Program Types
From the type of asset on which a program has been executed, all programs can be divided into two kinds: measurement program and CNC program. A measurement program is usually executed on CMMs whereas a CNC program is performed on a machine tool.
Left: a measurement program / Right: a CNC program
Based on whether the full features of Programs View can be accessed or not, all programs could be categorized into two types: Smart Program and Non-smart Program.
The Programs View is a newly added module designed to record, analyze and demonstrate historical measurement or part processing data in a visual format.
The table below lists the key features of Programs View:
Features | Advanced | Basic |
|---|---|---|
Programs Dashboard | √ | √ |
Program Detail View – basic info, such as program name, last edit time, etc. | √ | √ |
Monitoring measurement speed and program ideal performance % | √ | × |
Run history | √ | × |
Run detail and dimensional details | √ | × |
Program records in Programs Executed table | √ | × |
Performance and quality charts | √ | × |
Program event log | √ | ^ |
Export program executed data | √ | × |
Export program run history records | √ | × |
Program-specific notifications | √ | × |
Legend:
√ : Indicates a feature is available and complete.
× : Indicates a feature is unavailable.
^ : Indicates a feature is available but not complete.
Simply put, a program running on an asset with a PRO subscription is called a smart program while a program running on a Lite asset is a non-smart program. A smart program has access to all the basic and advanced features while a non-smart program can only access the basic features listed.
Note
This is not a formal definition but a temporary category for your understanding because a program can run on various types of assets multiple times as needed, and can be transformed from a non-smart program to a smart program.
Left: A Smart Program in Program Detail View / Right: A Non-smart Program in Program Detail View
As you can see from the figures above, a non-smart program has the following limitations compared with a smart program:
Have no access to program run history and executed program records.
24 hours of data retention for program event logs.
Do not support the monitoring of program speed and program ideal performance.
Do not support viewing run detail and dimensional details, and performance and quality charts of an individual program.
Do not support the exporting of program executed data and program run history records.
Note
The prerequisites of using the full features of Programs View are listed below:
Get an authorized account and password of the SFx Asset Management web application
Subscribed to a PRO package for your asset
Installed the required metrology software on the host machine, such as PC-DMIS 2018 R2 or later
Installed the latest SFx Desktop (V 3.11.15 or higher) on your computer and enabled the PC-DMIS Edge Client, a core component built in the SFx Desktop
The program is not deleted yet from the Programs list