M3 Software ChangeLog M3 v4.30.40 9/30/2024 Added: - Added new camera interface for HikRobot cameras. - Added auto laser on/off for the Micro-Epsilon laser. The laser spot only turns on when the laser probe is selected. - Added support for manual profile fitting on optical comparator systems. - Added support for completing Datum features in program playback with the keyboard "Enter" key. - Changed the default behavior for programs set to "FOV Playback Mode". The image is no longer frozen at the start of program by default. The following metlogix.ini parameter can be used to restore the old behavior: [Programming] FreezeOnFovPlayback=1 Fixed: - Fixed the "Max Days Password is in Use" setting in Security Settings. - Fixed an issue with the color conversion for TSI cameras. - Fixed case where translating a "zoomed in" loaded image causes an automatic zoom fit. - Fixed case where the length of square slots, probed with a touch probe, could be incorrect. - Fixed a case where improper profile fit results could occur in the case of non-uniform profiles. - Fixed a case where profile fit routines could improperly reallocate system memory. - Fixed a rare crash that could occur when probing threads. - Fixed a case where the last stitched image would replace a loaded bitmap, upon loading. - Improved tooth width calculation for irregular gears. M3 v4.30.30 7/12/2024 Added: - Added new Pixel Saturation Indicator mechanism, enabled and disabled via a new button within the Light Control Slider interface. The new mode is enabled with a new flag added to the Light Control setup screen. - Added new mechanism for Profile Fitting on Manual Optical Edge and Crosshair Systems. The new mechanism allows imported profile DXF's to be directly probed, with results whiskers being added to the part view in real time. - Added new logging to Microsoft Windows Events. A new application log will be available in the Event Viewer and will contain date and time stamped logging for the following events: M3 Program Open, M3 Program Close, Part Program Start Run, and Part Program End Run. - Increased the maximum number of laser points that can be probed in a single laser probe tool from 999, to 99,999. - Added support for new Vision Engineering LED Controller Hardware. Fixed: - Fixed the playback of manual zoom program playback steps. Prompting now occurs in all cases. - Fixed a case where Polar Step and Repeat could cause a program playback to pause, when used with the Calc Feature. - Fixed the playback of Profile Fit Annotation. Annotation can now be added to the part view as either "ranked" annotation, or "static" annotation. "Ranked" annotation will remain with its whiskers rank after playback. "Static" annotation will remain at its positions relative to the profile itself. - Fixed a case where the profile fit tolerance values, when calculated from a non-uniform profile tolerance, were not properly updated in the program playback result. - Fixed a case where the "Manual Completion of Registration Features" setting was not allowing the operator to probe all recorded points on the registration feature. - When "Continue playback on failure" is set to Yes, we now correctly exclude datum features so that registration corruption does not occur. - Fixed a program playback case where rack drop-off of a touch probe could trigger an error if "Manual completion of registration feats" is set to No. - Fixed the Add Points functionality for Arcs. - Fixed the DXF import of Circles/Arcs when the Z values are undefined. Now set to Z=0 for this case. M3 v4.30.20 4/23/2024 Added: - Added support for latest IDS Peak camera configuration software. - Improved the Tangent Pin functionality within the Gear Inspection Module to accommodate additional gear surface defects and image noise. Fixed: - Fixed a case where a Gage Circle construction from line and arc parents could fail if the parent features are of two different Z axis positions. The Z coordinate is now correctly ignored. M3 v4.30.10 4/10/2024 Added: - Added support for alternate Cone Taper angle display. Cone taper result can now be configured to be displayed as full or half cone taper. - Added new keyboard shortcut for the Goto Command. The keyboard "G" key will now call the Goto function. - Changed the default behavior of the "Record Number" report view column. This column will now start with the index number 1, and auto increment new data record rows. These record fields can still be edited to be any desired value. Fixed: - Fixed a case where the "Continue Playback on Failure" setting was not taking into consideration the minimum required number of points parameter for a feature measurement. - Fixed a case where the Gear Measure module failed to produce a result when the ratio of tooth height to overall gear diameter was too small. - Fixed a case where manual touch probe changes in program playback were not being prompted. - Fixed the cell formatting for Time and Date when exporting to Excel to use the ISO 8601 