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SOFTWARE OFFLINE SPEEDS ON-LINE INSPECTION PolyWorks 2016 lets inspectors define a measurement plan without being physically connected to a specific measure- ment device, as well as specify geometry controls on measurement objects, prepare inspection reports and review measured object geometry controls and reports or multipiece inspection results through built-in statistical process control functionality. The software package's new offline simulation func- tions automatically generate simulated point cloud data and probed points from the nominal geometry of a CAD model of a part. In fact, says Soucy, "operators can set up inspection projects even if they don't have access to a measurement device or a real 3D dataset of a part." For instance, operators can simulate measured object components, data alignments, data color maps, geometry control tables, 3D-scene snapshots and inspection reports before the real measurement task. Offline simulation works for CNC CMMs as well, letting users control the probing and laser scanning tool orientations and trajecto- ries on a virtual device. Texture mapping technology helps produce easier-to-understand color maps and improve the display speed of those maps and the interpolation of deviation colors. When using offline simulation, the operator selects the measurement device, aligns the simulated probing by using the reference targets on the simulated geometry and replicates the typical measurement workflow. "As soon as you probe, you can see that the measurements are quickly simulated. This is one of the advantages of the simulation mode: The measurements are actually faster than when performed with the real device," jokes Soucy. In addition, inspectors can group sets of features and quickly match surrounding measured data points to the CAD model. This capability optimizes the alignments of extracted features against flexible and highly deviated parts. Another improve- ment is in iteratively measuring trimmed and hemmed edges, thereby improving the accuracy of a measured surface and edge devia- tions in parts significantly deviated from the nominal reference. Last, PolyWorks 2016 uses texture mapping to fill pixels with color when zooming in on color maps. This helps produce better, easier-to-understand color maps, and it improves the display speed of the data-to-CAD deviation color map and interpola- tion of deviation colors. Inspection software has never become as routine as it can be now—from software that is hardly routine itself. The PolyWorks sequence editor allows operators to control the exact conditions of measurement. 44