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MCG Tools

Full calibration of a CMM's performance is time consuming and costly, using fixed length ball-ended bars or step gauges and laser measurement systems. Renishaw's MCG (machine checking gauge) enables the rapid and effective interim checking of a CMM's performance as recommended in many international standards. It gives a fast and automatic assessment of machine capability and can also be used for machine characterisation.

Description

MCG tools is an Microsoft Excel workbook that manages the Machine Checking Gage (MCG). MCG-Tools allows the user to generate a DMIS part program in order to execute the MCG test on a Co-ordinate Measuring Machine (CMM). It can then import the MCG data to analyze and identify whether geometrical errors exist on the CMM. Also, the results from every MCG test can be archived in order to follow the evolution of the geometry of a CMM over time.

The major worksheets are:

Setup 
 The setup page is used to record the characterics of the CMM, environmental conditions and MCG. This information is required for performing the test.
Data 
 Displays the calculated and target points from the results files (yourfile.DMO). Basic calculations include Sphere locations and geometric errors. This page also provides the option to review and record the dataset into the database.
Analysis 
 Displays the planar results of the squareness and form errors.
Database 
 Displays a list of all saved MCG database results.
Database Charts 
 Displays a historical snap-shot of Min/Max, Spread and squareness errors over all MCG results stored in the database.

Requirements

Microsoft Excel 2003, Renishaw MCG

See also