I'm A Machinist

**ir a programmer** · 03-09-2011, 04:15 PM

Hi bosnjody,

Gentle? Right. Welcome to the forum.

You are correct, it is a basic thing, but alignments are also the most critical thing in an inspection program.

Your question prompts many questions from this side of the webz.
When creating feartures for the first alignment, are they
Manually created?
Learned (taught)?
DCC created?
Are they complete alignments? Plane, origin, rotate?
etc.

Regardless of the version, this sounds like an alignment issue. Without seeing the program code (and if you post it, it makes figuring things out a lot easier) I would guess one or more of the alignments near the front end are incorrect or recalling an incorrect or wrong alignment.

Why would you create new features when moving the part? If the first alignment is using properly created features that are on the actual part, it won't matter where the part is located.

Remember, nothing is gentle about inspection -

**Wes Cisco** · 03-09-2011, 04:22 PM

Howdy & Welcome to the forum,

I am a machinist too, or at least I was before I fell prey to pc-dmis.

You have the right idea, but if your program starts with manual hits and does not recall any saved alignments, then you should be able to
run the same code anywhere on the table, (provided there is ample room), without having to change anything. The whole point of the
manual hits is to the teach the CMM where the part is.

We really need to see your code to help here. Just from the first manual hit until just after the point it moves to the old location.

When you post it use the code html tages.

Type [code] then past your code and then type [/code] .

Code:

[COLOR=black]ROTLINE    =FEAT/LINE,CARTESIAN,UNBOUNDED,NO
            THEO/<0,-2.5,-4.6425>,<0,1,0>
            ACTL/<0.00007,-2.49997,-4.6298>,<0,1,0>
            CONSTR/LINE,BF,2D,TABLE_4,TABLE_2,,
            OUTLIER_REMOVAL/OFF,3
            FILTER/OFF,WAVELENGTH=0
3_2_1      =ALIGNMENT/START,RECALL:LEVEL,LIST=YES
            ALIGNMENT/LEVEL,ZPLUS,TABLE
            ALIGNMENT/ROTATE,YPLUS,TO,ROTLINE,ABOUT,ZPLUS
            ALIGNMENT/TRANS,XAXIS,CIRC
            ALIGNMENT/TRANS,YAXIS,CIRC
            ALIGNMENT/TRANS,ZAXIS,TABLE
            ALIGNMENT/END
            MOVE/POINT,NORMAL,PART,<0.00000,-2.50000,5.00000>When you post your code will be in a box and in the same format as the edit window, so it will be easier to read.  Like this:

[/COLOR]

**dph51** · 03-09-2011, 04:54 PM

Welcome. There are many ways to accomplish this.

1 example. If you had a part that had a rectangular base with two perpendicular edges:
Put cmm in manual mode
Measure plane on top. Level and set z = zero
Measure one side and rotate to that edge and set either x or y To zero.
Measure a point on the side perpendicular and set remaing coordinate to zero.

Put cmm into auto mode and start measuring features.

Save programs often.

You should be able to move part anywhere on the cmm and measure corectly.

Good luck and hold onto you senses, PCDMIS will drive you crazy.

**bosnjody** · 03-09-2011, 05:07 PM

Thanks All,

Here is code from another part, I need to move as well.
The original part I was posting about is being redone.
Can this one be moved?

Code:

