Dia. of Cylinder

[Sl33stak]

I am measuring a cylinder in autofeatures. 3 rows, 6 hits per row. How can I dimension the diameter of the cylinder at the three heights it is being measured at? Make sense?

[Mike N.]

I would just meas 3 separate circ's then dim them separate, then construct the cyl from the 3 and dimension it.

[Jan d.]

What Mike said...

[Sl33stak]

I would too....but the program is already written, I was hoping I could pull the dimensions I needed from teh existing program.

[T Miller]

You might be able to make a plane at each of the hit levels and make a dia at each level

[cmmguy]

Or construct three diameters using the points from each level.

[Matthew D. Hoedeman]

You might be able to make a plane at each of the hit levels and make a dia at each level

I don't think that will work because it will create the circles based upon the calculated diameter of the cylinder, they will all be the same.

Can you do it using variables? This would be more time consuming I think that making 3 circles, then the cylinder from those circles. You can assign each hit to a variable, then to generic points, then construct circles from those points. Maybe even construct a circle direct from the points, not sure of the exact syntax, but I'll bet someone knows. Hey Craiger, you got a handle on this one?

[T Miller]

I guess I was thinking more of a cone.

[JIM HARRIS]

There used to be a script on the wilcox site that would pull points from auto features.then you could construct what you needed from those points.

[T Miller]

Its called topoints I think in the script area

[MrComment]

