Manual

VMZ-S 15.0.0 AutoMeasure Manual

🌟 What This Manual Is

This is the comprehensive guide to NEXIV AutoMeasure VMZ-S 15.0.0 — Nikon's ultimate-tier vision measurement system at the current software generation. The VMZ-S runs the same AutoMeasure 15.0.0 software as the VMA 15.0.0, with identical guide file content. What sets it apart is the hardware: premium large-format stage, higher precision optics, Laser AF as standard, and a different hardware interface. Everything in the VMA 15.0.0 manual applies fully to the VMZ-S. This manual focuses on what is unique to the VMZ-S platform.

✓ VMZ-S: Laser AF Is Always Available

On the VMA 15.0.0, the Laser AF device may be optional depending on configuration. On the VMZ-S, it is standard on every machine. All Laser AF measurement tools — Scan Laser, Box Laser, Laser AF probe — are fully available without any hardware check.

Chapter 1

VMZ-S Hardware Overview

The VMZ-S in the NEXIV Product Line

The VMZ-S (EVF72150) occupies the top of Nikon's vision-only measurement system hierarchy. It replaces the VMZ-R from the 11.6.2 era as the current premium offering:

System	Tier	Version	Touch Probe
VMA	Entry	11.6.2 or 15.0.0	No
VMA-TP	Mid	11.6.2 or 15.0.0	Yes
VMZ-R	Premium (legacy)	11.6.2	No
VMZ-S	Ultimate (current)	15.0.0	No

Key Hardware Differences vs VMA 15.0.0

Feature	VMA 15.0.0	VMZ-S 15.0.0
Stage size	Standard	Larger — higher measurement range
Precision	Standard	Higher accuracy specifications
Laser AF	Optional	Standard (always included)
Camera interface	IEEE1394 / FireWire	Premium VMZ optical interface (no FireWire drivers)
Driver installation	FireWire + USB drivers required	No separate camera drivers — built-in interface
Software content	287 guide files	287 guide files (byte-for-byte identical)
Dongle required	Yes	Yes
EVF code	EVF72150	EVF72150

No Camera Driver Installation

When setting up a VMA 15.0.0, you install IEEE1394 FireWire and USB camera drivers. The VMZ-S does not require this step — the premium optical interface is built into the hardware and recognized by the system automatically. If you are following a VMA setup guide and see a "camera driver installation" step, skip it on the VMZ-S.

Dongle Required

Like all 15.0.0 versions, the VMZ-S requires a USB hardware dongle. Insert it before launching AutoMeasure. The software will not open without it.

Chapter 2

Getting Started with VMZ-S 15.0.0

Startup Sequence

Insert the USB dongle
Plug the hardware key into a USB port before doing anything else. The VMZ-S will not launch AutoMeasure without it.

Power on the VMZ-S controller
The controller unit drives the stage. Power it on before the software.

Wait for joystick indicator lights to go OFF
Lights come ON, then OFF. OFF means the controller is initialized and ready. Do not launch the software before this.

Launch AutoMeasure
Open NEXIV AutoMeasure 15.0.0. The premium VMZ-S hardware is recognized automatically — no camera driver step required.

Log in
Choose Operator, Engineer, or Manager and enter your password.

System Initialization — click [Auto Detect]
The stage homes in X, Y, Z. Keep the stage clear during homing. The VMZ-S has a larger stage travel range — give it room.

⚠ Critical: Always wait for joystick lights to go OFF before launching. Launching early causes initialization failures that require a full restart of the controller and software.

Chapter 3

All AutoMeasure 15.0.0 Features Apply

Identical Software Content

The VMZ-S 15.0.0 guide files are byte-for-byte identical to VMA 15.0.0. Every feature, every dialog, every procedure is the same. The complete VMA 15.0.0 manual applies in full to the VMZ-S.

For complete feature documentation, see the VMA 15.0.0 Manual. All chapters apply directly to the VMZ-S without exception.

Key 15.0.0 Features (All Available on VMZ-S)

Teaching Support

Semi-automated recipe creation from images or CAD drawings. Select features and the system creates measurement tools automatically.

Tool Suggestion

AI-assisted next-tool recommendation during recipe creation. Up to 4 candidates ranked by likelihood.

Vision AF Retry

Automatic retry when Vision AF probe fails during replay. Configurable retry positions and count.

Laser AF Retry

Same retry logic for Laser AF probe. Especially useful on VMZ-S where Laser AF is used heavily.

CSV Column Naming

Customize CSV output column headers per measurement tool for factory system integration.

MapMeasurePro

Upgraded batch inspection for 2D flat parts. Enhanced capabilities over original MapMeasure.

Chapter 4

Laser AF — Standard on VMZ-S

✓ Always Available: Every VMZ-S includes Laser AF hardware. You never need to check whether your machine "has the laser option." It does.

Laser AF Tools Available

Tool	Function	Best Use Case
Laser AF Probe	Single-point Z-height measurement	Surface height at a specific XY position
Scan Laser Probe	Z-height along a line (profile)	Step heights, edge detection via height change, surface profiles
Box Laser Probe	Z-height across a rectangular area (grid)	Flatness, tilt detection, highest/lowest point in an area
Laser AF Calibration	Calibrates the laser sensor	After optics changes; periodic maintenance
Laser AF Retry	Auto-retry on detection failure	Reflective or challenging surfaces during replay

Laser AF vs Vision AF on VMZ-S

On the VMZ-S, Laser AF is the preferred method for Z-height and surface measurement. It is significantly more accurate and repeatable than Vision AF on metallic, polished, or low-contrast surfaces — which are common on precision-machined parts measured by VMZ-S systems.

Use Vision AF only for surfaces where the laser cannot get a clean return (transparent materials, highly absorbent surfaces).