PART NAME  : 04854
REV NUMBER : B
SER NUMBER : 
STATS COUNT : 1
 
STARTUP    =ALIGNMENT/START,RECALL:, LIST= YES
            ALIGNMENT/END
            MODE/DCC
            MOVESPEED/ 100
            LOADPROBE/3X20_10
            TIP/T1A90B-90, SHANKIJK=1, 0, 0, ANGLE=-90
            FORMAT/TEXT,OPTIONS,HEADINGS,SYMBOLS, ;NOM,MEAS,TOL,DEV,OUTTOL, , 
            MOVE/POINT,4.0885,3.5858,-3.124
            TIP/T1A0B0, SHANKIJK=0, 0, 1, ANGLE=0
PLN1       =FEAT/PLANE,RECT
            THEO/8.0189,3.0946,-14.0051,-0.0000249,-0.0001293,1
            ACTL/8.0187,3.0962,-14.0055,0.0001218,0.0000296,1
            MEAS/PLANE,4
            HIT/BASIC,7.2085,4.1406,-14.0049,-0.0000249,-0.0001293,1,7.2111,4.1361,-14.0054,USE THEO = YES
            HIT/BASIC,8.7384,4.1405,-14.0049,-0.0000249,-0.0001293,1,8.7355,4.1362,-14.0057,USE THEO = YES
            HIT/BASIC,8.9488,2.1481,-14.0051,-0.0000249,-0.0001293,1,8.946,2.1554,-14.0056,USE THEO = YES
            HIT/BASIC,7.1799,1.9492,-14.0053,-0.0000249,-0.0001293,1,7.1822,1.9573,-14.0054,USE THEO = YES
            ENDMEAS/
            MOVE/POINT,6.1115,1.6281,-13.8757
LIN1       =FEAT/LINE,RECT,UNBND
            THEO/6.1117,1.8433,-14.1238,0.9999955,-0.0029922,0
            ACTL/6.1139,1.8448,-14.1226,0.9999954,-0.0030299,0
            MEAS/LINE,2,WORKPLANE
            HIT/BASIC,6.1117,1.8433,-14.1238,-0.0029922,-0.9999955,0,6.1139,1.8448,-14.1226,USE THEO = YES
            HIT/BASIC,8.3001,1.8368,-14.1241,-0.0029922,-0.9999955,0,8.2971,1.8382,-14.1227,USE THEO = YES
            ENDMEAS/
            MOVE/POINT,9.6608,1.7084,-14.1242
LIN2       =FEAT/LINE,RECT,UNBND
            THEO/9.5225,2.5425,-14.1243,0.002723,0.9999963,0
            ACTL/9.5212,2.5418,-14.1228,0.0028756,0.9999959,0
            MEAS/LINE,2,WORKPLANE
            HIT/BASIC,9.5225,2.5425,-14.1243,0.9999963,-0.002723,0,9.5212,2.5418,-14.1228,USE THEO = YES
            HIT/BASIC,9.5255,3.6685,-14.1243,0.9999963,-0.002723,0,9.5245,3.6656,-14.1228,USE THEO = YES
            ENDMEAS/
            MOVE/POINT,9.6885,3.6689,-13.5624
A1         =ALIGNMENT/START,RECALL:STARTUP, LIST= YES
            ALIGNMENT/LEVEL,ZPLUS,PLN1
            ALIGNMENT/ROTATE,XPLUS,TO,LIN1,ABOUT,ZPLUS
            ALIGNMENT/TRANS,XAXIS,LIN2
            ALIGNMENT/TRANS,YAXIS,LIN1
            ALIGNMENT/TRANS,ZAXIS,PLN1
            ALIGNMENT/END
            MOVE/POINT,-1.0869,1.4125,0.443
CIR1       =FEAT/CIRCLE,RECT,IN,LEAST_SQR
            THEO/-1.2491,1.2498,-0.0179,0,0,1,1.9157
            ACTL/-1.2493,1.2495,-0.0166,0,0,1,1.9157
            MEAS/CIRCLE,4,WORKPLANE
            HIT/BASIC,-0.9832,2.17,-0.0179,-0.2776682,-0.960677,0,-0.9842,2.17,-0.0166,USE THEO = YES
            HIT/BASIC,-0.6207,1.9727,-0.018,-0.6561491,-0.7546312,0,-0.6189,1.9706,-0.0166,USE THEO = YES
            HIT/BASIC,-0.6375,0.5127,-0.0179,-0.6385149,0.7696095,0,-0.6351,0.5144,-0.0166,USE THEO = YES
            HIT/BASIC,-0.9272,0.3477,-0.0178,-0.3360786,0.9418339,0,-0.9273,0.3474,-0.0167,USE THEO = YES
            ENDMEAS/
DIM LOC1= LOCATION OF CIRCLE CIR1  UNITS=IN ,$
GRAPH=OFF  TEXT=OFF  MULT=1.00  OUTPUT=BOTH
AX  NOMINAL   MEAS     +TOL    -TOL     DEV    OUTTOL 
X   -1.2480  -1.2493  0.0050  0.0050  -0.0013  0.0000 ---#-----
Y    1.2500   1.2495  0.0050  0.0050  -0.0005  0.0000 ----#----
R    0.9560   0.9579  0.0015  0.0010   0.0019  0.0004 -------->
END OF DIMENSION LOC1

**ir a programmer** · 03-09-2011, 05:27 PM

Originally posted by bosnjody View Post

Thanks All,

Here is code from another part, I need to move as well.
The original part I was posting about is being redone.
Can this one be moved?

