Powerful, modular and

user-friendly measuring software

 ARCO QUICK
This is the entry level product to measure
prismatic elements with the self-teach tools and
advanced coding.
ARCO GRAPHICS
A graphical environment is integrated in ARCO
QUICK: the geometrical elements are now
displayed in a dedicated area and the use of
visual selection helps the operator to quickly
choose what to use in the measurements.
ARCO CAD
Integration of the CAD engine into the graphic
level. Now it is possible to import the CAD
models of parts and build the programs with
the graphical tools and the measurement of
complex surfaces
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ARCO is a DMIS-based modular measuring software including ARCO
Quick, ARCO Graphics and ARCO CAD.
The user-friendly yet powerful measuring software for bridge, horizontal
arm and gantry CMMs serves as well measuring prismatic parts, edges
as free form surfaces.
DMIS Editor (native mode)
The ARCO engine fully supports the latest version of DMIS language;
no translator is used because the DMIS code is directly executed. The
portability of the programs created with ARCO is guaranteed thanks to
the fully compliance to
the DMIS standard.
The program is shown
and modified with a
smart “colour code”
editor.Thanks to the
SMART DMIS the
operator is helped in
advanced-languange
programming.
Self-teach Panel
The programmes in DMIS format are generated automatically by the
system during the measurement of the first part.
The panel is divided into 5 areas of different colours:
- Measurement of geometrical elements
- Application of ANSI tolerances
- Part alignments
- Input - Output
- Probe Management
Each area has icons to open the interactive dialog windows: these
windows drive the operator in the process of creating the part program
according the standard DMIS formalism: the knowledge of the language
isn't needed. The necessary DMIS code is generated automatically: a
very easy way to build the program!
Probe Management
The calibration wizard makes probe qualification quick and efficient. In
particular, the management of conventional styli is facilitated by the possibility
 to choose the angles of friendly panel while programming. For more
the motorised head from a experienced users, the project manager allows
table.After the required the use of libraries defined in external files,
values are typed, the thereby ensuring portability between different
wizard will create a systems.
program that takes care
of everything, from the Data Display
safety positions to the During the measurement or while running
access to the station the program, the data are always available
of any tool changer. in a viewer. All the necessarily categories
An interface for the are gathered in a single area: Geometrical
simplified handling of elements - Tolerances calculated - Probes
unconventional styli and Reference Systems - Advanced language
stars tips, regardless variables. At any time, the operator has
of the angular position complete access to all the data, so that an
of the motorised head analysis of the measured values and a test of the advanced
is available. Interactive code is possible by means of the real time updated values of
windows are provided for variables.
immediate management
of few probes, allowing Tool changer management
the quick qualification The use of the tool changers is
of new positions while transparent to the operator because
programming. it is integrated into the ARCO probe
management utility. At each request
Reference Systems for a new tool, the system decides
ARCO allows to create whether a change is needed and, if
a reference system either in a traditional way or through so, starts the procedure automatically.
dedicated procedures. With these tools, the operator can The system provides a wizard that
choose the most appropriate method for an easy alignment builds the program needed to align the tool changer. ARCO also
of the part. provides functions for loading/unloading tools from the stations,
so that that the manual work is minimised.
Automatic Cycles
Automatic cycles are available to measure geometrical HTM text and graphic output
elements. The system automatically makes a cycle start- The output is available in the following formats:
button available to the operator when the nominal conditions
allow this procedure. In this case, the whole path is performed • Text: this is the proprietary format saved in text mode.
as required, added to the program and thereby made • HTML: this format can be viewed on the Internet browsers
available for subsequent runs. • Graphical: through the Graphical Report Module it is
possible to import photos or drawings of the measured part
ANSI Tolerances and thereby create the personalised report. The Graphical
The ARCO system handles the geometrical tolerances in Report Editor allows the use of ready-made templates for
accordance with the international standards ASME Y 14.5 M the immediate creation of reports or the construction of
- 1994. It is possible to create the DATUM REFERENCE FRAME for new templates through a comprehensive series of graphical
every tolerance with the corresponding modifiers of maximum and tools.
minimum material. The tolerance can be sent to the program
Graphic reporting can be created off-line, allowing the use
of the package on non-proprietary systems, making report
standardisation possible.

or previewed for quick part analysis.

Advanced Programming
Besides teach programming,
the system allows the use of
advanced language statements
in order to generate parametric
programs. This allows the
definition of macros for
customised functions. In fact,
the macro manager allows
the creation of new functions
that can be called from a user-

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 Representation of the measured geometrical elements

Every measured feature is shown in the graphic area and made

available for geometrical constructions or for the graphical
representation of their associated form error.

When the graphic support is needed without the use of

a CAD model the ARCO system can be extended to the
GRAPHICS version.

Besides the functions available in the Quick version,

ARCO GRAPHICS offers further tools like: the use of
visual selection is available to help the operator both
in the choice of the construction elements and in the
creation of graphical reports.

The following features are available in ARCO GRAPHICS:

Machine volume and probe representation

• The graphic area displays the machine
configuration.
• The probe is represented, by size and direction, in the
actual position within the machine volume.
• Probe movement is updated in real time.
• The safety positions could be graphically set during
programming, by means of an handle.

Graphic GOTO
• On motorised machines it is possible to create the probe
positions from the graphic environment. A graphic handle
allows the probe to be placed in a new position that will be
reached by the machine.
• The movement at specific given co-ordinates can be easily
set through an interactive menu that allows to choose
among absolute, relative or along the probe axes.
• The handle can lock the axes and can make the definition
of a new position easier.

