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SUMMARY

I
1.
2.
II
1.
III
IV
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
V
1.
2.
3.
VI
1.
2.
3.
VII
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
VIII
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
IX
1.
2.
X
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
XI
1.
2.
XII
1.
2.
XIII
1.
2.
3.

Preamble .................................................................................................................................... 5
Pre-requisites, installation ...................................................................................................... 5
Typographical conventions .................................................................................................... 5
User interface ............................................................................................................................. 6
Presentation ........................................................................................................................... 6
Menus ......................................................................................................................................... 9
Use of CAD files ....................................................................................................................... 11
Opening a CAD file .............................................................................................................. 11
Converting a CAD file........................................................................................................... 11
Creating a CAD file .............................................................................................................. 11
Orientation mode.................................................................................................................. 12
Tessellation .......................................................................................................................... 12
CAD database ...................................................................................................................... 12
Define ....................................................................................................................................... 14
Defining a feature ................................................................................................................. 14
Tolerancing of the feature .................................................................................................... 15
Action on the features from the database ............................................................................ 16
Probe management .................................................................................................................. 19
Opening a probes file ........................................................................................................... 19
Defining a probe ................................................................................................................... 19
Calibrate ............................................................................................................................... 20
Set Probings Radius Compensation Mode .............................................................................. 21
Probings radius compensation............................................................................................. 21
Shaft direction ...................................................................................................................... 21
$ Point .................................................................................................................................. 21
Retract point ......................................................................................................................... 22
Automatic ............................................................................................................................. 22
Depending on CAD .............................................................................................................. 22
Alignments............................................................................................................................ 25
Model 3-2-1 .......................................................................................................................... 25
Geometrical alignment ......................................................................................................... 26
On 3 Center Points............................................................................................................... 26
Plane Two Points ................................................................................................................. 26
On 6 Surface Points ............................................................................................................. 26
On Reference Features........................................................................................................ 26
Best-Fit ................................................................................................................................. 27
Associate to CAD Alignment ................................................................................................ 27
Alignments Database ........................................................................................................... 27
Position display (DRO) ............................................................................................................. 29
Position display (DRO) ......................................................................................................... 29
DRO modes.......................................................................................................................... 30
Manual measurement of features............................................................................................. 31
Measurement overview ........................................................................................................ 31
Plane .................................................................................................................................... 32
Circle .................................................................................................................................... 33
Line....................................................................................................................................... 35
Cylinder ................................................................................................................................ 36
Point ..................................................................................................................................... 38
Probing strategies of the specific features ........................................................................... 41
Continuous acquisition ............................................................................................................. 47
Continuous acquisition ......................................................................................................... 47
Operation.............................................................................................................................. 47
Probing assistance ................................................................................................................... 49
Probing assistance modes ................................................................................................... 49
Activation.............................................................................................................................. 50
Section ................................................................................................................................. 52
Definition .............................................................................................................................. 52
Measurement ....................................................................................................................... 53
Build ..................................................................................................................................... 55