Code:

PART NAME : 04854
REV NUMBER : B
SER NUMBER : 
STATS COUNT : 1
 
STARTUP =ALIGNMENT/START,RECALL:, LIST= YES
ALIGNMENT/END
[COLOR=red][B]MODE/DCC[/B][/COLOR]
MOVESPEED/ 100
LOADPROBE/3X20_10
TIP/T1A90B-90, SHANKIJK=1, 0, 0, ANGLE=-90
FORMAT/TEXT,OPTIONS,HEADINGS,SYMBOLS, ;NOM,MEAS,TOL,DEV,OUTTOL, , 
[B][COLOR=blue]MOVE/POINT,4.0885,3.5858,-3.124[/COLOR][/B]
TIP/T1A0B0, SHANKIJK=0, 0, 1, ANGLE=0
PLN1 =FEAT/PLANE,RECT
THEO/8.0189,3.0946,-14.0051,-0.0000249,-0.0001293,1
ACTL/8.0187,3.0962,-14.0055,0.0001218,0.0000296,1
MEAS/PLANE,4
HIT/BASIC,7.2085,4.1406,-14.0049,-0.0000249,-0.0001293,1,7.2111,4.1361,-14.0054,USE THEO = YES
HIT/BASIC,8.7384,4.1405,-14.0049,-0.0000249,-0.0001293,1,8.7355,4.1362,-14.0057,USE THEO = YES
HIT/BASIC,8.9488,2.1481,-14.0051,-0.0000249,-0.0001293,1,8.946,2.1554,-14.0056,USE THEO = YES
HIT/BASIC,7.1799,1.9492,-14.0053,-0.0000249,-0.0001293,1,7.1822,1.9573,-14.0054,USE THEO = YES
ENDMEAS/
MOVE/POINT,6.1115,1.6281,-13.8757
LIN1 =FEAT/LINE,RECT,UNBND
THEO/6.1117,1.8433,-14.1238,0.9999955,-0.0029922,0
ACTL/6.1139,1.8448,-14.1226,0.9999954,-0.0030299,0
MEAS/LINE,2,WORKPLANE
HIT/BASIC,6.1117,1.8433,-14.1238,-0.0029922,-0.9999955,0,6.1139,1.8448,-14.1226,USE THEO = YES
HIT/BASIC,8.3001,1.8368,-14.1241,-0.0029922,-0.9999955,0,8.2971,1.8382,-14.1227,USE THEO = YES
ENDMEAS/
MOVE/POINT,9.6608,1.7084,-14.1242
LIN2 =FEAT/LINE,RECT,UNBND
THEO/9.5225,2.5425,-14.1243,0.002723,0.9999963,0
ACTL/9.5212,2.5418,-14.1228,0.0028756,0.9999959,0
MEAS/LINE,2,WORKPLANE
HIT/BASIC,9.5225,2.5425,-14.1243,0.9999963,-0.002723,0,9.5212,2.5418,-14.1228,USE THEO = YES
HIT/BASIC,9.5255,3.6685,-14.1243,0.9999963,-0.002723,0,9.5245,3.6656,-14.1228,USE THEO = YES
ENDMEAS/
MOVE/POINT,9.6885,3.6689,-13.5624
A1 =ALIGNMENT/START,RECALL:STARTUP, LIST= YES
ALIGNMENT/LEVEL,ZPLUS,PLN1
ALIGNMENT/ROTATE,XPLUS,TO,LIN1,ABOUT,ZPLUS
ALIGNMENT/TRANS,XAXIS,LIN2
ALIGNMENT/TRANS,YAXIS,LIN1
ALIGNMENT/TRANS,ZAXIS,PLN1
ALIGNMENT/END
MOVE/POINT,-1.0869,1.4125,0.443
CIR1 =FEAT/CIRCLE,RECT,IN,LEAST_SQR
THEO/-1.2491,1.2498,-0.0179,0,0,1,1.9157
ACTL/-1.2493,1.2495,-0.0166,0,0,1,1.9157
MEAS/CIRCLE,4,WORKPLANE
HIT/BASIC,-0.9832,2.17,-0.0179,-0.2776682,-0.960677,0,-0.9842,2.17,-0.0166,USE THEO = YES
HIT/BASIC,-0.6207,1.9727,-0.018,-0.6561491,-0.7546312,0,-0.6189,1.9706,-0.0166,USE THEO = YES
HIT/BASIC,-0.6375,0.5127,-0.0179,-0.6385149,0.7696095,0,-0.6351,0.5144,-0.0166,USE THEO = YES
HIT/BASIC,-0.9272,0.3477,-0.0178,-0.3360786,0.9418339,0,-0.9273,0.3474,-0.0167,USE THEO = YES
ENDMEAS/
DIM LOC1= LOCATION OF CIRCLE CIR1 UNITS=IN ,$
GRAPH=OFF TEXT=OFF MULT=1.00 OUTPUT=BOTH
AX NOMINAL MEAS +TOL -TOL DEV OUTTOL 
X -1.2480 -1.2493 0.0050 0.0050 -0.0013 0.0000 ---#-----
Y 1.2500 1.2495 0.0050 0.0050 -0.0005 0.0000 ----#----
R 0.9560 0.9579 0.0015 0.0010 0.0019 0.0004 -------->
END OF DIMENSION LOC1

