ZEISS Microscopy FAQs

The abbreviation PMI stands for "Product and Manufacturing Information" and means functional dimensioning on a 3D CAD model. The idea of PMI is to cover the entire process chain from specification (CAD), through manufacturing (CAM) to verification (CAQ) with one data set containing all necessary information. In the long term, the technical drawing would become irrelevant and the derivation of the drawing would become null and void.

In dimensional metrology, this data set is to be used to generate a measurement sequence based on functional measurements on the 3D model. With the help of CALYPSO it is possible to import these CAD data sets in order to automatically generate a measuring program.

The new CALYPSO PMI interface is available as of CALYPSO 2016 (version 6.2). The only requirement is a native CAD interface that supports PMI. Currently, the functional PMI technology is supported by 4 CAD systems.

Siemens NX from Siemens (from version NX 8)

Catia from Dassault Systemes (from version Catia V5)

Solidworks from Dassault Systemes (from Solidworks 2015)

ProEngineer / CREO from PTC (from CREO 2)

Standard formats such as STEP or JT currently only offer limited PMI functionality and are not yet supported for PMI import into CALYPSO.

There is no native CAD interface license available. If the PMI functionality is to be used, the corresponding native interface license must be purchased.

The CAD format is not yet supported by the native CAD converter. After a new CAD format is launched, it takes up to six months until the converter for the internal CALYPSO format ACIS is developed. Before that, CAD data sets cannot be imported. Here we are also dependent on the CAD core supplier.

No real, functional PMI is included in the CAD model. The functional 3D-tolerance and "simple" drawing in 3D differ enormously!

To correctly recognize the PMI, the links with the geometries of the CAD model are necessary, i.e. control geometry elements must be stored on the PMI. CAD systems usually speak of "linked elements" or "surface references".

No geometries of the CAD model are linked to the PMI. CALYPSO only recognizes that a PMI exists and displays it in the CAD window. During generation, however, the semantic information, i.e. the link to the geometry, is missing. This can result in error messages. Inspection characteristics are then usually generated without a measuring element.

CALYPSO recognizes automatically if inspection characteristics and measuring elements have already been created from PMI, since the PMI have a certain identification name internally. CALYPSO does not generate the measuring elements and characteristics more than once.

However, if PMI has already been created and then deleted, the status is retained. This means that the entire CAD model must be imported once again to create it again.

If too many inspection characteristics or measuring elements are created, too many elements/linked geometries are stored behind the PMI.

In CAD systems there are linked elements (usually surface elements: cylinders, cones, planes) and elements to which the PMI is attached (usually line elements: circle, straight/edge, point). The elements for pinning are decisive for the graphical representation. To process the PMI functionally, the linked geometry is necessary.

At best, all elements must be entered correctly during construction. Then CALYPSO's PMI can also be interpreted correctly. For this, however, the designing engineer must needs to have some metrological knowledge in order to be able to define which elements must be measured. He must then link these elements with the PMI.

CALYPSO only recognizes the geometries to which the PMI is attached. These are mainly relevant for displayin in the CAD window of CALYPSO. Mostly these elements are not measurable (e.g. edges are not measured conventionally, but are created by cutting two planes).

If no planar geometries (cylinders, cones, surfaces) are linked, CALYPSO creates the inspection characteristic without measuring elements or only the 2D elements (circle, line) as measuring elements.

ZEISS offers its customers the following support in regard to PMI:

1. Native CAD test data in the installation directory of the CAD models.

Using these models, designers can get to grips with the metrological, functional dimensioning. The linked elements can be viewed by reading them into the corresponding native CAD system.

With the CAD models, the first inspection plans can also be created in CALYPSO with just a few mouse clicks.

The practice work piece is supplied in three different formats (Solidworks, Catia, Siemens NX).

The CAD models can be found at: C:\Users\Public\Documents\Ceiss\CALYPSO\cad

2. Manual for designers who should be sensitized for functional/metrological dimensioning with PMI.

The manual describes what information CALYPSO needs to generate the PMI correctly.

The manual can be found at:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Zeiss\CALYPSO 6.4\userinfo\manuals\en\ Automatic test plan creation from PMI.pdf

In order to prevent a collision when changing styli systems, from ZEISS CALYPSO Revision 2014 onwards in conjunction with firmware 29 or higher, all ZEISS change plates with activated ID chip can be clearly identified in the software and can therefore no longer be confused.