standard. - Fixed a case where Thread measurement in excess of 1 inch, measured in inch mode, would not retain the initial nominal digit when tolerancing. - Fixed the auto-scroll function for adding Goto steps. The program list will now scroll automatically. M3 v4.30.00 3/8/2024 Added: - Added new Mid-Measure results mechanism. When enabled, in Measure Settings, the current measure result will be displayed below the DRO, as the feature is being probed. - Added support for additional image formats within the Add Image to User Message mechanism. JPG and PNG are now also supported. - Added the ability to adjust light control levels while in the Advanced Edge teach mode. - Modified the Add Points routine for CNC Touch Probe systems so that the first seed point will also be the first point probed by the system when using Add Points. - Added new Stage Load mechanism to CNC system configurations. When enabled (from Joystick Setup), a machine XYZ coordinate position can be specified, and a new button will be added to the CNC goto menu. When pressed the machine will move to the preset stage position. - Added new image scale graphical indicator to the Live Video view, enabled in the Video Setup screen. - Setting the Target Arrow and Target radius size to “0” now hides these graphical objects completely in Program Playback. - Tooltips are now enabled and disabled by a setting within the M3 software. The default has also been changed to Yes. - Added support for AutoFocus failures to the “Continue Playback on Failure” mechanism. - Added support for specifying B Axis Rotary Goto’s via a variable. - Added new System Variable for querying the current B Rotary axis position. - Added a new metlogix.ini parameter that allows you to set the behavior of the Selection Set in the RS232 Send Dialog. [RS232] LastSelectionSet=1 0 = Always display the dialog with nothing selected 1 = Remember the last selection set (Default) 2 = Always display the dialog with everything selected - Added a new metlogix.ini parameter that inverts the voltage output of the Light Control signals. When set to "1", the output becomes 5V --> 0V, when ramping the sliders from 0 to 100. [Lights] InvertAllScales=0 0 = 0V --> 5V Ramp (Default) 1 = 5V --> 0V Ramp - Added a new Gear Result Filtration Parameter to the metlogix.ini file. Setting the following filter applies a results filter to the Gear Pin result based on a standard deviation from the best fit master circle result. [Measure] GearFilter=1 (Default) GearFilterParams=2.5 (unit is std dev) Fixed: - Fixed a case where the resulting changetype index for point intersections could be incorrect when the feature is datumed and also repositioned from its initially recorded stage position. - Fixed the Angle results for Stat feature calculations. All results, including Annotation will now be properly converted from radians to the current angular display mode (DMS/DD). - Fixed a case where the Deviation Graphic, and Bonus from True Position, were not automatically updated when adding and removing the Diameter Tol component. - Fixed various Text Cursor positioning issues within the Custom Export Dialog and User Message Dialog. - Fixed a case where editing a nested Goto Step while in Inch mode could cause an incorrect unit conversion, when using the "Move To" function. - Fixed a case where Calc Features, set to Inch unit type, could indicate an incorrect tolerance result. - Fixed a Blob collection bug that could be encountered while using the Gear Module, leading to incomplete Blob edge collection. - Fixed a case where executing an invalid changetype on a Gear Module construction result marks the feature in Red, and with dashes. - Fixed a case where the Manual Gear Constructions could produce a Tooth Width result without a feature number (Tooth X). - Fixed the graphical corruption within the ISO Tolerance dialog. - Fixed the export of multiple runs simultaneously, using Group Selection of Runs and Export mechanism. - Fixed the Export Program step when recorded into a part program. All settings in the export dialog are now correctly stored. - Fixed a crash that could occur when attempting to display point whiskers on 3D features. - Restored the Box and Text markup tools for Touch Probe only systems. - Fixed various issues with Probe Rack swap moves. Probe tips should remain set as current, when rack drop off failures occur. - Fixed the Undo function within Advanced Recording mode. Features deleted in Advanced Recording mode can now be restored using Undo. - Fixed a case where the Select Range mechanism within Program Edit mode does not add all selected program steps to a construction or group tolerance event. - Fixed the program playback recovery mechanism for program steps that use the Near/Far probe. - Fixed a bug in the Park CNC stage mechanism caused by the use of large VED/Touch Probe offsets. - Fixed a case where footer text was not being printed when executing a printout from the Part View or Live Video View. M3 v4.20.10 8/18/2023 