The DCC command will move the probe to the next location, basing its origin on the initial machine alignment. This looks like what may be causing your issue. The software is doing what it is being told to do.

The first part alignment should be either an all-manual measurement followed by a duplicate DCC alignment or by starting the program by positioning the probe at a repetitive starting location (like a smallish bore), creating a READ POINT, making it the XYZ origin, then turning DCC on and measuring features to create a rough alignment, again followed by at least one additional DCC alignment.

This is not complicated, but it is not easy (nor recommended) to learn via this forum. Training in CMM methodologies as well as PCDMIS are paramount if someone going to be programming/measuring much of anything.

There are other possibilities as well, but there's not enough time or space here to type it all in, if you get my drift.

Training is needed, grasshopper (that is, if you are expected to troubleshoot a pre-written program when it doesn't operate as expected).

Added: You said the other part is being "redone".

What is being done to it?
Is the same programmer doing it?
If so, what makes you think it will be different?

**bosnjody** · 03-09-2011, 06:03 PM

I'm reprogramming the original part in it's new location. I figured I would have the same problem if I move it again. Oh well I picked this one to move first because it is a very simple program.

The one I posted I would rather not write over.
I posted it because I used the same process as to how I came up with the first alignment.
It sounds like I am missing the initial manual alignment in my programs and that is what is causing the problem. Is the one I posted fixable or do I take a mulligan on that one as well.

Is this the general process:

Do a manual alignment (leave unmarked for dcc run)
Create a dcc alignment with manual alignment as base
create program

Then when the part moves:

Mark manual alignment features
run program
do the manual alignment in new location
run program
Unmark manual alignment for dcc run

**Wes Cisco** · 03-10-2011, 08:37 AM

If you want to start with a manual alignment, the manual hits and manual alignment should occur before the "MODE/DCC" command in the program.

If you want to start in DCC, it is easy enough to do with a read point (ctrl+G). Here is the start of one of my programs using a readpoint.

Code:

