Probing Cycle Reference

Information regarding the Probing Cycle and how it can be used.

What We Cover In This Lesson

Probing is a machine process to establish a zero point on the part and it can also be used to do part inspection. You can probe the part model or the stock body. By selecting the feature or point to be probed, Fusion will determine the appropriate Probing Cycle to use and offer any options that apply to your selection. Fusion Probing will only work if you have probing functionality on your machine and your postprocessor has been modified to output the cycles in your NC program.

Important: This functionality is available in Inventor HSM Premium and Ultimate.

Probe is available in the Job - Setup Icon group.

Probing can be used to find a variety of positions.

You can choose between selecting faces from the Model or the Stock. Probing options will change based on your choice.

Model Corner - 2 Face Selection

Stock Center - Top Face Selection

Model Boss - Cylinder Face Selection

Stock Boss - Top Face Selection

The Probing dialog page contains 3 tabs. Tool, Geometry and Heights. These 3 tabs contains the much of the same parameters you might find in any Inventor Toolpath.

On the Tool Tab, press the Tool button and scroll down to theSample Probes library to select a probe.

Press Select after making your selection.

Lead-In Feedrate controls how fast the probe will move towards the part.

Geometry Tab Settings

On the Geometry Tab you can select from the Model or Stock for your faces to probe. Selecting 1 wall will create a single axis probing function. Selecting the top face may provide additional probing options. The Faces you select determine the type of Probing you can perform. Keep in mind, you dont have to be on the Geometry Tab to select the probing face.

Probe Mode

Lets you choose between selecting faces from the part Model or the Stock. Selection options will change based on your choice.

Probe Surfaces(s) - Model

Reports the number of selected Faces from the Model. Your selection determines the type of probing to be performed. To select from the Stock Model, change the Probe Mode to Stock.

Model Corner - 2 Face Selection

Z Face - Top Face Selection

X or Y Single Wall Selection

X Probing Shown

X or Y Single Wall Selection - Angle

Y Probing Shown

Model Boss - Cylinder Face Selection

Model Bore - Inside Diameter Selection

Pocket or Web in X

Pocket in X with Islands

2 Opposite Walls in X

Pocket or Web in Y

Pocket in Y with Islands

2 Opposite Walls in Y

Probe Stock Surface(s) - Stock

Reports the number of selected Faces from the Stock. Your selection determines the type of probing to be performed. To select from the Part Model, change the Probe Mode to Model.

Stock Center - Top Face Selection

Stock Corner - 2 Perpendicular Walls

X or Y Single Wall Selection

X or Y Single Wall Selection - Angle

Boss Center - Top Face Selection

Boss Center - Cylinder Face Selection

X Block Center

2 Opposite Walls in X

Y Block Center

2 Opposite Walls in Y

User Selected Point

When enabled, forces probing at the actual point picked on the selected surface. The red arrow in the image below shows the User Selected Point for the selected surface.

Probe Type

Shows the available Probe Cycles based on your selection. Probe Mode and your Face selection determines the type of probing that can be performed.

Clearance

The distance to position away from the selected face. By default, Clearance is set to 2 x the probe diameter

Spacing

Sets the probe spacing between points when an Angle is being calculated from the selected face.

Spacing of 1.5 in.

Spacing of 3.0 in.

Overtravel

is the maximum distance to move past the selected wall before it stops probing. This is to prevent breaking the probe or stop it if there is no contact with the wall/face.

Heights Tab Settings

Select the positioning heights of the spindle axis.

Clearance Height is the position of the highest point, where the probe should rapid. The Probe cycle will start and end at this height. Shown in Orange, in the graphics area.

Retract Height is an intermediate position above the part before, it moves to the final depth. If the probing cycle needs to probe several location, this is the height it moves to between probing. Shown in Dark Green, in the graphics area.

Bottom Height is the depth where probing will start. This value is to the contact point of the probe. By default a spherical (ball) type of probe will be offset up by it's radius. Shown in Blue, in the graphics area.

Offset for all of these, is an incremental shift, in reference to the selection shown for each Height.

Clearance Height

The Clearance height is the first height the tool rapids to on its way to the start of Probing and the point it returns to after the process is finished. This position can be defined in reference to the Stock, the Model, another Reference Height or a user selected position.

Clearance Height

Clearance height offset:

The Clearance height offset is a shift relative to the Clearance Height selection. Enter a value, or drag the orange ring in the graphics area.

Retract Height

Retract height position sets an intermediate height between the Clearance and the Bottom height positions, used between probing moves. Retract height is used together with the Offset to establish the height.

Retract Height

Retract height offset:

Retract height offset is a shift relative to the Retract Height reference selection. Enter a value, or drag the dark green ring in the graphics area.

Bottom Height

Bottom height determines the reference for the final probing depth. This reference and the Offset value establish the true probing depth. This position is to the contact point of the probe, not the bottom of the probe tip.

Bottom Height

Bottom offset:

Bottom offset is a shift relative to the Bottom Height reference selection. Enter a value, or drag the blue ring in the graphics area.

Parent topic: Autodesk HSM Reference