Variable Used To Contol Line Length

[#2#]

Hey, two new threads from me today. One on topic, one not so much.

I have a part to measure which has a very short 'slot' with a radius on each end. The slot has only one straight side (the other is open). I need to measure a line (vector of 1,0,0) along this straight side. I am trying to do the following:

Measure a circle at one end, re-measure the circle to ensure good hits.
Measure a circle at the other end, re-measure the circle to ensure good hits.
Pass the x values for the circle locations to a variable and subtract .02 from the difference between the x values. Then, I want to feed this variable into an autofeature line to control the length of my line. Doing this will allow my line to be as long as possible yet I can be sure the hits at the ends of the line won't fall on the radii.

I'm having trouble with my line's vector not coming out correctly. It seems that one time it will work and then the next it will be flipped and so the probe crashes into the radius at one end because it moves the wrong direction to try to take the second hit.

Here is the code:

CIR2       =AUTO/CIRCLE,SHOWALLPARAMS = NO,SHOWHITS = YES
            THEO/-3.395,0.25,PLN3.Z,0,0,1,0.27
            ACTL/-3.3978,0.2405,-0.3366,0,0,1,0.2666
            TARG/-3.395,0.25,PLN3.Z,0,0,1
            MEAS/CIRCLE
            HIT/BASIC,-3.3472,0.1154,-0.3866,-0.3746,0.9272,0,-3.3477,0.1168,-0.3862
            HIT/BASIC,-3.3192,0.1308,-0.3866,-0.5821,0.8131,0,-3.3198,0.1324,-0.3863
            HIT/BASIC,-3.2956,0.1524,-0.3866,-0.757,0.6534,0,-3.2967,0.1538,-0.3863
            HIT/BASIC,-3.2777,0.1789,-0.3866,-0.8894,0.4571,0,-3.2791,0.1802,-0.3863
            HIT/BASIC,-3.2666,0.2088,-0.3866,-0.972,0.2351,0,-3.2678,0.2096,-0.3863
            HIT/BASIC,-3.2628,0.2406,-0.3866,-1,0,0,-3.2643,0.2402,-0.3864
            HIT/BASIC,-3.2666,0.2723,-0.3866,-0.972,-0.2351,0,-3.2682,0.2713,-0.3864
            HIT/BASIC,-3.2777,0.3023,-0.3866,-0.8894,-0.4571,0,-3.2786,0.3011,-0.3864
            HIT/BASIC,-3.2956,0.3288,-0.3866,-0.757,-0.6534,0,-3.2967,0.3269,-0.3864
            HIT/BASIC,-3.3192,0.3504,-0.3866,-0.5821,-0.8131,0,-3.3199,0.3485,-0.3864
            HIT/BASIC,-3.3472,0.3658,-0.3866,-0.3746,-0.9272,0,-3.3477,0.3642,-0.3864
            ENDMEAS/
CIR3       =AUTO/CIRCLE,SHOWALLPARAMS = NO,SHOWHITS = YES
            THEO/-3.545,0.25,PLN3.Z,0,0,1,0.27
            ACTL/-3.5498,0.2401,-0.3366,0,0,1,0.2682
            TARG/-3.545,0.25,PLN3.Z,0,0,1
            MEAS/CIRCLE
            HIT/BASIC,-3.6017,0.3649,-0.3866,0.3746,-0.9272,0,-3.6019,0.3636,-0.3864
            HIT/BASIC,-3.6297,0.3495,-0.3866,0.5821,-0.8131,0,-3.6296,0.348,-0.3863
            HIT/BASIC,-3.6533,0.3279,-0.3866,0.757,-0.6534,0,-3.6526,0.3261,-0.3863
            HIT/BASIC,-3.6712,0.3014,-0.3866,0.8894,-0.4571,0,-3.6696,0.2997,-0.3863
            HIT/BASIC,-3.6824,0.2714,-0.3866,0.972,-0.2351,0,-3.6804,0.2702,-0.3862
            HIT/BASIC,-3.6861,0.2397,-0.3866,1,0,0,-3.684,0.2399,-0.3862
            HIT/BASIC,-3.6824,0.208,-0.3866,0.972,0.2351,0,-3.6803,0.209,-0.3862
            HIT/BASIC,-3.6712,0.178,-0.3866,0.8894,0.4571,0,-3.6695,0.1797,-0.3862
            HIT/BASIC,-3.6533,0.1515,-0.3866,0.757,0.6534,0,-3.6522,0.1536,-0.3862
            HIT/BASIC,-3.6297,0.1299,-0.3866,0.5821,0.8131,0,-3.6292,0.1321,-0.3862
            HIT/BASIC,-3.6017,0.1145,-0.3866,0.3746,0.9272,0,-3.6015,0.1165,-0.3862
            ENDMEAS/
            PREHIT/ 0.05
            RETRACT/ 0.05
            MOVE/POINT,NORMAL,-3.5346,0.2435,-0.3865
            ASSIGN/V1 = ABS(CIR7.X-CIR8.X-.02)
LIN5       =AUTO/LINE,SHOWALLPARAMS = NO,SHOWHITS = YES
            THEO/CIR8.X+.01,0.385,PLN3.Z-.050,-3.0005,0.385,-0.3866,V1
            ACTL/4.1904,7.3463,-13.8028,4.322,7.347,-13.8026,0.1316351
            TARG/-3.1305,0.385,-0.3866,-2.9989,0.385,-0.3866
            MEAS/LINE
            HIT/BASIC,-3.1305,0.385,-0.3866,0,-1,0,-3.1305,0.385,-0.3866
            HIT/BASIC,-3.0005,0.385,-0.3866,0,-1,0,-3.0005,0.385,-0.3866
            ENDMEAS/

See any problems with this?

