ia.cmm at Control 2008

In the brand new Exhibition Area of Stuttgart (Germany), the CONTROL 2008 Show has been held on April 22nd – 25th. This fair, which has become very likely the most important in the world of Metrology, has been attended by all the major CMM manufacturers who presented their novelties in the area of dimensional inspection and related applications.
For the fourth time ia.cmm, the International Association of Co-ordinate Measuring Machine Manufacturers was present at the event with its own stand; a rather impressive on in terms of contents.
One of the most important goals of our Association mission is to support Standards in CMM technology; once again CONTROL offered us the opportunity to prove it in real terms.

With the support of some of the ia.cmm Members, namely:

• Carl Zeiss Industrielle Meβtechnik GmbH (Germany)
• Hexagon Metrology SpA (Italy)
• Mitutoyo (Japan)
• Metris (Belgium)
• Renishaw Plc (UK)
• Trimek Metrological Engineering (Spain)
• Wenzel Präzision GmbH (Germany)
and the Participation of Messtechnik Wetzlar and UGS Tecnomatix, it has been possible to demonstrate the progresses of I++ / DME interoperability by running all the machines, interchangeably, with one of the following Software:

1. Calypso
2. Camio
3. Holos
4. MCCOSMOS
5. Metrosoft CM
6. PCDMIS
7. Power INSPECT
8. Quindos
9. Tecnomatix CMM Inspection

 

Hardware and Software architecture of the ia.cmm stand at CONTROL 2008

 

This event has also been planned and carried out in co-operation with two important US institutions such as, AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group) and NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) with whom ia.cmm shares interests and objectives.

I++/DME is an initiative sponsored by Audi, BMW, Daimler, Opel, Porsche, Volkswagen and Volvo with the objective of increasing efficiency, reducing manufacturing times and costs by reaching  the interoperability of software and hardware components utilised in automated Dimensional Inspection.
I++/DME is an interface that allows to run a dimensional inspection part program on different co-ordinate measuring machines, independently from the brand, provided that this standard is supported by the specific CMM.

Users from all Continents visited the Association booth to witness, for the fourth and unique time in the world, the I++/DME interoperability concepts and progress in the reality.

This year the challenge was really remarkable; 6 CMM’s, 9 different Software and 3 demo parts. The number of possible connections was: 9 Clients x 6 CMM’s x 3 Parts = 162.  This is how, during the four days of show, we did demonstrate the I++/DME interoperability.

Once again our international, experienced Team gave a demonstration of how the engineering language and a common objective can overcome all difficulties and generate a friendly and productive atmosphere. I wish here to express my personal gratitude all the Professionals of our Team who, during four days of show, demonstrated the various machines and software.
I wish also to expound many thanks to the KOMEG Company that kindly and professionally supplied the part holding fixtures.

Many thanks also to Mrs. Evelin Arnold of Wenzel Präzision GmbH who gave us a very important support in Germany.

A special mention I would like to express to Mr. Bill Rippey of NIST who, as in the previous years, had a fundamental role in the whole operation.

Thank you all guys, I have been proud to share once again with you this experience!

 

 

 

Mr. B. Rippey and Mr. J. Horst of US NIST

 

As for ia.cmm I think that, thanks to our Members will and support, we have shown how even very ambitious project such as I++/DME may be pursued in a spirit of co-operation and technology.

Concerning the future I hope that the Association will continue to participate to these kind of events and that ia.cmm will be able to involve, more and more,  in this initiatives also the Sponsors of I++/DME.

 

Maurizio Ercole
ia.cmm
Chairman of the Board