Fixed: - Fixed an additional case where intersect construction results, that modified the part coordinate system, could playback incorrectly when recorded via Advanced Recording Mode. M3 v4.20.00 8/8/2023 Added: - Added support for the Spur Gear Inspection add-on module. - Added a new "Pin" button to the Part View Annotation menu to support annotating Stat and Calc feature results. Press the "Pin" button to add annotation to the part view for the selected feature(s). Fixed: - Fixed a case where the Windows File Overwrite confirmation dialog was displayed behind the M3 application window. - Fixed a case where the "Print with Custom Text" dialog could be displayed partially off-screen on systems with lower display resolutions (1366x768). - Updated the execution methodology for measurements that contain multiple probe firings at a single stage location. The new probe fire substeps are now consolidated to a single measurement execution. - Fixed step and repeat playback execution for created features. - Fixed re-initialization of program playback code for cases where DC Overlay is the last step in the program, and Temp Fixture mode is being used. - Fixed a case where the reference feature was not properly used for features toleranced for Symmetry. - Fixed a case where the Symmetry Tolerance result could get loaded to a run as 0.000. - Fixed a case where the "Continue Playback on Failure" settings was not properly marking constructions that were based on a failed probed feature step. - Fixed a case where an alternate intersection point, between an arc and a line, could be produced in program playback. - Fixed a case where the "Use Last Value" function in the tolerance screen for Calc features was converting Inch values to MM. - Fixed the playback of profile constraints for cases where a profile fit measurement was performed using Advanced Recording mode. - Resolved an issue with the Auto Save Reference Frame mechanism that could occur while using Advanced Recording mode. M3 v4.10.20 5/18/2023 Added: - Added multi-thread calculation support to the profiling module. Profile calculation speed for large profiles has been improved as a result. - Added a progress indicator to the tolerancing, and probe generation phases of the profile fit module. - Added support for the !UCS! filename tag for PDF files, when using the PDF-->DXF import converter. - Removed the restriction on the minimum velocity for autofocus. The velocity can now be set below 1% of max velocity. - Added new light control slider User Interface, utilizing 8 discrete slider bars. This option is enabled via the following metlogix.ini parameter. [Light] IndividualSliders=1 Fixed: - Improved error handling within the TCP/IP command interface. - Fixed error handling for cases where unsupported DXF features are used with the AutoProgram routine. - Fixed the Touch Probe Teach routine when using the keyboard Enter Key to confirm calibration, instead of the dialog button. - Fixed a case where the VED Crosscal Offset could be incorporated in a touch probe rack park move. - Fixed a case where AutoProgramming via the direct datum method (using DXF features) could cause a coordinate reversal in playback. - Fixed a case where the values in a relative goto step could be changed as a result of subsequent datum steps. - Fixed the add points routine for plane features. The add points approach position now includes the calibrated probe radius. - Fixed temporary fixture mode for part programs that use the datum registration construction, in place of a full angle and position registration. - Changed the row reservation behavior when sending data directly to excel, without the header information enabled. The empty row where the header information is displayed will no longer be sent. - Fixed the filename extension mechanism when manually naming files via the image archive function. - Fixed collection of edge data for outside the field of view Multi-Measure measurements. - Fixed upgrade path for settings files from Version 1 directly to Version 4. M3 v4.10.12 3/3/2023 Fixed: - Fixed potential crash when opening part programs with large Profiles. - Fixed refresh issue that caused tolerance results to not display upon initial report template selection. - Fixed playback of created features in Imperial units. - Fixed High accuracy mode playback of auto-programmed (DXF) features. - Fixed import of DXF entities defined with a negative extrusion direction. - Added support for the Near/Far probe in the Step and Repeat function. - The number of segments to draw for Arcs and Circles in the Part View and Overlay are now consistent. Default value increased to 64 (from 32). [PartView] NumCircleSegments=64 M3 v4.10.10 9/21/2022 Added: - Added support for the measurement of Blob features that extend outside of the Field of View on a manual measuring system. The "Auto Enter" countdown timer should be used to initiate the addition of blob points as you move beyond the initial Field of View. - Added support for