STARTUP    =ALIGNMENT/START,RECALL:,LIST=YES
            ALIGNMENT/END
            MODE/MANUAL
            FORMAT/TEXT,OPTIONS, ,HEADINGS,SYMBOLS, ;NOM,TOL,MEAS,DEV,OUTTOL, , 
            LOADPROBE/20X4X20
            TIP/T1A0B0, SHANKIJK=0, 0, 1, ANGLE=0
CYL1       =AUTO/CYLINDER,SHOWALLPARAMS = NO,SHOWHITS = YES
            THEO/1649.342,390.944,1679.484,0.2499315,-0.9677349,0.0319912,69.13,0
            ACTL/1649.342,390.944,1679.484,0.2499315,-0.9677349,0.0319912,69.13,90
            TARG/1649.342,390.944,1679.484,0.2499315,-0.9677349,0.0319912
            MEAS/CYLINDER
            HIT/BASIC,1631.237,478.04,1642.32,-0.1269641,0,0.9919073,1631.237,478.04,1642.32
            HIT/BASIC,1657.776,485.583,1663.14,-0.8947827,-0.218213,0.3895472,1657.776,485.583,1663.14
            HIT/BASIC,1653.388,485.583,1697.425,-0.7678186,-0.218213,-0.6023601,1653.388,485.583,1697.425
            HIT/BASIC,1622.46,478.04,1710.89,0.1269641,0,-0.9919073,1622.46,478.04,1710.89
            HIT/BASIC,1595.92,470.498,1690.069,0.8947827,0.218213,-0.3895472,1595.92,470.498,1690.069
            HIT/BASIC,1600.309,470.498,1655.784,0.7678186,0.218213,0.6023601,1600.309,470.498,1655.784
            HIT/BASIC,1607.806,441.466,1656.744,0.7678186,0.218213,0.6023601,1607.806,441.466,1656.744
            HIT/BASIC,1603.418,441.466,1691.029,0.8947827,0.218213,-0.3895472,1603.418,441.466,1691.029
            HIT/BASIC,1629.958,449.008,1711.85,0.1269641,0,-0.9919073,1629.958,449.008,1711.85
            HIT/BASIC,1660.886,456.551,1698.385,-0.7678186,-0.218213,-0.6023601,1660.886,456.551,1698.385
            HIT/BASIC,1665.274,456.551,1664.1,-0.8947827,-0.218213,0.3895472,1665.274,456.551,1664.1
            HIT/BASIC,1638.735,449.008,1643.279,-0.1269641,0,0.9919073,1638.735,449.008,1643.279
            HIT/BASIC,1646.233,419.976,1644.239,-0.1269641,0,0.9919073,1646.233,419.976,1644.239
            HIT/BASIC,1672.772,427.519,1665.06,-0.8947827,-0.218213,0.3895472,1672.772,427.519,1665.06
            HIT/BASIC,1668.384,427.519,1699.345,-0.7678186,-0.218213,-0.6023601,1668.384,427.519,1699.345
            HIT/BASIC,1637.456,419.976,1712.81,0.1269641,0,-0.9919073,1637.456,419.976,1712.81
            HIT/BASIC,1610.916,412.434,1691.989,0.8947827,0.218213,-0.3895472,1610.916,412.434,1691.989
            HIT/BASIC,1615.304,412.434,1657.704,0.7678186,0.218213,0.6023601,1615.304,412.434,1657.704
            ENDMEAS/
$$ NO,Level 1 Cylinder 1
PNT1       =FEAT/POINT,RECT
            THEO/1631.237,478.04,1642.32,-0.1269641,0,0.9919073
            ACTL/1631.237,478.04,1642.32,-0.126964,0,0.9919073
            CONSTR/POINT,CAST,CYL1.HIT[1]
PNT2       =FEAT/POINT,RECT
            THEO/1657.776,485.583,1663.14,-0.8947827,-0.218213,0.3895472
            ACTL/1657.776,485.583,1663.14,-0.8947827,-0.218213,0.3895473
            CONSTR/POINT,CAST,CYL1.HIT[2]
PNT3       =FEAT/POINT,RECT
            THEO/1653.388,485.583,1697.425,-0.7678186,-0.218213,-0.6023601
            ACTL/1653.388,485.583,1697.425,-0.7678187,-0.218213,-0.60236
            CONSTR/POINT,CAST,CYL1.HIT[3]
PNT4       =FEAT/POINT,RECT
            THEO/1622.46,478.04,1710.89,0.1269641,0,-0.9919073
            ACTL/1622.46,478.04,1710.89,0.126964,0,-0.9919073
            CONSTR/POINT,CAST,CYL1.HIT[4]
PNT5       =FEAT/POINT,RECT
            THEO/1595.92,470.498,1690.069,0.8947827,0.218213,-0.3895472
            ACTL/1595.92,470.498,1690.069,0.8947827,0.218213,-0.3895473
            CONSTR/POINT,CAST,CYL1.HIT[5]
PNT6       =FEAT/POINT,RECT
            THEO/1600.309,470.498,1655.784,0.7678186,0.218213,0.6023601
            ACTL/1600.309,470.498,1655.784,0.7678187,0.218213,0.60236
            CONSTR/POINT,CAST,CYL1.HIT[6]
PLN1       =FEAT/PLANE,RECT,TRIANGLE
            THEO/1626.848,478.04,1676.605,-0.2499315,0.9677349,-0.0319912
            ACTL/1626.848,478.04,1676.605,-0.2499315,0.9677349,-0.0319912
            CONSTR/PLANE,BF,PNT1,PNT2,PNT3,PNT4,PNT5,PNT6,,
            OUTLIER_REMOVAL/OFF,3
            FILTER/OFF,WAVELENGTH=0
A1         =ALIGNMENT/START,RECALL:STARTUP,LIST=YES
            ALIGNMENT/LEVEL,ZPLUS,PLN1
            ALIGNMENT/TRANS,XAXIS,CYL1
            ALIGNMENT/TRANS,YAXIS,CYL1
            ALIGNMENT/TRANS,ZAXIS,PLN1
            ALIGNMENT/END
CIR1       =FEAT/CIRCLE,RECT,OUT,LEAST_SQR
            THEO/0,0,0,0,0,1,69.13
            ACTL/0,0,0,0,0,1,69.13
            CONSTR/CIRCLE,BF,PNT1,PNT2,PNT3,PNT4,PNT5,PNT6,,