This customer request was implemented to avoid a possible collision by using the wrong styli systems to 100\%. However, this can only be guaranteed with original ZEISS change plates, as these are recognized in the system by their activated ID chip.

ZEISS change plates with activated ID chip are identified by a QR code sticker, a sticker with the serial number and the ZEISS logo on the front of the change plate.

As of ZEISS CALYPSO 2014 and use from firmware version 29, ZEISS changers and all other changers that do not have an activated ID chip with ZEISS identification will no longer be recognized by the system. It is no longer possible to operate the CMM with these change plates.

In this case, please contact your ZEISS contact.

ZEISS change plates with activated ID chip are identified by a QR code sticker, a sticker with the serial number and the ZEISS logo on front of the change plate.

ZEISS CONTURA or ZEISS CONTURA G2 units cannot be converted from VAST XT to RDS or vice versa.

However, an RDS-CAA can be retrofitted to a ZEISS CONTURA G2 Direct (with VAST XXT directly at the quill). Please note that the RDS with VAST XXT has different interference contours at the changing plate than the VAST XXT directly at the quill. The available measuring volume is thus smaller.

In our discontinuation list you can see which software revisions are currently sold.

Discontinuation List

Revisions that have the status "End of sales" can no longer be acquired. It is also not possible to add options to this revision level at a later date.

Example: ZEISS CALYPSO 5.2 can no longer be extended by the option curve because revision 5.2 has the status "End of sales".

Our "Netviewer" teleservice software offers the option of executing your service request or technical support directly on your PC, without the cumbersome sending of data or possible confusion in the description of the problem.

Our specialists connect to your computer via secure servers and can analyze the problem together with you and answer your questions.

Parallel to the Teleservice session, there is always a telephone communication to keep the participant informed about the actions carried out.

To ensure the security of the connection between client and server, a 160-bit ECC (Elliptic Curve Cryptography) key is used for mutual authentication and asymmetric encryption.

The symmetrical 128-bit Blowfish Key ensures integrity and confidentiality between moderator and participant.

Communication during a Teleservice session can be either via HTTP port 80 or TCP ports 2000 or 443. The participant programs first try to use TCP port 2000 or 443, then HTTPS (SSL) via port 443 and only then port 80.

There are multiple possibilities:

1.There is no internet connection.

2.The activation id is wrong and not existing

3.There is a firewall and proxy settings are needed

Workaround / Resolution

A very simple and fast workaround is to use the offline activation.

Check network connection by calling these three urls:

https://activation.zeiss.com

https://activation.zeiss.com/CZEH/ActivationUtilityService.asmx?wsdl

http://activation.zeiss.com/CZEH/ActivationUtilityService.asmx?wsdl

If all of those are working, please check for an existing proxy connection by checking the Internet Explorer:

start IE

goto Extras

goto network options

goto connections

goto LAN settings

If there is an automatic script or a proxy is entered, please use this configuration in the ZLAU as well. If the user do not have access to this data, he/she has to contact his/her local administration or use the offline activation.

Some customers are using products with different versions on one PC. One example is CALYPSO 5.4 and CALYPSO 5.6. This causes an error in the older product with an alert "license not valid" or "license violation".

The cause is based on the way of implementation. By using both licenses checks for old and new licenses this results in an invalid new license and the error stated above.

Workaround / Resolution

You only have to install the latest service packs and everything will work. Known product which should be updated:

affected base version

required version

latest service pack

CALYPSO 5.2

5.2.20 (service pack 7)

5.2.24 (service pack 8)

CALYPSO 5.4

5.4.16 (service pack 4)

5.4.20 (service pack 5)

The ZEISS Metrology Portal has been optimized for the following browsers:

Internet Explorer since Version 10

Mozilla Firefox since Version 24

Chrome since Version 20

Safari since Version 5

Release information on new software versions of ZEISS systems can be found in the Software Download Portal (https://sdp.metrology.zeiss.com).

Select your desired product group, version and software type to download available release notes.

If you activate a license offline in the ZEISS License Activation Utility (ZLAU), you will receive a "*.xml" file (for PC-bound licenses) or a "*.lic" file (for dongle licenses) For a detailed explanation of how to obtain the files, please click here.

Step 1: Open the ZEISS License Activation Utility and select "Import License or response file". The right button is grayed out and can no longer be selected.

Step 2: Select the received "*.xml" file/"*.lic" file and click "Open".