COMMENT/OPER,NO,FULL SCREEN=YES,AUTO-CONTINUE=NO,
                                                            ,
                                                            ,
                                                            ,POSITION TIP OVER ODD HOLE OUT ON S1 POCKET
                                                            ,WITH BOTTOM OF RUBY FLUSH TO FACE AS SHOWN
                                                            ,FOR READPOINT!!!
                                                            ,
                                                            ,
                                                            ,
                                                            ,WHEN YOU PRESS DONE DCC BEGINS!!!
                                                            ,
                                                            ,
                                                            ,
                                                            ,
                                                            ,
                                                            ,
                                                            ,
            MODE/DCC
READ       =FEAT/POINT,CARTESIAN
            THEO/<13.8366,113.07797,-34.81886>,<0,0,1>
            ACTL/<13.83958,113.07553,-34.81718>,<0,0,1>
            READPOINT/
READPNT    =ALIGNMENT/START,RECALL:STARTUP,LIST=YES
            ALIGNMENT/TRANS,XAXIS,READ
            ALIGNMENT/TRANS,YAXIS,READ
            ALIGNMENT/TRANS,ZAXIS,READ
            ALIGNMENT/END
CIRC       =FEAT/CONTACT/CIRCLE,CARTESIAN,IN,LEAST_SQR
            THEO/<0,0,-0.1>,<0,0,1>,0.145
            ACTL/<0.00549,0.00602,-0.1>,<0,0,1>,0.15431
            TARG/<0,0,-0.1>,<0,0,1>
            START ANG=0,END ANG=360
            ANGLE VEC=<1,0,0>
            DIRECTION=CCW
            SHOW FEATURE PARAMETERS=NO
            SHOW CONTACT PARAMETERS=YES
              NUMHITS=5,DEPTH=0,PITCH=0
              SAMPLE HITS=0,SPACER=0
              AVOIDANCE MOVE=NO,DISTANCE=0
              FIND HOLE=DISABLED,ONERROR=NO,READ POS=NO
            SHOW HITS=NO
CIRCLE     =ALIGNMENT/START,RECALL:READPNT,LIST=YES
            ALIGNMENT/TRANS,XAXIS,CIRC
            ALIGNMENT/TRANS,YAXIS,CIRC
            ALIGNMENT/END
            MOVE/POINT,NORMAL,PART,<0.00000,0.00000,0.30000>
PLANE_1    =FEAT/CONTACT/VECTOR POINT,CARTESIAN
            THEO/<-0.07,0.23,0>,<0,0,1>
            ACTL/<-0.07,0.23,-0.04037>,<0,0,1>
            TARG/<-0.07,0.23,0>,<0,0,1>
            SNAP=YES
            SHOW FEATURE PARAMETERS=NO
            SHOW CONTACT PARAMETERS=YES
              AVOIDANCE MOVE=NO,DISTANCE=0
            SHOW HITS=NO
PLANE_2    =FEAT/CONTACT/VECTOR POINT,CARTESIAN
            THEO/<1.85,-1.46,0>,<0,0,1>
            ACTL/<1.85,-1.46,-0.03989>,<0,0,1>
            TARG/<1.85,-1.46,0>,<0,0,1>
            SNAP=YES
            SHOW FEATURE PARAMETERS=NO
            SHOW CONTACT PARAMETERS=YES
              AVOIDANCE MOVE=NO,DISTANCE=0
            SHOW HITS=NO
PLANE_3    =FEAT/CONTACT/VECTOR POINT,CARTESIAN
            THEO/<0.05,-3.43,0>,<0,0,1>
            ACTL/<0.05,-3.43,-0.03294>,<0,0,1>
            TARG/<0.05,-3.43,0>,<0,0,1>
            SNAP=YES
            SHOW FEATURE PARAMETERS=NO
            SHOW CONTACT PARAMETERS=YES
              AVOIDANCE MOVE=NO,DISTANCE=0
            SHOW HITS=NO
PLANE      =FEAT/PLANE,CARTESIAN,TRIANGLE,NO
            THEO/<0.61,-1.55333,0>,<0,0,1>
            ACTL/<0.61,-1.55333,-0.03773>,<0.0015806,0.0020811,0.9999966>
            CONSTR/PLANE,BF,PLANE_1,PLANE_2,PLANE_3,,
            OUTLIER_REMOVAL/OFF,3
            FILTER/OFF,WAVELENGTH=0
            MOVE/POINT,NORMAL,PART,<0.00000,0.00000,0.30000>
LEVEL      =ALIGNMENT/START,RECALL:CIRCLE,LIST=YES
            ALIGNMENT/LEVEL,ZPLUS,PLANE
            ALIGNMENT/TRANS,ZAXIS,PLANE
            ALIGNMENT/END

Then I go on to measure the feature that isolates rotation, (in this cased another circle that I then construct a line from the 1st circle to the second) and do a 3-2-1 alignment, level the plane, rotate to the line, set two axis origin on the circle and the last origin on the plane. Now I am ready to start measuring the datums for first actual DRF from the drawing.

HTH

**ir a programmer** · 03-10-2011, 11:00 AM

Originally posted by bosnjody View Post

I'm reprogramming the original part in it's new location. I figured I would have the same problem if I move it again. Oh well I picked this one to move first because it is a very simple program.

