are there any free tutorials for calypso programing ?

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for advice from people working in CMM, metrology, or precision engineering.

I’m currently 30 and have spent the last 6 years as a Software QA Analyst. I have a BSc in Computer Science and experience with software testing, automation, APIs, databases, and quality processes.

I’m considering a career change because I’d like something more hands-on and practical rather than being fully desk-based. I’ve become really interested in CMM programming and metrology — the combination of precision measurement, GD&T, problem solving, and working with CMMs really appeals to me.

I’d like to ask:

• How realistic is it to move into CMM/metrology without an engineering degree?
• Would a software QA background be useful, or would I be starting from scratch?
• What would be the best entry route (CMM operator, metrology technician, quality technician, etc.)?
• What skills should I learn before applying (GD&T, PC-DMIS, Calypso, machining basics)?

I’m based in the UK and planning to spend the next 6 months to a year learning the fundamentals before applying for junior roles.

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone in the industry, especially anyone who has changed careers into metrology.

Thanks!

UPDATE: thanks everyone for all your comments, really encouraging and helpful :)

Hello, I'm fairly new to CMM programming and I was wondering how you all get your stylus system cubes to tighten up perpendicular to the machine axis?

Online it says you can line it up correctly and then tighten it down but my cubes do not tighten independently, they just screw in.

If there is a better cube please share.

Share your experience: what combinations of stylus stem materials and lengths do you find optimal for work? What do you use most often — steel, tungsten carbide, ceramic, or carbon fiber — and at what overhang lengths?

Evening all.

Picked up a used SJ-210 at auction that came with a "standard" stylus: 4mn with a 200μin radius tip. It also came with one that I haven't been able to identify yet. It looks exactly the same but without any of the laser etchings on it, just a sticker that says 800979. I'm not sure if that's a part number or serial number, and the googles isn't coming up with much either. Does that sound familiar to anyone?

Thanks much!

Help please?

First of all sorry for the horrible drawing. Been a long day lol.

Work is asking me to program this part but they want me to create the program by using the primary datums A, B & C.

No matter what I do when I create the BA the gnomon or origin or zero whatever you might call it kinda rotates on an angle.

This is what I tried

3D line & Projection for -B- and -C-

-B- being X & Y and -A- being Spatial Rotation and Z origin

How would you align this part?. 😭

Wanted to see if anyone else has had this happen. The coating on the ribbon that moves the tool probe head up and down is cracking and pulling off in one section.

I have a tech coming by next week. But, wanted to know how problematic this is. I haven’t seen this before.

Hello everyone,

Hope all is well. What's everyone's prefered, cleanest, or simplest method for changing the approach, travel, retract or clearance distances within Calypso when measuring a narrow slot?

If you could provide your method and take into account that a Clearance plane has been established all around the part, that would be appreciated.

Thank you

What would be the best portable metrology equipment and software for measuring and reporting surface finish? As in waviness/ smoothness. Extremely tight tolerance on a large part. SA can report out deviations and can report a surface profile, but it does not report out surface finish.

I'm confused on wether this is 0.0625mm or 0.125mm

Is each line 0.005 or each "big" line, in sush a way that 5 big lines get to "5"?

I am trying to build a stylus profilometer for thin-film materials deposited by sputtering. I am thinking of buying a spring-loaded LVDT sensor and threading a carbide needle onto it. I am just not sure what capabilities I should be looking for when it comes to looking for a sensor. Also, what size needle should I look for?

I'm just starting a search for software upgrade options for an old Sheffield Endeavor running MeasureMax and have a couple questions.

I have only used MeasureMax, what are the advantages of modern software? Trying to cut through the marketing b.s.

What software is available? So far I've seen PC-DMIS and CMM Manager.

Is it giving enough information for a CMM operator to find Datum C? My only thought is to have the probe scan all four surfaces that have 45 degree to the horizontal plane, and ask software to draw a rectangle with 0.108" width and whatever length to make contact with those four surfaces. Datum C can be found as a midplane from the four contact lines.

Hello all

I appreciate everyone's response on my earlier thread about the odd issue I ran into with the Master Probe .012d mm error code /Fitting method issue.

Zeiss followed up with me to state that the code shouldn't be an issue during initial "break in" and to worry about it if it keeps happening or requalification reports a bad S value.

As guided, I restarted everything and located my reference sphere. The masterball S value came back as .0000.

I went to add a new stylus negative Z and the initial passive stylus qualification S value also came out to .0000 which I thought was odd.

Question, for a brand new Spectrum CMM, like two months old. Is that possible? Are all INITIAL qualification report out zeros and then during the REQUALIFICATION is when I'll see true S values?

Open to guidance and thank everyone in advance!

Hello Everyone,

I wanna start by saying I am not used to measuring tubes. The picture I attached shows the A B C alignment for a tube im working on. It has 4 datum targets that are shown in the print. My issue is the datum targets are not defined anywhere. I assumed maybe they were noted on the CAD model but there isnt anything there. Is this normal for tubes? At any rate my question really boils down to what to do here. Do I just pick opposing points in that area? The repeatability on doing that does not seem very high. Lol

Hi fellow Metrologists,

Would like to hear your experiences with outsourcing of CMM programming, personally I am against it, I don't think you can beat having a good programmer on site but my companies leadership wants pursue outsourcing, wondering if anyone has any borrow stories, or success stories, or just things to consider?

TIA

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Hello everyone,

I'm a Mechanical Engineer from Tunisia with experience in mechanical metrology, quality control, and CMM programming. I'm currently looking for job opportunities outside North Africa, especially in Europe, Canada, the USA, Australia, or the Gulf region.

My background includes:

CMM programming with PC-DMIS and MCOSMOS

Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) inspection

GD&T interpretation (ISO standards)

Mechanical metrology and quality control

CAD design (TopSolid, SolidWorks, CATIA)

Reverse engineering and 3D scanning

Technical documentation and inspection reporting

I also have experience training technicians and engineering students on CMM operation and metrology.

I'm fluent in English and French, and I'm currently preparing to relocate internationally. I am open to visa-sponsored opportunities, permanent positions, or contract roles.

If your company is hiring or if you know of any opportunities that match my profile, I'd greatly appreciate your advice or a referral.

Hello,

I have a question about the dimension shown in the drawing.

The drawing specifies a distance of 14 mm between the two extension lines. However, looking at the geometry below, it appears that one side ends at a corner while the other side transitions into a sloped surface.

Is this 14 mm dimension actually measurable on the part as shown, or is there something I am misunderstanding about the intended measurement method?

Thank you for your help.