The license file is now successfully imported.

If you click on a system to be updated in the "Software Licensing" feature, you have the option of updating the software licenses for your measuring instruments under "Request License Key". The prerequisite for this is a valid software maintenance agreement.

When you click on "Request License Key", a window will open asking you to confirm that you actually want to update this license.

You will receive an e-mail with the Entitlement ID, which is required for the update. This ID needs to be entered in the ZEISS License Activation Utility (ZLAU):

Step 1: Start the ZEISS License Activation Utility program (available in the Software Download Portal).

Step 2: To activate licenses, click the "Manage Licenses" button.

here

Step 3: Select "Activate license" under the Action tab on the left and "No Internet connection available" under Internet connection on the right.

Step 4: Enter the Entitlement ID contained in the email and click "Add".

Step 5: By clicking on "OK" you will be asked to save an "activation_request.xml" file. Please send it to [email protected].

Step 6: You will now automatically receive a "*.xml" file (for PC-bound licenses) or a",*.lic* file (for dongle licenses), which you can import to your CMM computer. After receiving this file, you must import it into the ZEISS License Activation Utility (ZLAU). For detailed instructions on importing license files, please click.

If you click on a system to be updated in the "Software Licensing" feature, you have the option of updating the software licenses for your measuring instruments under "Request License Key". The prerequisite for this is a valid software maintenance agreement.

When you click on "Request License Key", a window will open asking you to confirm that you actually want to update this license.

You will receive an e-mail with the Entitlement ID, which is required for the update. This ID needs to be entered in the ZEISS License Activation Utility (ZLAU):

Step 1: Start the ZEISS License Activation Utility program (available in the Software Download Portal).

Step 2: To activate licenses, click the "Manage Licenses" button.

Step 3: The default settings are on the left side under action "Activate license" and on the right side under Internet connection "PC is connected to the Internet". If the PC is connected to the Internet, go to "Next".

Step 4: Enter the Entitlement ID contained in the email and click "Add".

Your software license will now be updated.

Dongle license:

Flexible in usage (indepenent from PC)

Using options on several CMMs

Risk of loss

Usage of USB port required

No transfer of options possible

PC-bondend license:

No dongle needed and thus no USB interface needed

License is directly assigned to the computer

Options can be moved up to twice a year to other CMM

In case of a defect regarding the computer a new license must be requested

If you click on a system to be updated in the "Software Licensing" feature, you have the option of updating the software licenses for your measuring sysetms under "Request license key". The prerequisite for this is a valid software maintenance agreement.

When you click on "Request License Key", a window will open asking you to confirm that you actually want to update this license.

You will receive an email with the Entitlement ID required for the update. This needs to be entered in the ZEISS License Activation Utility (ZLAU). A detailed description of the procedure can be found here.

In this case a more detailed check of the user is necessary. This could take up to 2 or 3 working days. If you need immediate access, please contact you support team and report this error state.

To download your desired software, open the "Software Download" feature.

As soon as you click on "Download Software", the Software Download Portal (SDP) opens. Here you can download your desired software, service packs or release notes in four simple steps.

After you have entered the required data, an overview of all available downloads is displayed. Click on the icon to start the download.

If you do not see any tiles after logging in to the ZEISS Metrology Portal and therefore cannot use any features of the portal, proceed as follows:

Visit https://portal.metrology.zeiss.com.

Load the page again using the key combination "Ctrl + F5" and empty the cache.

Log in with your e-mail address and password.

If the problem persists, use another Internet browser (experience has shown that Google Chrome works best).

If the previous steps do not lead to an improvement, please send a screenshot of the address line above to [email protected]. We will contact you immediately in order to solve your problem as quickly as possible.

The registration process for the ZEISS Metrology Portal comprises an upstream step. It is necessary to create a ZEISS ID account before your access to the portal is granted.

If you cannot complete your registration due to the above message, it is possible that the registration was cancelled between step 1 and 2 (this means that a ZEISS ID account was created but no access to the ZEISS Metrology Portal was approved).

To complete the registration process, please log in to the ZEISS ID Self Service Portal: https://id.zeiss.com. You will be automatically forwarded to the ZEISS Metrology Portal for registration.

To register at the ZEISS Metrology Portal, open the website at https://portal.zeiss.com.

The registration process for the ZEISS Metrology Portal comprises an upstream step. It is necessary to create a ZEISS ID account before your access to the portal is granted.

