Variables Etc

[Wingman]

Where is the best place for information on using variables? To date I have not used the variables in PC DMIS. I have used them before in other CMM Software but not PC DMIS. In fact, when I first did my training on PC DMIS is asked about them and was told everything had to be done in Visual Basic so I forgot about it. I see that isn't so.
At this point all I would really like to know are some fundamentals
1) I want to be able to assign Feature Names with Variables
2) I want to be able to write the results of my calculations to the Report.
I need a good place to find information on all features / functions available. We have PC DMIS CAD V3.73
Thanks,
Bill

[inspector212]

Have you looked in the help files?

[John Kingston]

Here is one way I use them. I have 2 fixtures that stay on the machine. I run a program that saves their alignment. I then recall whichever alignment I am running a part in. I still use a part alignment after that, but it gets me close.

C1         =COMMENT/INPUT,Enter FIX1 for FIXTURE 1,
                         ,FIX2 for FIXTURE 2.
            ASSIGN/V1 = C1.INPUT
            RECALL/ALIGNMENT,EXTERNAL,V1,FIX2:fix2

This is to get 1/2 angle on a cone.

            ASSIGN/V2 = ABS(180-F1.A.MEAS)/2
F2         =GENERIC/NONE,DEPENDENT,RECT,OUT,$
            NOM/XYZ,0,0,0,$
            MEAS/XYZ,0,0,0,$
            NOM/IJK,0,0,1,$
            MEAS/IJK,0,0,1,$
            RADIUS/0,0,$
            ANGLE/20,V2,$
            DISTANCE/0,0
DIM D10= LOCATION OF PLANE F2  UNITS=IN ,$
GRAPH=OFF  TEXT=OFF  MULT=1.00  OUTPUT=BOTH
AX  NOMINAL    +TOL     -TOL     MEAS    OUTTOL 
A   20.0000   0.5000   0.5000  20.1082   0.0000 -#-
END OF DIMENSION D10

You are limited only by your imagination. These are just some simple examples.

[cmmguy]

Becareful with feature names and variables... very not so funny things happen if you cut and paste

[bob mappes]

a lesson I just learned last week......

in the variables when doing Trig...angles are in "Radians"

BUT, you can do an assignment to convert to/from degrees

DEG2RAD
RAD2DEG

ASSIGN V1 = DEG2RAD(30)
ASSIGN V2 = SIN(V1) = .5 when your cursor is over the line

HTH
bob

[Underspec]

Variables are buggy with comments. Insert your variable, then your comment, then go back and change the variable to make sure your variable in your comment changes along with it.

Using the |Insert|V=Assignment| menu helps alot with what you need. It basically walks you through.

[craiger_ny]

assign a variable > place your cursor in the assignment > hit F9

You will get a dialog of a lot of information that can be placed in a variable assignment. Like VB I am not sure you can just learn it without having a particular problem to solve. If you have a problem/application that can not be solved then you will have a proper fit for coding. I know that is not the best answer but if you find yourself saying "man I wish PCDMIS could do this, or that or I wish there was a menu for this" then you are in the right situation for getting into coding and taking advantage of variable assignments.

[kpayne]

Where is the best place for information on using variables? To date I have not used the variables in PC DMIS. I have used them before in other CMM Software but not PC DMIS. In fact, when I first did my training on PC DMIS is asked about them and was told everything had to be done in Visual Basic so I forgot about it. I see that isn't so.
At this point all I would really like to know are some fundamentals
1) I want to be able to assign Feature Names with Variables
2) I want to be able to write the results of my calculations to the Report.
I need a good place to find information on all features / functions available. We have PC DMIS CAD V3.73
Thanks,
Bill

I use this to calculating draft angles for circular features on plastic parts

ASSIGN/VAR7 = RAD2DEG(ATAN(CIR_17_B_MDFT.R-CIR_17_B.R)/(CIR_17_B_MDFT.Y-CIR_17_B.Y))
F_17_B =GENERIC/CONE,DEPENDENT,RECT,OUT,$
NOM/XYZ,0,0,0,$
MEAS/XYZ,0,0,0,$
NOM/IJK,0,0,1,$
MEAS/IJK,0,0,1,$
DISTANCE/0,0,$
ANGLE/-1,VAR7
DIM DFT_17_B= LOCATION OF CONE F_17_B UNITS=MM ,$
GRAPH=OFF TEXT=OFF MULT=10.00 OUTPUT=BOTH
AX NOMINAL +TOL -TOL MEAS MAX MIN DEV OUTTOL
A -1.000 1.000 1.000 -0.573 -0.573 -0.573 0.427 0.000 #
END OF DIMENSION DFT_17_B

[Wingman]

I have specific issues in mind. My trouble is output. It looks as though some (or all) of you are actually dimensioning the results of the variables rather than printing them in comments. It looks like you are creating Features with the results of your assignements and calculations. That is what I wanted to see and looks even better than I thought it would be. Simply define a generic feature and use the variables to fill in the desired blanks so you can dimension / tolerance them normally. If that is actually what I am looking at then that is nice!! Real Nice!!

[T Miller]

That is what you are looking at

[bob mappes]

You have been given a whole lot to play with in these few posted replys

You will now be counting variables in your sleep.......

V1....V2.....V3......

[craiger_ny]

I have specific issues in mind. My trouble is output. It looks as though some (or all) of you are actually dimensioning the results of the variables rather than printing them in comments. It looks like you are creating Features with the results of your assignements and calculations. That is what I wanted to see and looks even better than I thought it would be. Simply define a generic feature and use the variables to fill in the desired blanks so you can dimension / tolerance them normally. If that is actually what I am looking at then that is nice!! Real Nice!!

Yeas you can put variables in comments for reporting.

            ASSIGN/3_125_DIA = F_3_125_DIA.D
            COMMENT/OPER,"The 3.125 diameter measures  " + 3_125_DIA

or put it in direct instead of using a variable

            ASSIGN/3_125_DIA = F_3_125_DIA.D
            COMMENT/OPER,"The 3.125 diameter measures  " + F_3_125_DIA.D

[Wingman]

SWEET!!!
I just tried one. NICE. This opens a lot of possibilities!!

[Wingman]

What about variables in Dimension Tolerances?

[cmmguy]

you can use variables in almost all situations

I use them for nominals alot to keep them from changing on me...