VMZ-S Best Practice: Configure Laser AF Retry Settings on all Laser AF probes in production recipes. The VMZ-S runs in high-throughput environments where probe failures must be handled automatically, not by operator intervention.

Chapter 5

Teaching Support on VMZ-S

Teaching Support works identically on VMZ-S as on VMA 15.0.0. The larger stage and premium optics of the VMZ-S make it particularly effective for complex parts with many measurement points — exactly the kind of part where Teaching Support saves the most time.

Teaching Support Workflow (Summary)

Edit → Teaching Support → Measurement Tool Creation
Open the Specify Figure Selection Method pane.

Select input method
Choose from whole image (live camera view) or from CAD drawing.

Acquire image and select features
The system processes the image. Click features on the Graphics panel to designate them as measurement targets.

End selection — tools are created automatically
Measurement tools appear on the list panel for each selected feature.

Edit → Teaching Support → Measurement Tool Execution
Automatically optimizes probe settings for your actual part.

For complete Teaching Support documentation, see the VMA 15.0.0 Manual, Chapter 5. Behavior is identical on VMZ-S.

Chapter 6

Calibration

Calibration Types for VMZ-S

Type	Purpose	VMZ-S Notes
Vision Processor	Pixel-to-mm scaling per magnification	Critical — run at all magnification levels in use
Light Amount	Reference illumination levels	Standard procedure — same as VMA
Vision AF	Camera autofocus accuracy	Standard procedure
Laser AF	Laser sensor Z-distance conversion	Always required — Laser AF is standard on VMZ-S
Shading Image	Correct uneven illumination	Periodic maintenance

Laser AF Calibration Schedule

Because Laser AF is used constantly on the VMZ-S, Laser AF Calibration is a routine maintenance item — not an occasional task. Include it in your periodic calibration schedule alongside Vision Processor Calibration.

⚠ Vision Processor Calibration is most critical. If pixel-to-mm scaling is wrong at any magnification, all measurements at that magnification will be systematically wrong. Calibrate at every magnification level you use in production recipes.

Chapter 7

Running Replay

File → Open
Load the .nmp recipe file for your part from C:\NEXIV3\TEACH\

Set Lot and Sample
Enter the lot ID and sample number. This determines where results are saved.

Position the part
Place the part on the VMZ-S stage. The larger stage provides more flexibility in part positioning. The Initial Coordinate System handles minor placement variation.

Press Replay
The system executes the full measurement sequence. AF Retry Settings handle transient probe failures automatically.

CSV Export

Configure CSV output format in Settings → Application Settings, or set in the recipe directly:

SET CONVERT,1 — Vertical format (one measurement per row)
SET CONVERT,2 — Horizontal format (one row per sample)

Customize CSV column names: Settings → Application Settings → Result File Item Name Settings.

Chapter 8

Results & Reporting

Reading Results

Confirm Results mode opens automatically after replay. Each result shows: measured value, nominal, tolerance, deviation, and OK/NG status. Results save to C:\NEXIV3\DATA\[recipe]\[lot]\ as .nmr files.

Report Generation

File → Print Report. The VMZ-S bundle includes 14 layout templates. Select the format that matches your quality documentation requirements, preview, and print.

Aerospace and Medical Users: The VMZ-S is commonly used in regulated manufacturing environments (AS9100, ISO 13485). Ensure your report layout captures all required traceability information — part number, lot, date, operator, equipment ID, and calibration status.

Chapter 9

VMZ-S System Variants

The VMZ-S bundle includes documentation for specialized system variants. These are separate machine configurations for specific measurement applications.

H3030 Model

The VMZ-S 15.0.0 bundle includes NEXIV_H3030model_en.pdf (214 KB) — an extended H3030 documentation package not included with VMA 15.0.0. The H3030 is a specialized NEXIV configuration for specific measurement applications. If your system has the H3030 designation, this document covers the hardware-specific setup and operating differences.

Type TZ

The VMZ-S bundle includes NEXIV_typeTZ_en.pdf (1,217 KB). The Type TZ is a specialized measurement configuration for specific part geometries or industry applications. This documentation is also in the VMA bundle, but is more commonly associated with VMZ-tier systems.

RI Model

The RI Model (NEXIV_RImodel_en.pdf) configuration is documented in both the VMA and VMZ-S bundles. The RI designation refers to a hardware variant for specific rotary or indexing measurement applications.

Chapter 10

Troubleshooting

Problem	Likely Cause	Solution
Software won't open — license error	Dongle not inserted	Insert dongle, wait for recognition, relaunch
Initialization error on startup	Software launched before controller ready	Close software, wait for joystick lights to go OFF, relaunch
Camera not recognized	Driver issue (unlikely on VMZ-S)	VMZ-S uses built-in interface — check controller connection and power
Measurements systematically wrong	Vision Processor Calibration outdated	Recalibrate at all magnification levels in use
Laser AF fails repeatedly	Calibration outdated or surface too reflective	Run Laser AF Calibration; enable Laser AF Retry Settings; check surface angle
Teaching Support tools incorrect	Insufficient image contrast	Improve illumination; increase magnification; use manual tool placement
Stage travels further than expected	Normal — VMZ-S has larger travel range	Ensure stage area is clear; check part fixturing to prevent movement
H3030 or Type TZ features not working	Variant configuration not enabled	Consult NEXIV_H3030model_en.pdf or NEXIV_typeTZ_en.pdf in your documentation bundle

Need the official Nikon documentation? The VMZ-S 15.0.0 bundle includes 22+ PDF manuals including the exclusive H3030 model guide. Check C:\ProgramData\NEXIVAutoMeasure\ on your machine. Visit our Downloads page for organized access to all official documentation.