Flip variable values

[A-machine-insp]

I am writing 2 programs for one part and I can't access the datums when I flip the part for program 2. I am going to create generic features based on common features and have the locations set by measurements from those features to the datums in program 1 which will then be entered into input comments at the top of program 2. For simplicity, the comment is going to ask the operator to input the value exactly as shown but I will need the value flipped (+ to - and - to +) in program 2. How do I get DMIS to flip it?

FYI, I am not using these features in the alignments.

I hope my explanation is adequate enough.

[DAN_M]

Create variables that take the operator's input and multiple it by "-1" ?

Sorry my friend, I don't entirely understand what you're asking for but PC DMIS can easily handle turning a positive number into a negative

[A-machine-insp]

DAN_M Thanks. I completely forgot about doing that.

I can't access the datums for program 2 but I have features that can be accessed from both sides. I am going to create the datums from the common features but offset them or make generic features. To get the datum locations correct I need to use the actual measurements from the features to the datums in program 1 to set the datums in program 2 correctly.

I'll see if I can draw up an example later today. Explaining what I'm thinking isn't my strength. I know what I need to do, trying to explain it is the hard part for me. The logic is solid, I just need to get the numbers in program 2 correctly.

[DAN_M]

I think I get it now.

You should be able to automate the entire thing.

Measure side one. Hold desired values in variables.

Create generic features based upon variable input.

Measure side 2.

[A-machine-insp]

@DAN_M Here is a crude example. I need to input the actual location of the common hole from Datum C so I can offset my generic/constructed feature and have a datum for side 2 in the datums' actual location. Being that the part will be flipped over, the value (+/-) will be opposite of what is reported in program 1. For simplicity, I want the operator to input exactly what is reported in program 1 and I will have DMIS do the work from there.

Even though the example has the hole off to the side, in the reality of the part I am working on, the hole is nominally centered on Datum C. That's why I don't want the operator to have to think, just enter it as shown and the program will do the work.

Capture.JPG

[NinjaBadger]

I actually did this very recently, but I wrote the values (offset from the feature I could access to the feature I couldn't) out to a file, then in the second program read them in.

Just be careful, you may only need to flip one of them (in my case the datum was a blind bore, so I measure the OD and wrote out the x and y deviations) When I flipped the part I measured the OD then offset by the variable values, but only needed to flip the Y value (the X value remained the same (or technically I guess I had to flip it twice).

[A-machine-insp]

@NinjaBadger That is exactly what I'm doing. I will control the +/- in the program and it will work correctly as long as the numbers are entered as reported in program 1. This program will run on all of our 5 machines and I don't want to worry about a file out. I just want the operator to run program 1, write the numbers down, enter them as reported in program 2, and run program 2. No thinking involved, just follow directions.