expressions and variables

[Jonathan S]

Okay, I've been avoiding this long enough, I need to learn to calculate and report a value using the value from measured feature in one axis and then applying a formula to that value (ie + or - material thickness) I would like to be able to enter the value for the material thickness. I have no clue where to start. If any of you have time, I would like a step by step procedure. these are the steps I need:

• Create a variable which uses a value entered by the operator
  Create a variable using the measured value for one axis of a feature
  Create a formula which adds or subtracts one variable from the other
  Output the result in the report page as a measured dimension

TIA

[cmmguy]

5 similar threads on variables, have you checked those first
See below.

[NZ CMM Girl]

I know how you feel, but there comes a time in every young programmers life.... No really - it's not that hard!!

STEP 1 - Measure your feature...

PLN1 =AUTO/PLANE,SHOWALLPARAMS = YES,SHOWHITS = NO
THEO/0,0,5,0,0,1
ACTL/0,0,5,0,0,1
TARG/0,0,5,0,0,1
THEO_THICKNESS = 0,RECT,TRIANGLE,$
AUTO MOVE = NO,DISTANCE = 0,RMEAS = None,None,None,$
NUMHITS = 2,NUMROWS = 2,SPACER = 10,SQUARE,$
ANGLE VEC = 1,0,0

then assign a variable name to axis value that you want to use.

ASSIGN/ZAXIS_VAL = PLN1.Z

Step 2 - Use an input comment to collect a value from the operator...

CMT1 =COMMENT/INPUT,NO,'Please enter material thickness'

then assign a variable name to the comment input.

ASSIGN/MAT_THICK = CMT1.INPUT

Step 3 - Use the variable names in a formula and assign a variable name to the result of your formula.

ASSIGN/FORMULA1 = ZAXIS_VAL-MAT_THICK

Step 4 - Create a generic feature using the variable name as a measured value...

FEAT1 =GENERIC/NONE,DEPENDENT,RECT,OUT,$
NOM/XYZ,0,0,4,$
MEAS/XYZ,0,0,FORMULA1,$
NOM/IJK,0,0,1,$
MEAS/IJK,0,0,1,$
RADIUS/0,0,$
ANGLE/0,0,$
DISTANCE/0,0

then dimension your generic feature in the usual way.

DIM DIM1= LOCATION OF PLANE FEAT1 UNITS=MM ,$
GRAPH=OFF TEXT=OFF MULT=10.00 OUTPUT=BOTH
AX MEAS NOMINAL +TOL -TOL DEV OUTTOL
Z 4.500 4.000 0.000 0.000 0.500 0.500 -------->
END OF DIMENSION DIM1

Ta da!!

[Paul Barriage]

If you are trying to adjust a thickness on a measured point by hand entered thickness, this is another option.

C1 =COMMENT/INPUT,NO,'Metal thickness?'
ASSIGN/V1 = C1.INPUT*-1
PNT1 =AUTO/VECTOR POINT,SHOWALLPARAMS = YES
THEO/1284.422,-670.349,95.2,0,0,1
ACTL/1284.422,-670.349,95.2,0,0,1
TARG/1284.422,-670.349,93.2,0,0,1
ACTL_THICKNESS = V1,RECT,SNAP = NO,$
AUTO MOVE = BOTH,DISTANCE = 3
DIM D1= LOCATION OF POINT PNT1 UNITS=MM ,$
GRAPH=OFF TEXT=OFF MULT=10.00 OUTPUT=BOTH
AX NOMINAL +TOL -TOL MEAS DEV OUTTOL
X 1284.422 0.000 0.000 1284.422 0.000 0.000 ----#----
Y -670.349 0.000 0.000 -670.349 0.000 0.000 ----#----
Z 95.200 0.000 0.000 95.200 0.000 0.000 ----#----
T 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 ----#----
END OF DIMENSION D1


Note, to get the nominals to change, you would need to change the ACT thickness of the point to THEO.

The number that comes with the feature is replaced by the variable in the edit window, not the autofeature window.


Just another perspective.

[Jonathan S]

Thanks