defining a start and end point for blob point collection. The workflow utilizes point features as the start and end points. Press "Measure Blob", select the start and end point "point" features from the feature list, and press "Enter". This is supported in both manual and CNC systems. - Improved the drawing speed of high density dataclouds, such as blob features, when displayed in Live Video. - Added a new Factory Option called "Field of View Mode". This new option can be used in place of the metlogix.ini parameter "FOVPlayback" for enabling Field of View playback mode for non-encoded systems. - Added support for a "Crosshair Only" configuration in the M3 software. The "Crosshair Only" factory option should be enabled to utilize this mode. - Added the ability to utilize more than one Photonics F3000 USB/Serial light control modules simultaneously. - Added the "jpeg" image format to the available export options for Full Frame Image Archiving. - Added a new metlogix.ini parameter for modifying the size of Full Frame Archive images exported from M3. [Video] ArchiveScale=100 - Added the ability to change the TCP port number for the "Remote Control" module, in the event of conflicts. [Remote] RemoteControlPortNumber=3000 Fixed: - Fixed the target destination and target filename functions for PDF export from the custom export dialog. - Fixed the "Rotate Skew" function. Coordinate system rotation now executes according to the entered angular value. - Fixed an issue with the playback of programs containing both a stitch and print/archive image steps. - Fixed an update issue with the feature detail view of individually selected best/worst profile whiskers, after program playback. - Fixed angular issue with playback of created features. M3 v4.10.00 7/19/2022 Added: - Added support for the IDS Peak SDK camera interface. - Added support for Variable usage within the Create Feature form. - Added prompt for setting a default variable value, when adding a variable via the User Message step. - Added new Gage Circle construction from (1) line and (1) arc feature. - Added support for Profile Fit of Touch Probe measurements against imported candidate profiles. - Added a new setting to Probe Rack settings screen called "Approach Offset". The entered offset will set the distance away from the probe rack bay that the touch probe will stop at, prior to parking or retrieving a probe. - Added validation check for ACF file during NLEC calibration import. Candidate ACF file will now be checked against the current import feature list to ensure that row and column count and spacing match. - Improved the display of the Indexable Probe Dialog on low resolution displays (1366x768). - Significantly improved the export speed of data to Microsoft Excel. - Added support for Explode Points to the main UI. Enable the Explode Points button in Desktop Settings. Once enabled the Explode button will be located in the Measure Point submenu. - Points exploded from features now inherit the projection from their parent feature. - Touch Probe points are now inhibited while in the Probe Selection dialog. - Added support for the Add Points CNC routine for boss Cone features. - Added support for the Teledyne DALSA X-ray detector. - Added pixel correction to the DXF Overlay based on FOV calibration data. [Video] CorrectDxfPixels=1 Fixed: - Fixed a case within Auto Programming for datum features that are larger than the FOV. Target VED Probe position is now correct. - Fixed the incorrect display of the Probe Rack Swap warning message in normal CNC playback. - Fixed the display of the Stitch Mode buttons while in Advanced Recording Mode. - Fixed the display of Live Video Overlay Annotation when printed from program playback. - Fixed the Print of the Live Video image, when it immediately follow a Part View printout in playback. - Fixed the “Stop on Tol Fail” function for Calc features. - Fixed the calculation of the “Amount Over” value for features toleranced in ++/-- mode. - Fix for the Park Position on Shutdown. Machine coordinates are now used regardless of currently selected probe. - Fixed the display of Run Date and Run Time in the Report Templates. - Fixed a crash that could occur during the FOV calibration routine when targets are very near the edge of the field of view. - Fixed the Exit and Keyboard buttons in the main User Login screen. - Fixed a case where switching report templates could cause the report contents to be scrolled out of view. - Fixed the "Select Similar" functionality in the Report View, while editing cell contents. - Fixed the setting of Nominal Angle values within the Calc feature type. - Fixed the Best Form calculation for Plane Features in the YZ and ZX planes. - Fixed a rare case where profile points could be fit to a portion of a profile, not closest to the nominal. - Fixed the feature display in the part view after program playback. Features are now displayed in part coordinates in the part view. - Fixed a case where a circle construction from