Deneb/INSPECT saves time and ensures accuracy in the digital inspection process

Deneb/INSPECT(TM) from Deneb Robotics, is a CMM programming, simulation, and verification application solution for Digital Manufacturing.

It offers direct "associativity" between CAD GD&T data, with direct integration between CATIA’s FD&T Product Module, and tolerance parameters of all precision part features within the CAD master model. With this capability, developing and verifying inspection becomes a single-step process. And, when design or tolerance changes occur in the master model, CMM inspection paths are automatically updated, further ensuring speed and accuracy in the validation process.

Deneb/INSPECT provides rules-based inspection parameters to simplify programming steps. With its open architecture, it is easy to adapt the rules base to expert or corporate standards, allowing the dissemination of best quality practices throughout an organization. Moreover, a comprehensive set of rules eases the training burden and skill sets required of programmers and CMM operators.

"Deneb/INSPECT has a flexibility that makes it easy to adapt the rules base to expert or corporate standards, allowing the dissemination of best quality practices," states Bob Brown, President of Deneb Robotics. "The inspection parameters (rules) contain the appropriate probing sequence to be applied to each feature to achieve the desired result."

Once a feature is defined in the CAD model, the rule determines the number and array of points to be probed, calculates the probe path, and formats the output results automatically. Deneb/INSPECT contains default parameters for all types of features found in sheet metal, "thin wall" plastic molded or machined prismatic part applications.

"The parameters further define each of the features to be inspected, and are stored as feature attributes in the process model. They can include tolerance specifications, process information (mill, drill, ream) and measurement requirements," states Brown.

A library including physical dimensions of CMMs, available axes strokes, and motion properties for accurate 4D program validation are included with Deneb/INSPECT. In addition, a comprehensive library of probe indexing units, tool change racks, probers and styli can be called up to quickly tool your virtual CMM. Deneb/INSPECT allows users to scale existing probes, extensions and styli, larger or smaller, to add to a customized tool library over time. The Visual File Browser helps to easily recognize individual CMMs, probes or styli from a snapshot shown on the retrival screen.

Features can be sequenced either automatically or manually by programmer choice. In automatic mode, programmers can make the choice of sequence by feature names, absolute or geometric location, or accessibility. All measurement sequences can be edited manually, if desired.

Deneb/INSPECT offers manual insertion of clearance planes from the CAD model. Probe indexes of rotation and tilt are made at safe clearance points as determined by the programmer. Deneb/INSPECT creates a DMIS 3.0 (Dimension Measuring Interface Standard) as output.

With an easy-to-use graphical programming environment, and process visualization through 4D simulations, probe path verification and automatic collision detection is achieved quickly. This results in an accurate CMM program that is delivered to the shop floor with more speed and confidence than would be possible with any other CMM programming approach.