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Representation of Form Errors
The geometrical elements can be monitored while programming,
bad points can be graphically excluded from the calculation in
order to realize a better inspection. Once the measuring is finished,
the data points of the feature can be analysed, and a graphical
printing is possible of the form deviation and all the metrological
information.By using the display parameters it's possible to amplify
the deviation plots and to print out the reports on the fly.

Reference system preview

• During the creation of the reference systems it is possible
to preview them by means of the display of the cartesian
triedra.
• At any action of the operator the system reacts by
displaying a flashing representation of the new reference
system.
• The operator can therefore view the reference in advance
and make any necessary corrections.

Inspection Path programming

• On motorised machines it is possible to predefine
measuring paths (strategies) on geometrical elements.
• The operator can choose between several possible
strategies to decide the best distribution of the points.
• Once the path has been accepted, the machine will run
Metris C3 V Bridge CMM the measurement automatically.

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 Group management
During the organisation of a CAD model it is possible to create
groups of elements or surfaces. These groups can be used for
best fit operations or to force the projection of points only to
specific areas.

Extracting geometrical elements from CAD

While programming it is possible to define the geometrical
elements selecting them from CAD. By selecting the
As any advanced measuring system ARCO is geometrical entities, the CAD engine will return the nominal
powered with a state-of-the-art CAD engine. feature required to start the inspection.

Through the use of mathematical models,

operators can carry out programming without
any manual measurement: the machine is
asked by the system to measure the selected
geometrical element, and everything goes
along automatically.

ARCO CAD completes the GRAPHICS version by

the addition of the following features:

Import of native CAD formats

ARCO CAD manages direct import without
conversion of the most used CAD formats:
• CATIA V4
• CATIA V5
• PRO-E
• UG
• For all other cases the neutral IGES, VDA
and DXF formats are available.

Layer CAD management

When a CAD model is brought in ARCO CAD
the layer structure decided by the designer is TEACH CAD programming
maintained. The layers can be viewed, blocked On motorised machines it is possible to teach the point to be
or excluded from the calculations. It is possible picked by selecting the points directly on the mathematical
to associate them to geometrical elements and model. At every click the machine will measure automatically
then export everything in a new IGES format. The with no manual teach process.
imported entities can be moved among the layers
making the model organized according to the
inspector's requirements.

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Inspection Path programming
On motorised machines it is possible to create the inspection
paths automatically.The operator can choose among the
possible measuring strategies and decide the best distribution
of the points. Once the path has been accepted, the machine will
run the measurement automatically.

An inspection path can be combined with TEACH CAD

programming, MANUAL programming or with other inspection
paths. This makes the measurement of geometrical elements
extremely flexible, with the possibility to solve any access
problem.

SPC (Statistical Process Control)

All the inspection data can be analysed for SPC purpose. The
integrated SPC package can produce information on CP CPK as
well as XR XS charts and distribution plots.

Alignment on free forms Graphical outputs

Through the use of the CAD model it is possible to create Through the Graphical Editor custom inspection protocols can
reference systems on free forms. After measuring the reference be created. Indeed, all the operator has to do is choose the
points ARCO CAD automatically creates the required reference geometrical elements to be included in the report, and ARCO
system. CAD will do all the rest providing the results in a graphic table.
These tools allow you the creation of a large number of graphic formats
Measuring surfaces and edges in real time to support all the needs in the field of inspection date analysis.
With ARCO CAD it is possible to inspect free forms and edges.
Every measured point is instantaneously compared with the CAD
model, and the deviations are given in real time. An inspection
path can be created for surfaces too, making the generation of
perfectly distributed points simple and easy.

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 ARCO - POWERFUL, USER-FRIENDLY AND MODULAR MEASURING SOFTWARE
• Measuring software based on DMIS language
• An integrated solution for measuring prismatic elements of edges and free surfaces
• Direct import of native CAD formats (PRO-E, CATIA V4, CATIA V5, UNIGRAPHICS) and neutral formats (IGES, VDA, DXF)
• Available for manual, point-to-point and continuous scanning measurement
• Ultra fast inspection of profiles
• Powered by strong tools for graphic programming
• The flexible module for graphical output allows to create custom reports
• Graphic results output in statistical format (QS-STAT and SPC LIGHT) and document (HTML - PDF - WORD - EXCEL - TIFF)
• Use of dual arm measuring system extremely powerful
• The modern software architecture allows modular development enabling integration of custom components.

ARCO ARCO ARCO

QUICK GRAPHICS CAD

ARCO_ENG_1107 • Copyright Metris 2007. All rights reserved. The materials presented here are summary in nature, subject to change and intended for general information only.
Manual inspection
Point-to-point inspection
Continuous scan inspection
Manual thermal compensation
On line thermal compensation
Dual arm management
DMIS editor
Self-teaching panel
Probe management
Reference systems
Automatic cycles
Tolerances
Advanced programming
Data display
Tool changer management
HTML text and graphic output
Machine volume and probe representation
Graphical GOTO
Representation of the measured geometrical elements
Representation of form errors
Reference system preview
Inspection path programming
HTML Text and graphics output with geometric features
Import of native CAD formats
Export Iges
Layer CAD management
Group management
Extracting geometrical elements from CAD
Teach CAD programming
Inspection path programming
Alignment on free forms
Measuring surfaces and edges in real time
Measuring profiles
Optimisation of an existing reference
HTML text and graphic output CAD based

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fax +32 16 74 01 03
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