Mr. Hodge,
One of the problems that you will find is that most of the programming tools that are available (i.e. Silma, Cameo, PCDMIS…) is that they are all ACIS based applications. There will be some type of translation that takes place for most any programming tool out there. What you want to be careful of is that you get the best programming tool for your machine. For example if you are using a Brown & Sharpe machine with their own software then their application may be the best. Since LK-DMIS and Metrologic uses almost pure DMIS commands then you may be able to use almost any programming tool on the market without effecting your capabilities. What ever you do make sure that you provide someone with one of your models for a demonstration.

A lot of companies like Pro-Verify and DENEB-Inspect for example have some great smoke and mirror demos but I don’t know of anyone that has actually had one of their models programmed and ran on their cmm without any major problems.

Ray Admire
Lead Quality Engineer, CMM Programming
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control - Dallas
972-603-2074