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Manufacturer of Coordinate Measuring
Machines
Background
The firm is a family-owned and operated business that designs and manufactures coordinate
measuring machines of a rigid, moving bridge type. These electrical/mechanical
devices are controlled by proprietary computer software packages. Management believes the product line is the highest quality available. All
products are covered with a complete three-year warranty when the industry norm
is one-year. However, the software developed to operate the machinery is old,
slow, and interpretive versus compiled. Today's market for measuring machines is
driven by the software. All competitive foreign products use compile code due to
the speed advantage over the old style interpretive programming.
The firm sells its products to both light and heavy industrial concerns from
aerospace to the automotive industry. The primary customer area is western New
York with a few large customers located in California. Half of the sales are the
result of direct efforts of the owners of the firm and the other half are
handled by manufacturer’s representatives. The firm has had some success in the
export field selling a few machines in Europe. Average annual sales approximate
$3 million.
Assistance Provided
After a diagnostic review the NYS TAAC and firm determined
the recovery strategy focus is on software. The principal reason for concentrating in this
area is to recognize where the market is rapidly moving, and to allow the firm to
continue to be a viable force in the coordinate measuring machine market.
Without new software development the survival of the firm would be in jeopardy
from competition from Japan and Western Europe.
The NYS TAAC, with aid from the firm, developed a scope of work for the
development of new software. Approximately 50,000 lines of code, over 700
routines, and 250 algorithms would be included in the final package. It was also
determined the new software must be compatible with current PC performance.
Project Results
The new system has been completely prototyped and tested under Microsoft
Windows. The programming environment is Microsoft Visual C++. The system can be
divided into inputs: screen; mouse; keyboard; and coordinate measuring machine;
and outputs: screen; and printer.
The screen is divided into seven parts: the digital readout; a count down box;
the results area; a graphics area; pop-up and pull-down menus; messages and
prompts. The digital area displays the X, Y, and Z position of the CMM in real
time. The count down box is a user aid that prompts for additional data points
from the CMM. The results area contains the results of all the measurements
taken by the operator. The graphics area is a complete CAD-type graphics display
of the data with the ability to zoom, un-zoom, and fit. The menus are mostly
pull-own with some secondary pop-ups. The messages and prompts are displayed
across the bottom of the screen.
Development of this software assures the firm can offer its product
with all the "bells and whistles" that
today's customers expect. Initial reaction by current customers is very favorable and many have
indicated to the firm their willingness to see a product demonstration.
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