a YZ or ZX cylinder or cone could be projected in XY. M3 v4.00.20 3/3/2022 Added: - Added new camera interface to support the TSI line of machine vision cameras. - Added new 64bit interface for the Imaging Source camera type. - Added support for goto steps in the step and repeat function. - Added support for passing edge teach parameters to the pattern recognition mechanism. - Added the ability to construct pattern features from probed features. Patterns generated in this way will function in the same way as "marquee-taught" patterns. - Expanded the Thread Measurement function to support flat peaked threads such as those found on "No-Go" thread plugs. - Added new MTI CSV Export function. - Added support for the "Feature Properties" function in edit mode. - Added (4) new system variables for querying the current XYZ or Q encoder position. [MlxX],[MlxY],[MlxZ],[MlxQ]. - A new setting has been added to the Probe Rack Settings screen called "Park probe on switch to VED". This setting is set to Yes by default. When set to No the system will not park the currently held touch probe in the probe rack, when switching from Touch Probe to VED. - Added support for the OE MTDV Stepper Controller for use with OE Lens Systems. - Added new metlogix.ini parameter to set the digital zoom type to "ZoomFill" at M3 startup. [Startup] ZoomFill=1 Fixed: - Fixed a case where construction of profile features from more than two probed parent features was not functioning. - Fixed a crash that could occur in the TCPIP Remote Control module. New synch code was added to deal with command exchange delays in host/server interface. - Fixed the use of cylinder features as reference features for parallelism and perpendicularity tolerances. - Fixed a rare case where profile fit results from alternate point sources was incorrectly executed. This could occur when multiple feature sources were used. - Fixed the display of custom template names when printed in the report header. - Fixed a duplicate display of the UCS custom template item when using the template editor. - Fixed various cases of missing tooltip text. - Fixed overflow of annotation text on live video when using an enlarged font size. - Fixed a case where circle features changed to arc features caused a failure in program playback. - Fixed the Windows dialog button call for the Export File function. - Fixed Z axis CNC playback for features measured with the Optical Edge probe. - Fixed the formatting in the Cloud CSV export file for profile features. - Fixed case where the target radius and arrow were not updated properly for features played back in Assist Mode. - Fixed missing Image Stitch functionality while using Advanced Recording Mode. - Fixed minor UI issues in the new Program Properties dialog (Basic/Advanced). - Fixed the display color of multiple tolerance result combinations when using the Live Video Overlay in programs configured for "Multiple parts in the FOV" mode. - Fixed a case where the FOV calibration routine would fail, and added a perimeter warning visual guide. M3 v4.00.10 10/27/2021 Added: - Added a new RS232 Send key mapping mechanism for the function keys (F keys) on a keyboard. These are configured via the following metlogix.ini parameter. The list below represents the defaults. [ShortCuts] F1= F2= F3=R F4= F5=X F6=Y F7=Z F8=XY F9=L F10=D F11=A F12=XYZLDA - Added support for the OpEng TCZR Zoom Turret device. - Added support for the NMI Turret/Light interface. - Modified the Program Properties dialog to allow space for additional items. The dialog is now separated into 2 "pages", Basic and Advanced. The pages can be toggled using a new button in the top right corner of the program properties dialog. - Added a new program playback mechanism called "High Accuracy Mode". This new mode executes VED probing steps at the middle of the field of view, regardless of where they were recorded. High accuracy mode is enabled in the "Advanced" page of the program properties dialog. Fixed: - Restored the Goto dialog behavior where the Absolute/Relative goto type is "remembered". The values entered for a relative goto are now restored when a subsequent goto is invoked. - Resolved an issue where small amounts of video overlay misalignment could occur in the display of probed points, at specific digitally zoomed positions. - Fixed the Light Control Slider Interface channel mapping for cases where specific sliders (Top/Bottom/Misc.) are not enabled, and the Quadrant interface is being used. - Fixed the JP2 Image Load function. - Restored both the Round and Square FOV indicators for M3 Optical Edge configurations. - Small fixes for use of the Alt key functionality with German Language keyboards. - Fixed cases where changing the file extension in the Windows Open File dialogs did not automatically update window contents. - Fixed a missing 3D features button when using the metlogix.ini parameter "ShowAll3DButtons" to display the 3d feature measurement buttons in the upper-level measure toolbar. - Fixed