Add-on Modules for Geometry Analyses

• Measures even the most difficult-to-access surfaces of a component 
• Measurements on voxel, point cloud, mesh, and CAD data
• GD&T functionality (based on DIN EN ISO 1101)
• Geometry element fitting optimized for voxel, CAD, and mesh data
• Registration with boundary conditions, e.g., rotation of an object around one axis only while locking the others
• Alignment techniques, e.g., 3-2-1 registration that allows for offsets and subsequent rotations for solving highly complex alignment tasks
• Feature-based registration mode that aligns a scan which only covers a section of a sample to, e.g., the CAD model of the entire part
• Tolerancing of registration results to determine their quality 
• Automatic selection of the type of geometry element to be fitted
• Automated generation of datum systems
• Creation of common datums
• Line and surface profile tolerances
• Construction with geometry elements
• Extraction of min./max. fit points
• Reduction of measurement uncertainty due to thousands of automatically generated fit points
• Preparation of inspection plans on CAD data, CT scan or mesh data
• Saving of compact .mvgl files for VGMETROLOGY ES
   

The Volume Graphics Metrology Kernel in VGSTUDIO MAX has been tested by the national institutes PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt) and NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology).*

* PTB and NIST verified: This software contains the Volume Graphics Metrology Kernel VGMK 3.2.0 140356 which passed the PTB test for “Evaluation software based on minimum-zone method for coordinate measuring machines” and the PTB test for “Evaluation software based on least-squares method for coordinate measuring machines” and which was verified by the NIST “Algorithm Testing and Evaluation Program for Coordinate Measuring Systems”. The test results were obtained under Windows (64 bit).

The metrology capabilities of Volume Graphics software are verified by the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Germany’s national metrology institute. PTB tested the algorithms based on the minimum-zone method (“Chebyshev”) and on the least-squares method (“Gauss”). These algorithms are used for coordinate measurement in VGSTUDIO MAX and VGMETROLOGY.

The accuracy of the evaluation software (Volume Graphics Metrology Kernel, version VGMK 3.2.0 140356) was verified by comparing the results obtained from the software with reference results provided by the PTB for the same set of data.

For Chebyshev, PTB tested the basic features (called "geometry elements" in Volume Graphics software) straight line 2D, plane, circle 2D, sphere, and cylinder and for Gauss, the basic features straight line, plane, circle, cylinder, sphere, and cone.

PTB’s maximum permissible errors (MPE) for deviations from the reference values for all quality characteristics are 0.1 μm (0.0001 mm) and 0.1 μrad. Volume Graphics’ algorithms for computing “Chebyshev associated features” and for computing “Gaussian associated features” delivered even better results in the PTB test.

The algorithms tested by PTB are used in VGSTUDIO MAX (Windows 64 bit) and VGMETROLOGY (Windows 64 bit).

• Subvoxel-accurate surface determination makes even those details visible that are smaller than a voxel—automatically, manually, and interval-based. 
• Gray values of individual voxels are processed depending on the gray values of the surrounding voxels, which makes the surface determination markedly more accurate. 
• The interval-based mode allows for a high-accuracy, locally adaptive surface determination, even within an automated environment and with changing gray value conditions. 
• Multi-material mode for simultaneous determination of the surfaces of multiple material within a volume, resulting in one component per material.

• Uses native CAD files such as CATIA V5 and Creo/Pro/ENGINEER for nominal/actual comparisons, segmentation, and other tasks (in addition to the STEP and IGES formats in the basic edition of VGSTUDIO MAX).** 
• Offers enhanced auto-completion modes.
• Replaces CAD geometries with matching geometry elements.
• Automatically translates CAD views into bookmarks.

• Understands so-called Product and Manufacturing Information (PMI) that is generated in many current CAD systems and provides additional part information, e.g., dimensioning, GD&T, layers, annotations, or captions.*** 
• Saves a considerable amount of time when preparing measurement plans and thus increases the efficiency of your quality control by intelligently evaluating PMI data. 
• Comes with all features of the CAD Import Module.

* CAD translation technology supplied by Tech Soft 3D 
** Supported CAD formats: CATIA V5 (up to V5-6 R2018), Creo (up to 5.0 Beta); in beta status: CATIA V4 (up to 4.2.5), JT (up to 10.0), Pro/ENGINEER (up to 19.0), Unigraphics/NX (Unigraphics 11.0 to NX 1872), Solid Edge (V19 to V20, ST1 to ST10, 2019 to 2020), SolidWorks (97 to 2020)
*** PMI import supported for CATIA V5 and Creo; in beta status: Pro/ENGINEER and Unigraphics/NX

• Allows for a geometric comparison of voxel, mesh, and CAD data. 
• Application of tolerances to the nominal/actual comparison with various parameters, e.g., deviation (minimum, maximum, cumulated).

* Requires the Coordinate Measurement Module

• Automatically and quickly analyzes wall thicknesses.* 
• Works for near parallel surfaces (ray method) as well as for curved or branching surfaces (sphere method), including complex 3D printed shapes. 
• Localizes areas with an insufficient or excessive wall thickness or gap width automatically and directly within the voxel, point cloud, mesh, or CAD data set. 
• Allows the application of tolerances with various parameters, e.g., thickness (minimum, maximum, mean, deviation). 
• Reduces the number of false detections with a noise filter, which is especially helpful for automated inspections.

* Use in combination with Coordinate Measurement Module recommended

• Corrects tools for injection molding or casting and 3D printing geometries in a seamless digital workflow with a lower number of iterations— keeping the quality up and the time to market short.*
• Processes voxel, .stl, and CAD data together in one software.
• Calculates changes to injection molds, punching tools, or geometries of 3D printed parts based on scans of your sample part. 
• Provides a color-coded visualization that shows you at a glance any deviations of the manufactured part from the target model, including curvatures and undercuts. 
• Uses scan data of the part to quickly and easily generate correction areas in CAD format to adapt the part and the tool shape. 
• Exports information about the newly calculated surfaces directly as CAD faces.

* Requires the Coordinate Measurement Module and the Nominal/Actual Comparison Module.

Read more about the Manufacturing Geometry Correction Module!

• Easily convert CT scans into CAD models that you can use in your CAD systems with the autosurface function of the Reverse Engineering Module—all in one software, and without the need for a CAD designer or reverse engineering specialist.
• Use these CAD models
  • for products that don’t have an existing 3D representation—cost-effectively and directly from CT or mesh data—to make manually generated design models available digitally;
  • to generate CAD models for old parts where no CAD information (or only 2D drawings) is available;
  • to update models in which the actual part or tool looks different than its master CAD model; or
  • to enable CAM systems to mill on CAD models instead of meshes.
• Create a pattern of 4-sided patches that follows the edges and main features of the model.
• Get, by including these character lines, a useful patch layout of NURBS surfaces—commonly known as an autosurface model—that can be exported as a STEP file to any CAD system.