Brad,
You may not be currently using any 3d modelling, but chances are you will be in the future. I would suggest you bring a print & part to a zeiss facility and ask them to supply a REAL person to go through the motions of programming your dilemma. Have your CMM operators watch & get their feedback on ease of use, interpretive learning curve and ability to output your data.
You are right to question a laptop hooked to an overhead !! My only next suggestion may be
to take the same part to Brown & Sharpe and ask for the same thing using Pc-Dmis. Make your own decisions based on your operators, PLEASE.
They are the ones who will have to use the software and you are the one who will expect results. I am not against Zeiss, you may find the system will suit your needs, but you need to investigate other options. This is a LARGE
investment and you will have this new machine for a long time. What software are your sister companies or suppliers or customers using ??? If you have the same, you can write a program at one facility and run it at another. Just my 2 cents.....
jim.jewell@valiantmachine.com