CMM Work Center
A CMM work center is identified by the following elements:
• Name—The machine name identifies the machine tool within the manufacturing process. The default machine names have the format CMM01, CMM02, where the number is automatically incremented by Creo NC. You can type any name.
When you save the machine tool data on disk, Creo NC uses the machine name as a filename with the .gph extension.
• Type—The machine type is CMM.
• CNC Control—The controller name (optional).
• Post Processor—The name of the default post-processor associated with the machine. Type the name in the text box.
• ID—The post-processor ID.
The tabs on the CMM Work Center dialog box enable you to specify the following parameters of a machine tool.
The Probes tab
• Probes—To set up probes for the machine tool. The Probe Setup dialog box opens.
• Tool Change Time (sec.)—Time needed to change a probe, in seconds (optional).
• Probe Compensation:
◦ Output Point—The options are:
▪ Stylus Center(default)—Outputs coordinates into the DMIS files with respect to the coordinates of the probe tip center, that is, the center of the probe stylus sphere.
▪ Contact Point—Outputs coordinates into the DMIS files with respect to the coordinates of the contact point.
• Feed:
◦ Rapid Feed Rate—Type the value of the feed rate used for rapid traverse in the box (optional).
◦ Machine Frequency—Specifies the feed velocity, that is, the rate at which the probe should move along the selected chain when measuring. Type the value in the Machine Frequency box.
• Defaults—Lets you associate a site with the workcell.
• DMIS—Opens the DMIS Text menu to let you set up your DMIS Text options.
The Assembly tab
• Machine Assembly—Allows you to specify the machine assembly to be used when displaying probe motion. Use the configuration option pro_mf_workcell_dir to specify the default directory for the machine assembly files. CMM locates the machine assembly files in the following order:
◦ Default directory, if set
◦ All first level sub directories of the default directory, if default directory is set
◦ Current working directory
To clear the selection of the machine assembly, place the mouse pointer in the Machine Assembly field, right-click, and select Remove from the shortcut menu.
• Coordinate System—Allows you to specify the reference coordinate system for the machine assembly. During simulation, this coordinate system is aligned with the MACH_POINT coordinate system defined in the machine assembly. To clear the selection of the coordinate system, right click in this field and select Remove from the shortcut menu.
The Travel tab
Lets you specify the travel limits and the stroke for the probe along X-, Y-, and Z-axes: X min, X max, X stroke, Y min, Y max, Y stroke, Z min, Z max, and Z stroke. Specifying these values is optional. Values for the travel limits along the axes should be the actual dimensions that indicate the extent of the machine tool workspace relative to the Program Zero coordinate system.
For example, if a probe is 60 inches wide, and the origin of the Program Zero coordinate system is located halfway between the ends, you can specify any of the following as the machine limits:
• X min as –30, X max as 30
• X min as –30 and X stroke as 60
• X max as 30 and X stroke as 60
• X stroke as 60
If you display or otherwise output the CL data for a machining feature that exceeds the limitations of the probe where it is defined, the Information Window appears, listing the values of the limits that have been exceeded and their corresponding actual values.
The Properties tab
• Name—Displays the name of the work center or workcell.
• Location—Specifies the location of the machine tool.
• Comments—Type the comments associated with the machine tool in the text box or use the following options:
◦ 
—Read in an existing text file containing comments for the work center and replace any current comments.
◦ 
—Insert the contents of an existing text file of comments for the work center at the cursor location. Preserve any current comments.
◦ 
—Save current comments of the work center in a text file.
◦ 
—Accept the current comments of the work center.