{"id":9368,"date":"2018-05-10T05:32:25","date_gmt":"2018-05-10T12:32:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/?p=9368"},"modified":"2018-05-10T05:32:25","modified_gmt":"2018-05-10T12:32:25","slug":"probe-not-probe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/probe-not-probe\/","title":{"rendered":"To Probe or Not to Probe: Ending the Probing Debate"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>We Ended the Probe Debate by Focusing On Priorities First, Probing Second<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Debates on the merits of machine probing have been around for as long as I can remember. As long as we\u2019ve had machining tools to play with, engineers have always questioned when and why they should be used. These days, the question we always hear is &#8211; to probe or not to probe? I think we\u2019ve lost focus on what truly matters: job priorities. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I got a chance to dive into the great Probing Debate at the Autodesk CAM Summit with the Fusion CAM team. We were all ready to end the probe debate once and for all.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>The Merits of Probing<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For those of you new to the world of machining, let\u2019s talk briefly about probing. Most CNC machines these days come with a touch probe system like the one pictured below. This probe can gather measurements inside a cutting area to confirm feature locations. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/www.renishaw.com\/media\/img\/gen\/96a8ed66ab324df49b87585ba0863e62.jpg\" alt=\"touch probe locate machine milling part manufacturing\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image courtesy of Renishaw.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Probing cycles also add value by either sounding an alarm or shifting the coordinate system when a part gets loaded incorrectly. You can guarantee doing this a handful of times in your machining career, and probing will save your skin by acting as a second pair of eyes. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The biggest gains to be had from machine probing include:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An accurate setup process<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduced rework rates<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quick detection of machining errors<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Automatic compensation for tool wear<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inspection of parts throughout the machining process<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With all that said, you might assume that probing is a no-brainer. However, what you gain in accuracy and detection you lose in time. Some machines require manual programing of probing routines. There\u2019s also the increased cycle time to consider with every probing routine added to your workflow. For many low-volume operations, the benefits of probing just don\u2019t add up. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Job Priorities<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For this article we\u2019d like to focus on how to use probing efficiently and effectively when the situation calls for it. However, It\u2019s not such a binary yes\/no decision of whether to use probing or not. The first, and most important task, is defining the priorities of your job to determine <\/span><b>how<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> your probe will be used. Your priorities might be:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low cycle time<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low touch time<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feature size accuracy or consistency<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feature location accuracy or consistency<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unattended run consistency<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Only after you\u2019ve defined your priorities can you start to use your probe efficiently to increase part yields. There are two reasons why you\u2019ll want to probe. You&#8217;ll either shift a Work Coordinate System (WCS) to the more precise location of stock or features, or probe to measure features during the setup process. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Back at the Autodesk CAM Summit, we worked through the machining of a part using the mindset of <\/span><b>Priorities First, Probing Second<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to see how the process would unfold. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Probing In Action<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the Pier 9 workshop our group worked on a 10-piece job that required a quick turnaround. The part already went through its 1st operation with a purposely exaggerated &#8211; and difficult to obtain &#8211; concentricity tolerance. In the image below you can see the outer profile and 1.000\u201d through-hole that were already machined. For the 2nd operation we\u2019ll be focusing on the concentricity of the counter bore and boss. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9376\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/bore-probe.png\" alt=\"Probe stylus over center of bore on machined aluminum part\" width=\"440\" height=\"332\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/bore-probe.png 440w, https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/bore-probe-300x226.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 440px) 100vw, 440px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Setting Priorities<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our priority was to make a high quality part on the first run as efficiently as possible. Our biggest risk was scrapping parts during the concentricity machining in the 1st and 2nd operations. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Part Setup<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We set our XYZ WCS #1 (G54) and WCS #2 (G55) both to the same location. XY aligned with the center of the 3 Jaw Lang Chuck and Z aligned with the parallel jaw surface. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Probing Process<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_9377\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9377\" class=\" wp-image-9377\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/bore-probe-pre-2ndop.png\" alt=\"Machined part with bore and boss shown in Fusion 360 with a Probe operation highlighted.\" width=\"600\" height=\"449\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/bore-probe-pre-2ndop.png 896w, https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/bore-probe-pre-2ndop-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/bore-probe-pre-2ndop-768x574.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-9377\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Here\u2019s our machined part in Fusion pre-2nd operation.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We first used WCS #1 (G54) to rough machine away any remaining material lingering from the 1st operation. This machining exposed the 1.000\u201d through-hole and allowed it to be probed. The probe then identified a mislocated position, and output it to WCS #2 (G55) as a Work Coordinate Shift. We then shifted to WCS #2 and focused on machining the counterbore, boss, horizontal surfaces, and chamfers at the more accurate location. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overall, the results provided a set of features that were accurately machined, thanks to the work coordinate shift from WCS #1. You can see the part below at the end of its 2nd operation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-9378\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/bore-probe2.png\" alt=\"Machine part with probe shown after the second operation has been completed. The bore is mahcined to specification with a tighter concentricity tolerance to the boss.\" width=\"600\" height=\"352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/bore-probe2.png 880w, https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/bore-probe2-300x176.png 300w, https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/bore-probe2-768x450.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Probing Reflection<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the machining done, our group had some time to sit down and reflect on the day\u2019s work. What really stood out is how important it is to define the job priorities before defining the probing process. In our case, we knew accuracy and quality were at the top of the list. The probe was simply a means to an end of accomplishing these priorities by shifting coordinates to more accurate locations. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By planning out the priorities of a project ahead of time, it\u2019s a lot easier to make smart use of datums and tolerances and make the most of your probing process. Like most things in life, it\u2019s all about a thoughtful balance. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fusion 360 has the perfect balance of CAD and CAM, all in one tool. Design, manufacture, and probe to your heart\u2019s content. Subscribe to Fusion 360 today!<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/compare\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9496\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Subscribe.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"265\" height=\"57\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how we ended the great machine tool probe debate by considering CAM priorities like cycle time, touch time, feature size, and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1894,"featured_media":9471,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-9368","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fusion","dhig-theme--light"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - 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