            OUTLIER_REMOVAL/OFF,3
            FILTER/OFF,UPR=0
            RECALL/ALIGNMENT,INTERNAL,STARTUP
$$ NO,Level 2 Cylinder 1
PNT7       =FEAT/POINT,RECT
            THEO/1607.806,441.466,1656.744,0.7678186,0.218213,0.6023601
            ACTL/1607.806,441.466,1656.744,0.7678187,0.218213,0.60236
            CONSTR/POINT,CAST,CYL1.HIT[7]
PNT8       =FEAT/POINT,RECT
            THEO/1603.418,441.466,1691.029,0.8947827,0.218213,-0.3895472
            ACTL/1603.418,441.466,1691.029,0.8947827,0.218213,-0.3895473
            CONSTR/POINT,CAST,CYL1.HIT[8]
PNT9       =FEAT/POINT,RECT
            THEO/1629.958,449.008,1711.85,0.1269641,0,-0.9919073
            ACTL/1629.958,449.008,1711.85,0.126964,0,-0.9919073
            CONSTR/POINT,CAST,CYL1.HIT[9]
PNT10      =FEAT/POINT,RECT
            THEO/1660.886,456.551,1698.385,-0.7678186,-0.218213,-0.6023601
            ACTL/1660.886,456.551,1698.385,-0.7678187,-0.218213,-0.60236
            CONSTR/POINT,CAST,CYL1.HIT[10]
PNT11      =FEAT/POINT,RECT
            THEO/1665.274,456.551,1664.1,-0.8947827,-0.218213,0.3895472
            ACTL/1665.274,456.551,1664.1,-0.8947827,-0.218213,0.3895473
            CONSTR/POINT,CAST,CYL1.HIT[11]
PNT12      =FEAT/POINT,RECT
            THEO/1638.735,449.008,1643.279,-0.1269641,0,0.9919073
            ACTL/1638.735,449.008,1643.279,-0.126964,0,0.9919073
            CONSTR/POINT,CAST,CYL1.HIT[12]
PLN2       =FEAT/PLANE,RECT,TRIANGLE
            THEO/1634.346,449.008,1677.565,-0.2499315,0.9677349,-0.0319912
            ACTL/1634.346,449.008,1677.565,-0.2499315,0.9677349,-0.0319912
            CONSTR/PLANE,BF,PNT7,PNT8,PNT9,PNT10,PNT11,PNT12,,
            OUTLIER_REMOVAL/OFF,3
            FILTER/OFF,WAVELENGTH=0
A2         =ALIGNMENT/START,RECALL:STARTUP,LIST=YES
            ALIGNMENT/LEVEL,ZPLUS,PLN2
            ALIGNMENT/TRANS,XAXIS,CYL1
            ALIGNMENT/TRANS,YAXIS,CYL1
            ALIGNMENT/TRANS,ZAXIS,PLN2
            ALIGNMENT/END
CIR2       =FEAT/CIRCLE,RECT,OUT,LEAST_SQR
            THEO/0,0,0,0,0,1,69.13
            ACTL/0,0,0,0,0,1,69.13
            CONSTR/CIRCLE,BF,PNT7,PNT8,PNT9,PNT10,PNT11,PNT12,,
            OUTLIER_REMOVAL/OFF,3
            FILTER/OFF,UPR=0
            RECALL/ALIGNMENT,INTERNAL,STARTUP
$$ NO,Level 3 Cylinder 1
PNT13      =FEAT/POINT,RECT
            THEO/1646.233,419.976,1644.239,-0.1269641,0,0.9919073
            ACTL/1646.233,419.976,1644.239,-0.126964,0,0.9919073
            CONSTR/POINT,CAST,CYL1.HIT[13]
PNT14      =FEAT/POINT,RECT
            THEO/1672.772,427.519,1665.06,-0.8947827,-0.218213,0.3895472
            ACTL/1672.772,427.519,1665.06,-0.8947827,-0.218213,0.3895473
            CONSTR/POINT,CAST,CYL1.HIT[14]
PNT15      =FEAT/POINT,RECT
            THEO/1668.384,427.519,1699.345,-0.7678186,-0.218213,-0.6023601
            ACTL/1668.384,427.519,1699.345,-0.7678187,-0.218213,-0.60236
            CONSTR/POINT,CAST,CYL1.HIT[15]
PNT16      =FEAT/POINT,RECT
            THEO/1637.456,419.976,1712.81,0.1269641,0,-0.9919073
            ACTL/1637.456,419.976,1712.81,0.126964,0,-0.9919073
            CONSTR/POINT,CAST,CYL1.HIT[16]
PNT17      =FEAT/POINT,RECT
            THEO/1610.916,412.434,1691.989,0.8947827,0.218213,-0.3895472
            ACTL/1610.916,412.434,1691.989,0.8947827,0.218213,-0.3895473
            CONSTR/POINT,CAST,CYL1.HIT[17]
PNT18      =FEAT/POINT,RECT
            THEO/1615.304,412.434,1657.704,0.7678186,0.218213,0.6023601
            ACTL/1615.304,412.434,1657.704,0.7678187,0.218213,0.60236
            CONSTR/POINT,CAST,CYL1.HIT[18]
PLN3       =FEAT/PLANE,RECT,TRIANGLE
            THEO/1641.844,419.976,1678.524,-0.2499315,0.9677349,-0.0319912
            ACTL/1641.844,419.976,1678.524,-0.2499315,0.9677349,-0.0319912
            CONSTR/PLANE,BF,PNT13,PNT14,PNT15,PNT16,PNT17,PNT18,,
            OUTLIER_REMOVAL/OFF,3
            FILTER/OFF,WAVELENGTH=0
A3         =ALIGNMENT/START,RECALL:STARTUP,LIST=YES
            ALIGNMENT/LEVEL,ZPLUS,PLN3
            ALIGNMENT/TRANS,XAXIS,CYL1
            ALIGNMENT/TRANS,YAXIS,CYL1
            ALIGNMENT/TRANS,ZAXIS,PLN3
            ALIGNMENT/END
CIR3       =FEAT/CIRCLE,RECT,OUT,LEAST_SQR
            THEO/0,0,0,0,0,1,69.13
            ACTL/0,0,0,0,0,1,69.13
            CONSTR/CIRCLE,BF,PNT13,PNT14,PNT15,PNT16,PNT17,PNT18,,
            OUTLIER_REMOVAL/OFF,3
            FILTER/OFF,UPR=0
            RECALL/ALIGNMENT,INTERNAL,STARTUP