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SUMMARY
XIV
Construction of features ....................................................................................................... 58
1.
Best-fit .................................................................................................................................. 59
2.
Intersection........................................................................................................................... 59
3.
Projection ............................................................................................................................. 59
4.
Median.................................................................................................................................. 59
5.
Symmetrical.......................................................................................................................... 59
6.
New Criteria.......................................................................................................................... 59
7.
Duplication............................................................................................................................ 59
8.
Parallel ................................................................................................................................. 60
9.
Perpendicular ....................................................................................................................... 60
10. Offset.................................................................................................................................... 60
11. Point / Cone Axis.................................................................................................................. 60
12. Point by offset....................................................................................................................... 60
13. Point by coordinates............................................................................................................. 60
14. Centroid................................................................................................................................ 60
15. Extreme point ....................................................................................................................... 61
16. Min / Max surface extraction ................................................................................................ 61
17. Probing points extraction...................................................................................................... 61
18. Intersection with the CAD file ............................................................................................... 61
19. Point projection on CAD....................................................................................................... 61
20. By Axis ................................................................................................................................. 61
21. Points offset.......................................................................................................................... 61
22. Perpendicular offset from points .......................................................................................... 61
XV Optical probes .......................................................................................................................... 64
1.
Management of optical profiles ............................................................................................ 64
XVI
Point cloud............................................................................................................................ 66
1.
Manual acquisition ............................................................................................................... 66
2.
Mesh..................................................................................................................................... 67
3.
Visualization ......................................................................................................................... 67
4.
Export ................................................................................................................................... 68
5.
Import ................................................................................................................................... 68
6.
Point Cloud Database .......................................................................................................... 69
XVII
Point cloud filter.................................................................................................................... 71
1.
Point cloud selection tool ..................................................................................................... 71
2.
Cloud point filtering .............................................................................................................. 72
a.
Manual filtering ..................................................................................................................... 72
b.
Automatic filtering................................................................................................................. 72
i.
Type of filtering..................................................................................................................... 72
ii.
Uniform sampling ................................................................................................................. 72
iii.
Grid sampling ....................................................................................................................... 72
iv.
Random sampling ................................................................................................................ 73
v.
Isolated clusters ................................................................................................................... 73
XVIII
Point cloud alignments ......................................................................................................... 75
1.
Auto-Fit................................................................................................................................. 75
2.
Quick-Fit ............................................................................................................................... 75
3.
Best-Fit ................................................................................................................................. 76
4.
Fit on Retrieved Features..................................................................................................... 76
XIX
EXTRACTION ...................................................................................................................... 78
1.
Extraction of 2D features...................................................................................................... 78
2.
Extraction of 3D features...................................................................................................... 79
3.
Point retrieval ....................................................................................................................... 80
4.
Section ................................................................................................................................. 81
XX Detailed view ............................................................................................................................ 83
XXI
Detailed results..................................................................................................................... 85
1.
Detailed Results window ...................................................................................................... 85
XXII
Color mapping ...................................................................................................................... 86
1.
Function................................................................................................................................ 86
2.
Configuring the color mapping ............................................................................................. 86
XXIII
Creation of stickers and views ............................................................................................. 89
1.
Stickers................................................................................................................................. 89

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SUMMARY
2.
XXIV
1.
2.
3.
4.
XXV
1.
XXVI
1.
2.
3.
4.
XXVII
1.
2.
3.
XXVIII
1.
XXIX
1.
2.
XXX
1.
2.
3.
4.
XXXI
10.
11.
XXXII
1.

Views .................................................................................................................................... 92
Reports................................................................................................................................. 94
Print Report .......................................................................................................................... 94
Choice of the report template............................................................................................... 94
Creation of a report template using the creation Wizard ..................................................... 96
Creation of a report template using the report Editor........................................................... 97
Tools / Parameters ........................................................................................................... 99
Tools / Parameters ........................................................................................................... 99
ADVANCED PROGRAMMING .......................................................................................... 101
Text/Value .......................................................................................................................... 101
Conditional statements....................................................................................................... 101
Loops and increments........................................................................................................ 102
Call programs ..................................................................................................................... 102
Evaluation of distances and angles ................................................................................... 103
Presentation ....................................................................................................................... 103
Determination of the nominal values.................................................................................. 103
Examples............................................................................................................................ 104
Basic tolerancing............................................................................................................ 106
Tolerance evaluation.......................................................................................................... 106
Leapfrog realignment ......................................................................................................... 109
Principle.............................................................................................................................. 109
Operation............................................................................................................................ 110
Installation and programming of codes .............................................................................. 112
Installation .......................................................................................................................... 112
Recovery of the codes ....................................................................................................... 113
The dongle code ................................................................................................................ 113
The license code ................................................................................................................ 113
Connection ......................................................................................................................... 114
Configure the machine connection .................................................................................... 114
Connection ......................................................................................................................... 115
Vocabulary ......................................................................................................................... 117
Lexicon, synonyms and descriptions ................................................................................. 117

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PREAMBLE

Preamble

You are about to begin training on the Metrolog X4 software. This manual is intended to guide you in
the learning process.
It also serves as a support for the trainer, who will explain to you the various functions of Metrolog X4.
The training will however advance based on the needs expressed. It is therefore important to make
known any issues you may encounter.
This document is not a substitute for the online help, in which you will find details on certain features.
This manual also contains application exercises which will help you to understand the basic operation
of Metrolog X4.
Feel free to take notes throughout the training and keep this support document, which will assist you
when using Metrolog X4 in the future.

1. Pre-requisites, installation
In order to continue with this training, you must:
Have installed Metrolog X4 on an appropriate station (see the minimum hardware configuration
required in the readme for the version)
Connect your measuring equipment to the computer station
Know the basics of metrology
Have knowledge of solid geometry

2. Typographical conventions
To ensure you always know your position in this manual, the title of the main chapter will be repeated
at the top of each page.
You will also find the following symbols:

Indicates a note.

