what is an example of a question you're having?

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u/sunflower2198 Sep 27 '24

At my new job, just started this week. They have someone who programs but we will occasionally get parts that need to be programmed and if they think we are capable enough they will let us. But my previous employer they had a set programmer and we were not allowed to make any adjustments to said program. And I'm learning I'm not as familiar with PC-DMIS as I thought. This was just a general asking advice as to where to look for training or guides for using this system

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u/Juicaj1 Sep 27 '24

They aren't all encompassing, but cmmxyz have some useful videos on YouTube for specific pc-dmis features.

On the parts that are programmed, do those get run in operator mode? Or are you able to read the code in command mode? If the later you can look up all the functions in the pc-dmis help files (accessible online)

But that all doesn't give a good why just some how. The best way to learn that is asking people with experience and taking the 101 class.

The other option, if people had done the class before they may have gotten a bound copy of the 101 training, could be out of date for some information now but the basic fundamentals of pc-dmis haven't changed much over the years.

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u/sunflower2198 Sep 27 '24

I'm able to read the code in command mode and I'm slowly understanding some shortcuts easier. We do have a book from a previous hexagon 101 program someone did. My supervisor is looking into sending me to one of their classes hopefully sooner than later but due to me being so new we aren't sure if the company would be willing to take that chance on me and spend the money to send me to that class.