A couple users have stated that they almost always answer YES when PC DMIS asks to Update Program to new Alignment when making an alignment change. I have always said no. I am trying to understand how YES is good because I would love to answer YES and be done with it. However, please consider the following simple scenario.
Part Program Revision: Radius Cutout added for clearance. I want to translate alignment to center of Radius and grab radial points to define this new radius. So:
I scroll to a logical place in program where the slot can be captured with minimal CMM Movement and I enter a translation to the new alignment coordinates for the new Radius. PC DMIS asks me if I want to update program to new alignment.
From Here I say NO. Presumably others would say YES.
I capture the Radius and recall the Initial Alignment saying NO to every alignment update (if any). Works great.
Now, If I had said YES then PC DMIS would change everything until the next RECALL Command. PC DMIS would continue doing this until I recalled the initial Alignment and would then ask me again. Presumabl;y I would say yes and then everything would be written cack to the program as it was before I did anything?
That is where I take exception. If it was definitely correct before I did anything then I personally do not see the advantage of having PC DMIS calculate changes etc only to go back to where I was in the first place and then 'trust' that everything is exactly as it was. Basically, 'If it ain't broke then why fix it'? Besides, as much as we might argue the point, internal translations and rotations are not perfect and the end result is almost certainly guaranteed to be different from the initial starting point. BTW, for me the undo button has proven not to be a perfect undo.
Now I can see if I make a mistake and forget to change alignment etc and want to translate afterward. Then I recall the Current Alignment, go back and change to desired alignment and press OK. PC DMIS updates until the Recall Command and I have fixed my error.
Please, if there is an advantage to using this regularly I would like to understand it. Especially since it appears in the later versions of PC DMIS you can tell PC DMIS not to ask you this question anymore.
Thanks in advance,
Bill
Part Program Revision: Radius Cutout added for clearance. I want to translate alignment to center of Radius and grab radial points to define this new radius. So:
I scroll to a logical place in program where the slot can be captured with minimal CMM Movement and I enter a translation to the new alignment coordinates for the new Radius. PC DMIS asks me if I want to update program to new alignment.
From Here I say NO. Presumably others would say YES.
I capture the Radius and recall the Initial Alignment saying NO to every alignment update (if any). Works great.
Now, If I had said YES then PC DMIS would change everything until the next RECALL Command. PC DMIS would continue doing this until I recalled the initial Alignment and would then ask me again. Presumabl;y I would say yes and then everything would be written cack to the program as it was before I did anything?
That is where I take exception. If it was definitely correct before I did anything then I personally do not see the advantage of having PC DMIS calculate changes etc only to go back to where I was in the first place and then 'trust' that everything is exactly as it was. Basically, 'If it ain't broke then why fix it'? Besides, as much as we might argue the point, internal translations and rotations are not perfect and the end result is almost certainly guaranteed to be different from the initial starting point. BTW, for me the undo button has proven not to be a perfect undo.
Now I can see if I make a mistake and forget to change alignment etc and want to translate afterward. Then I recall the Current Alignment, go back and change to desired alignment and press OK. PC DMIS updates until the Recall Command and I have fixed my error.
Please, if there is an advantage to using this regularly I would like to understand it. Especially since it appears in the later versions of PC DMIS you can tell PC DMIS not to ask you this question anymore.
Thanks in advance,
Bill
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