Step 1: To start with your registration, click "Register now".

Step 2: Fill in the required information and accept the ZEISS ID Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Step 3: Further information is required to access the ZEISS Metrology Portal. Please enter the detailed information and accept the terms of use and the data protection declaration of the ZEISS portal. After completion, the registration process started.

Step 4: You will receive an email with a link to verify your email address. Please click on the link to complete the verification.

Step 5: As soon as the access request has been approved by ZEISS, you will receive an e-mail. Now you can access the portal.

To reset your password, click in the login screen on

,,Forgot password".

Once you have clicked on the link, you will be automatically led to a four-step password reset process.

Step 1: Enter the e-mail address with which you have verified in order to receive a check number in the following step.

Step 2: You will receive a check number by e-mail, which needs to be entered here.

Step 3: Your e-mail address has now been successfully verified. Now you can set a new password by clicking on "continue".

Step 4: Enter your new password. As soon as you click on "continue", you will return to the login screen.

Note: Please use this procedure in case of a forgotten password. A multiple registration with the same e-mail address is not possible.

After first using QualifyPassive, every qualification after can be set to Geometry Requalification.

As often as is necessary in order to deal with changes in the styli sizes and locations.

Fitting Position is the qualification routine for determining location of the operating sphere for the Master Probe with RDS-CAA.This location needs to be re-determined every time the RDS head is removed and reinstalled.Also, this can be done whenever the machined is homed.

This routine is for Trigger heads.6 single points that calculate Stylus sphere size and location.

This routine is available for the XXT TL1, TL2, or TL3 after the initial Qualify Passive routine has been run.It is simply the 6 point qualification that calculates size and location of the stylus sphere.

This is the only qualification routine available for the XXT TL1, TL2, or TL3 when qualifying a new stylus system or a new stylus on an existing stylus system. It uses a series of circular scans on the Reference Sphere at low and high forces and slow and fast speeds to calculate bend.Then a six point routine to calculate size and location of the stylus sphere. This initial routine requires 180 degrees of sphere coverage.

This is an enhanced Tensor Qualification routine, utilizing circular scans at low and high measurement forces and slow and fact measurement speeds.This routine is absolutely required for the Navigator option and requires 180 degrees of sphere coverage.

Tensor is the qualification method for Active Scanning head that take 2 points at 15 different locations on the Reference Sphere.The first point is taken with a low measurement force, the second with a high measurement force.The difference between the two point is captured and used to calculate the amount of stylus bend.

You can use Secondary Alignments to match Datum Reference Frames. You can also, use Secondary Alignments when features on a Part Print are dimensioned from more than one origin.

On the Measurement tab, Click on Base/Start Alignment, then select “Change current base alignment”. You can make changes here and all your nominal values will automatically update to the new alignment. You can also make changes to the individual features in a Base Alignment and all the nominals for all the features will update.

No. Base Alignment is for navigation while DRF is for evaluation. The two can be the same, but don’t have to be.

The “Can, May, Must” rule is whichever degrees of freedom can and may be eliminated by a feature, they must be eliminated by that feature.

The 6 degrees of freedom are Pitch, Roll, Yaw, X, Y, Z.

CALYPSO uses the Can, May, Must rule for deciding which boxes get assigned a Feature.

It is recommended that you open the Base Alignment field at the beginning of the process for constructing the Base Alignment. If you do, you can watch which fields get filled in with which measured features immediately upon closing the feature.

In the pull down menu, immediately under the “Comment” button of any feature, you can select the correct geometry.

CALYPSO will automatically construct a feature out of the measured data. For instance, with one probing point, CALYPSO can construct a point. With a second point it can construct a line or a symmetry point. With a third point, CALYPSO can construct a plane or a circle.

Whenever there is material from an adjacent feature to close for Retract Distance to be completed, Retract Distances must be reduced. Since Retract Distance takes into account Stylus Radius, it is not necessary to compensate for that in the setting.

When you create a new part program, the settings in Extras/Settings/Measurement are applied immediately and are permanent default settings. If you need different settings for a new program, then open Extras/Settings/Measurement from an empty CALYPSO desk or from an existing program. Make the desired changes to Retract Distance and/or Clearance Distance. Close Extras/Settings/Measurement then create new part program.

The software default settings are in Extras/Settings/Measurement.

Retract Distance is the pre and post position at the start and end of a feature measurement.