The one I posted I would rather not write over.
I posted it because I used the same process as to how I came up with the first alignment.
It sounds like I am missing the initial manual alignment in my programs and that is what is causing the problem. Is the one I posted fixable or do I take a mulligan on that one as well.

Is this the general process:

Do a manual alignment (leave unmarked for dcc run)
Create a dcc alignment with manual alignment as base
create program

Then when the part moves:

Mark manual alignment features
run program
do the manual alignment in new location
run program
Unmark manual alignment for dcc run

Originally posted by Wes Cisco View Post

If you want to start with a manual alignment, the manual hits and manual alignment should occur before the "MODE/DCC" command in the program.

If you want to start in DCC, it is easy enough to do with a read point (ctrl+G). Here is the start of one of my programs using a readpoint.

Code:

COMMENT/OPER,NO,FULL SCREEN=YES,AUTO-CONTINUE=NO,
,
,
,POSITION TIP OVER ODD HOLE OUT ON S1 POCKET
,WITH BOTTOM OF RUBY FLUSH TO FACE AS SHOWN
,FOR READPOINT!!!
,
,
,
,WHEN YOU PRESS DONE DCC BEGINS!!!
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
MODE/DCC
READ =FEAT/POINT,CARTESIAN
THEO/<13.8366,113.07797,-34.81886>,<0,0,1>
ACTL/<13.83958,113.07553,-34.81718>,<0,0,1>
READPOINT/
READPNT =ALIGNMENT/START,RECALL:STARTUP,LIST=YES
ALIGNMENT/TRANS,XAXIS,READ
ALIGNMENT/TRANS,YAXIS,READ
ALIGNMENT/TRANS,ZAXIS,READ
ALIGNMENT/END
CIRC =FEAT/CONTACT/CIRCLE,CARTESIAN,IN,LEAST_SQR
THEO/<0,0,-0.1>,<0,0,1>,0.145
ACTL/<0.00549,0.00602,-0.1>,<0,0,1>,0.15431
TARG/<0,0,-0.1>,<0,0,1>
START ANG=0,END ANG=360
ANGLE VEC=<1,0,0>
DIRECTION=CCW
SHOW FEATURE PARAMETERS=NO
SHOW CONTACT PARAMETERS=YES
NUMHITS=5,DEPTH=0,PITCH=0
SAMPLE HITS=0,SPACER=0
AVOIDANCE MOVE=NO,DISTANCE=0
FIND HOLE=DISABLED,ONERROR=NO,READ POS=NO
SHOW HITS=NO
CIRCLE =ALIGNMENT/START,RECALL:READPNT,LIST=YES
ALIGNMENT/TRANS,XAXIS,CIRC
ALIGNMENT/TRANS,YAXIS,CIRC
ALIGNMENT/END
MOVE/POINT,NORMAL,PART,<0.00000,0.00000,0.30000>
PLANE_1 =FEAT/CONTACT/VECTOR POINT,CARTESIAN
THEO/<-0.07,0.23,0>,<0,0,1>
ACTL/<-0.07,0.23,-0.04037>,<0,0,1>
TARG/<-0.07,0.23,0>,<0,0,1>
SNAP=YES
SHOW FEATURE PARAMETERS=NO
SHOW CONTACT PARAMETERS=YES
AVOIDANCE MOVE=NO,DISTANCE=0
SHOW HITS=NO
PLANE_2 =FEAT/CONTACT/VECTOR POINT,CARTESIAN
THEO/<1.85,-1.46,0>,<0,0,1>
ACTL/<1.85,-1.46,-0.03989>,<0,0,1>
TARG/<1.85,-1.46,0>,<0,0,1>
SNAP=YES
SHOW FEATURE PARAMETERS=NO
SHOW CONTACT PARAMETERS=YES
AVOIDANCE MOVE=NO,DISTANCE=0
SHOW HITS=NO
PLANE_3 =FEAT/CONTACT/VECTOR POINT,CARTESIAN
THEO/<0.05,-3.43,0>,<0,0,1>
ACTL/<0.05,-3.43,-0.03294>,<0,0,1>
TARG/<0.05,-3.43,0>,<0,0,1>
SNAP=YES
SHOW FEATURE PARAMETERS=NO
SHOW CONTACT PARAMETERS=YES
AVOIDANCE MOVE=NO,DISTANCE=0
SHOW HITS=NO
PLANE =FEAT/PLANE,CARTESIAN,TRIANGLE,NO
THEO/<0.61,-1.55333,0>,<0,0,1>
ACTL/<0.61,-1.55333,-0.03773>,<0.0015806,0.0020811,0.9999966>
CONSTR/PLANE,BF,PLANE_1,PLANE_2,PLANE_3,,
OUTLIER_REMOVAL/OFF,3
FILTER/OFF,WAVELENGTH=0
MOVE/POINT,NORMAL,PART,<0.00000,0.00000,0.30000>
LEVEL =ALIGNMENT/START,RECALL:CIRCLE,LIST=YES
ALIGNMENT/LEVEL,ZPLUS,PLANE
ALIGNMENT/TRANS,ZAXIS,PLANE
ALIGNMENT/END