Indicates a warning.

Exercise:

Indicates an application exercise to be carried out using Metrolog X4.

Indicates the start of a zone reserved for note taking

Indicates a test of knowledge

METROLOG X4 training manual

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USER INTERFACE

II

User interface

1. Presentation
Double-click the shortcut icon:

The Metrolog X4 software is shown below:

Title bar

Features toolbar

Toolbar

Menus

3D view

Database

Results window
DRO window

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MENUS

III

Menus

- Working Session
This menu can be used to create a new working session, recall an existing working session or save a
working session in progress.
It is also the menu containing the various import and export formats, and the option to print a report.
Further details on the content of this menu can be found in the chapters "Working session",
"Export/Import" and "Reports".

- Tools
This menu is used to configure aspects of the software, such as the language or the units used, but
also to customize certain colors and rules on various options.
This part of the software will in part be dealt with in the "Display options" chapter.

- Measuring Device
This menu can be used for connection to the measuring equipment and for some parts of its
configuration.
The functions of this menu will be covered in the sections "Connections" and if necessary "Build
Inspect" and "Probings radius compensation".

- Probes
This menu provides access to all options linked to probe files and to calibration spheres.
Further information will be available in the "Probes" chapter.

- Features
This menu concerns the creation and the evaluation of the various features, and the modifications
which may be made.
The "Definition" and "Creation of features" chapters will cover the content of this menu.

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MENUS

- Point Cloud
This menu groups all the functions linked to the use of optical sensors and the processing of point
clouds (acquisition, filtering, extraction of features, etc.).
This menu will be covered in the "Point Cloud" chapter if you have the appropriate option.

- CAD
CAD files are added to the working session from this menu.
The "Use of CAD files" chapter will cover this subject in more detail.

- Alignments
This menu contains the functions for creating the various alignments available in X4. It also provides
access to the management of these references.
This menu will be covered in the "Alignments" chapter.

- Program
The production of control ranges can be accessed via this menu. Here we find the execution
properties and the specific functions of the programs.
The use of the programs will be covered in the "Programming" chapters if you have the
necessary option.

- 3D-View
This menu is used to configure the 3D view and the appearance of the objects in this view
(features, CAD, etc.).
The "Display options" chapter will come back to the subject of this part of the menu.

- Windows
As indicated in the "Preamble" section, the various windows (DRO, Counter, Results, Histogram) and
toolbars (main toolbar, features, alignments, section tools, programs, program insertion, point cloud,
point cloud selection, measuring device and laser) visible in X4 can be displayed / hidden using
this menu.

- Help
Menu to access the X4 online help and the software information.

METROLOG X4 training manual

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LEAPFROG REALIGNMENT

On the first creation of the leapfrog realignment, after validation of the function, a new station will be
created and activated (Default2 in the example above). This characteristic highlights the reversibility
of this function. In fact, in order to deactivate the leapfrog realignment, simply reactivate the
station Default1.

Note: The user can use the Leapfrog realignment function as many times as they wish. On
each new activation of this function, a new station is created.

Exercise 1: Leapfrog realignment of a circle

Create a geometric alignment from measured features, measure a circle, move the part, create a
second geometric alignment from new measured features, measure the same circle.

Note: Once the part is moved and the leapfrog realignment carried out towards an alignment, it
is necessary to use the projection planes in this alignment.

Do you know what may be the specific cases for using the leapfrog realignment function?
A part with too great a volume to be accessible in one turn or features not accessible with a single
position (example of measurement on the initial support face).

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LEAPFROG REALIGNMENT

XXX Installation and programming of codes

1.

Installation

When the installation CD is inserted in the DVD drive of your computer, the installation panel opens.

Please take a look at the hardware pre-requisites document to ensure optimum operation for your
software: select the Read me article.
You can choose to install the version based on your operating system (32- or 64-bit).

Certain machine interfaces are not compatible with a 64-bit operating system, please consult the
list of available interfaces: select the Read me article.

When installing the software, the position of the installation is entered in the registry base by
Microsoft. This means that the folders making up the access path to the version must not be renamed.
Modification of the access path would mean Microsoft would not be able to find the installation of your
software, and therefore would not allow you to uninstall the version correctly, nor install a service pack
on this version.

Be sure however that you have sufficient writing authorizations (Administrator, and perhaps
lower security access) for the installation to proceed correctly.

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