the storage and retrieval of Thread Annotation(markup) in part programs. M3 v4.00.00 8/11/2021 V4 Feature Set: - each feature below is further described in the M3 V4 User Guides. Migrated the M3 to a 64bit application Direct PDF Export of Measuring Results Export to Live Excel Sheets w/ Incremental Programmatic Export and Improved Speed Additional Custom Text Fields for Reporting 3D Line Support via New "Axis Feature" 3D Distance Constructions with Changetypes Update to Positional Registration via New Registration Datum Feature Save/Load Reference Frame File Mechanism Pallet Program reference frame, via loaded ref frame file. Program Linking Global Variables Mechanism Variables in Goto Steps and Calc Steps Advanced Recording and Edit Program Path Mechanism Copy/Cut/Paste Program Steps Nearest/Farthest VED Probe Edit VED Probe Steps Mechanism Color and Contrast Image Processing Functions Profile Fitting using Optical Edge Detection (Optical Comparators) Profile Fitting from Measured Features Profile Fitting from Previously Fit Profiles Also Added: - Introduced new Version 4 Settings file. Existing Settings files are left intact upon update. - Added a new M3 software installation utility. - Added new graphical display of hidden rows in the report view. A magenta line will now be displayed where report rows have been hidden. - Added the ability to edit report templates while a program is loaded. - Added the ability to Save Part programs in modes other than Edit mode. - Changed the default color of M3 dialogs. - Added new field type to the report template editor for display of the amount of "Bonus" from a True Position tolerance. - Changed the layout of the program playback control buttons. A Play, Edit, and Rec button will now be displayed at the top of the program list in playback. - Improved Auto Programming speed for large part program. - Added new program playback graphics to aid in VED playback diagnostics. The new setting is called "Show debug fire stitches" and can be found in Program Settings. - Improved Excel cell formatting issues when exporting data directly to Excel. - Improved playback optimization for features probed using the Multi-Measure (wand) function. Features are now played back at the single FOV in which they were probed. - Improved the speed of keyboard text entry into User Message Dialog text entry fields. - Changed ShapeCalibration resolution to support one digit more than the currently configured display resolution. - Added new "Import" button to the Profile measurement toolbar, used for loading candidate profiles to the feature list for Profile Fit operations. - Added new Single Step mode for measurement substeps. When single stepping through expanding program steps, each probe move will be executed individually. Long press a program feature step to expand it. - Added new Edit Probe Point and Edit Goto dialog to Edit mode. Long press any Goto step or Touch Probe substep to display the new Edit dialog in the upper left viewport. Edit either the Absolute position, or use the Relative mode to increment an existing position by the specified amount. - Implemented new Probe Path mechanism, enabled with the show/hide path button. Goto's and Touch Probe Points are now displayed as "edit-able" nodes in the part view path graphics. - Added new "Highlighting" mechanism to the program list to better show light control step/feature step relationship. - Added a new "Stop playback on tolerance failure" mode. This setting is part specific and configured in the Program Properties step. When enabled playback will stop on a program step resulting in a failed tolerance. The operator can continue, remeasure, or Quit the program. - Added the ability to perform Step and Repeat on Image Archive program steps. - Added the ability to apply tolerances to profile fits performed using only the nominal profile. - Added support for recording B Axis Goto Rotary moves in program edit mode. - Changed the DemoStage default bitmap mechanism to be "rolling". This allows for use of more than one sample demo part in emulated programs. - Added support for Windows Task Switching to M3 while it is minimized. - Added support for the new Unified Correction File import and Export. Stage Error Correction data can now be exported to, or imported from a UCF_SN.tsv file in the Metlogix/Settings directory. The Export UCF and Import UCF buttons can be found in the Error Correction settings screen. - Added new option to mlxlog.exe called Time (On/Off). When set to On, a date and time stamp will be added to each log line. - Added support for the Metlogix LED Control Card. - Added new program playback timer, and program feature counter to playback, displayed in the program status toolbar. Enable with the following metlogix.ini parameter; [Programming] ShowCurRunStep=1 Fixed: - Fixed an issue with Goto positions in cases where Dual Layer NLEC and Z axis SLEC are being applied. - Fixed a column/row offset problem with the "Direct to Excel" function.