Then I go on to measure the feature that isolates rotation, (in this cased another circle that I then construct a line from the 1st circle to the second) and do a 3-2-1 alignment, level the plane, rotate to the line, set two axis origin on the circle and the last origin on the plane. Now I am ready to start measuring the datums for first actual DRF from the drawing.

HTH

Your general process as described will work fine, but if you want to skip all the marking/unmarking, and never have to worry about where the part is located, do it the way Wes laid out (which is also the way I briefly described programming using a READ point). That is the way all the programs here are started.

As I also said, this is the stuff taught in the basic class. You really should go if this is going to be a part of your regular job.

**bosnjody** · 03-15-2011, 12:48 PM

Thanks All! I will give this a try. I'm helping out a buddy right now. If this inspection becomes a little more regular, I will push to get some schooling. Thanks again.

**Franklins** · 03-29-2011, 12:57 AM

?

Hello,

Im very new this game called pcdimis..... I went to the level 1 class and have about 2 weeks on the job. Im a machinist also! Let's say I make a fixture to locate my parts in the same spot everytime (as I would to machine the part), I do my manual alignment then dcc alignment..... Can I mark my manual alignment, crtl q, and rock n roll using just the dcc afterwards? I have hundreds of parts to run and doing a manual everytime would get old.. Anyone have any advice? Can someone go more indepth with the readpoint?

**John Kingston** · 03-29-2011, 02:45 AM

Originally posted by Franklins View Post

Hello,

Im very new this game called pcdimis..... I went to the level 1 class and have about 2 weeks on the job. Im a machinist also! Let's say I make a fixture to locate my parts in the same spot everytime (as I would to machine the part), I do my manual alignment then dcc alignment..... Can I mark my manual alignment, crtl q, and rock n roll using just the dcc afterwards? I have hundreds of parts to run and doing a manual everytime would get old.. Anyone have any advice? Can someone go more indepth with the readpoint?

Try searching readpoint
But this post should help.

You could also write a seperate program aligning to the fixture. Save as an external alignment and then recall that external alignment in the part program.
Run the fixture alignment any time you remove it and put it back on.

OR, you could use IF/GOTO statments and labels to skip the manual alignment.

**John Kingston** · 03-29-2011, 02:46 AM

This is the post I linkyed above.

Originally posted by Wes Cisco View Post

Readpoint ( ctrl + G )

I begin all of my programs with a read point now, and I have no dedicated fixtures. Pick a spot, ( I usually center over a hole with the edge of the ruby flush to the face the hole is in), but it could be a point in space say .25 above a surface and in line with a couple of other features. Use a comment to tell where to position the probe, then when the operator presses done, dcc begins. Create an alignment with that read point for origins only. Use a healthy prehit & retract as you begin to measure some features in relation to that readpoint. Best to level something first, then measure features to rotate & set origins. I often use non-datum features for this "first" alignment, then reduce prehit/retract and measure the first DRF I need. From there it is just the same as if you had done a manual alignment.

With this method you can put the part anywhere on the table the next time, provided it is oriented to the machine axis in the same way, and run.

+1 on the camera tip. I take photos of all my setups, and often where to position the probe for the readpoint. I do not embed these into the program, (although it is easy to do if you want), but I store them in the same file as the program and mention in the opening comments that they are available if needed. That way you don't have to look at them every time you execute, or fiddle with marking and unmarking, if you don't need them.

HTH

I'm A Machinist

I'm A Machinist

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