More or less how you can do it.

1. Extract your hits to Constructed Points so your Theo and Actuals are avaliable.

2. Level to the Hit points on each measured set.

3. Construct a Circle from each set of hits points.

[John Kingston]

MRCOMMENT,
Excellent approach. I thought there was something like this and was looking.
You taught me something new today!! Rep points to you. (I miss rep. points)
John

[Wes Cisco]

Great post Mr. Comment. I have added this to my notes for future reference. This is probably the best way, but . . .


Would not using the axis start, axis end, and axis average from the true position window do almost the same thing? I use axis start and axis end sometimes to look at location of both ends of a cylinder. I have experimented with this verses measuring two separate circles and the results are very nearly identical, but I was not looking at size when I did those comparisons.

I think John's idea of intersecting planes would also yield the same results and possibly with less code.

[#2#]

Well, it isn't anything fancy but I would find the point in the program where the cylinder is measured. Add 3 circles in right after the cylinder before any moves etc. (yes, essentially measure the cylinder twice) and dimension these circles. That way, your original cylinder is still there for other dimensions, etc. and you won't screw up the existing program.

Then, if you want, do a save as and save it with a name such as xxxxxx-mod-Sl33stak. Then, it should be obvious it is not the original program and who to ask about it if there are questions.

Of course, if you want to reduce run time and like fancy stuff (who doesn't) then this isn't the best option.