Integrated Set and Inspect Software for CNC Machines Adds Inspection Probing Sophistication

Takumi USA has partnered with Renishaw Inc. to be the first CNC machine tool brand to offer Renishaw’s Set and Inspect app for the Fanuc control. According to Takumi, Set and Inspect makes it possible for anyone with a part probe to add inspection probing to their process, enabling more efficiency and profitability to job shops of all sizes. 

Unlike traditional programming software, virtually no training is required for the Set and Inspect. The software’s intuitive interface guides the user through the process of creating a probing cycle, automatically generates the required machine code for the probing cycle and sends it to the control. Additionally, with the intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) feature, even inexperienced operators can learn how to use it in 30 minutes or less and immediately create routines to increase production efficiency, decrease operator intervention, decrease scrapped parts and decrease re-work time with inspection probing.

While Set and Inspect is not loaded directly on the Fanuc control, the FOCAS 2 feature, and an added tablet device to the control, provides a seamless integration of the app to the Fanuc control. With no need to learn macro- programming, the machinist can easily program set-up probing routines or inspection routines and send them to the control memory with a single button press. The results are displayed on the same screen during the cycle. They can be used to develop experience data for tooling, track changes to parts and monitor adjustments to tool wear to determine when the cutter should be replaced.

With minimal training required, the operator jogs the probe into position using the handwheel, selects a probing cycle from the menu and completes the user input fields. The Set and Inspect app does the rest—automatically generating the required machine code for the probing cycle and sending it to the control, which significantly reduces data entry errors and programming time.

Further, according to Renishaw, Set and Inspect can automate a production cycle by inspecting features to determine tool wear and automatically adjusts the wear offsets. Features are available to define how many parts to inspect before adjusting wear offsets, what percentage of the error to apply as an adjustment and a function to stop production if results are out of tolerance.

The Set and Inspect app feature is now available on the Takumi H-Series 3-axis high-speed double-column CNC machines, the Takumi V-Series 3-axis box way CNC machines and the VC-Series 3-axis heavy-duty general purpose machining centers.