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I think what might be screwing me up is that the x-locations of the circles are both negative.

[#2#]

No takers huh?

Well, I did find a couple of things. It still isn't working quite right though. Anyone ever try something like this before?

Here are the things I've fixed so far.

CIR2       =AUTO/CIRCLE,SHOWALLPARAMS = NO,SHOWHITS = YES
            THEO/-3.395,0.25,PLN3.Z,0,0,1,0.27
            ACTL/-3.3978,0.2405,-0.3366,0,0,1,0.2666
            TARG/-3.395,0.25,PLN3.Z,0,0,1
            MEAS/CIRCLE
            
            ENDMEAS/
CIR3       =AUTO/CIRCLE,SHOWALLPARAMS = NO,SHOWHITS = YES
            THEO/-3.545,0.25,PLN3.Z,0,0,1,0.27
            ACTL/-3.5498,0.2401,-0.3366,0,0,1,0.2682
            TARG/-3.545,0.25,PLN3.Z,0,0,1
            MEAS/CIRCLE

            ENDMEAS/
            PREHIT/ 0.05
            RETRACT/ 0.05
            MOVE/POINT,NORMAL,-3.5346,0.2435,-0.3865
            ASSIGN/V1 = ABS(CIR2.X-CIR3.X-.02)
LIN5       =AUTO/LINE,SHOWALLPARAMS = NO,SHOWHITS = YES
            THEO/CIR2.X+.01,0.385,PLN3.Z-.050,-3.0005,0.385,-0.3866,V1
            ACTL/4.1904,7.3463,-13.8028,4.322,7.347,-13.8026,0.1316351
            TARG/-3.1305,0.385,-0.3866,-2.9989,0.385,-0.3866
            MEAS/LINE
            HIT/BASIC,-3.1305,0.385,-0.3866,0,-1,0,-3.1305,0.385,-0.3866
            HIT/BASIC,-3.0005,0.385,-0.3866,0,-1,0,-3.0005,0.385,-0.3866
            ENDMEAS/

The part has three of these to measure. It seems that maybe paste with pattern doesn't play so well when a variable is included in the part to be pasted.

Another thing I have noticed...
If you have an autocircle and insert another feature's x, y, or z value in for the nominal, the target value will display as such (assuming you answer yes to update the target)

CIR15      =AUTO/CIRCLE,SHOWALLPARAMS = NO,SHOWHITS = YES
            THEO/CIR1.X,CIR1.Y,CIR1.Z,-1,0,0,2
            ACTL/3.4592,0.2377,-0.4711,-1,0,0,2
            TARG/CIR1.X,CIR1.Y,CIR1.Z,-1,0,0
            MEAS/CIRCLE
            
            ENDMEAS/

Not so with an autoline. The target values seem to substitute the actual corresponding numerical value.

LIN5       =AUTO/LINE,SHOWALLPARAMS = NO,SHOWHITS = YES
            THEO/CIR3.X+.01,0.385,PLN3.Z-.050,-3.4098,0.385,-0.3866,V3
            ACTL/-3.5413,0.372,-0.3865,-3.4096,0.3747,-0.3865,0.1317199
            TARG/-3.5398,0.385,-0.3866,-3.4081,0.385,-0.3866
            MEAS/LINE
            
            ENDMEAS/

Interesting. Different programmers working on these two different autofeatures?? Friday to Monday difference??

[inspector212]

Your variable reads 3.3978 - 3.5498 which equals -0.152 then you subtract 0.02 which equals -0.172. Maybe the answer being (-) is goofing you up.

I caught the CIR7 and CIR8 thing but you corrected before I had a chance to post about it.

EDIT I missed the ABS, forget it

[#2#]

Well, after much editing I got it to work like I wanted.

Long story short...

For 3.7MR3 DO NOT USE paste with pattern if any of your features/movepoints, etc. have references to other feature's actuals ie:

CIR15      =AUTO/CIRCLE,SHOWALLPARAMS = NO,SHOWHITS = YES
            THEO/-0.05,4.1915,-2.2248,1,0,0,0.625
            ACTL/-0.05,4.1915,-2.2248,1,0,0,0.6256
            TARG/-0.05,4.1915,-2.2248,1,0,0
            MEAS/CIRCLE
            
            ENDMEAS/
CIR17      =AUTO/CIRCLE,SHOWALLPARAMS = NO,SHOWHITS = YES
            THEO/0,CIR15.Y-1.15,CIR15.Z+.93,1,0,0,0.325
            ACTL/0,3.0334,-1.2974,1,0,0,0.3273
            TARG/0,CIR15.Y-1.15,CIR15.Z+.93,1,0,0
            MEAS/CIRCLE
            
            ENDMEAS/
            MOVE/POINT,NORMAL,0.2,CIR17.Y,CIR17.Z

If you do use paste with paste with pattern (in this case the pattern wasn't edited) you will get the following:

CIR15      =AUTO/CIRCLE,SHOWALLPARAMS = NO,SHOWHITS = YES
            THEO/-0.05,4.1915,-2.2248,1,0,0,0.625
            ACTL/-0.05,4.1915,-2.2248,1,0,0,0.6256
            TARG/-0.05,4.1915,-2.2248,1,0,0
            MEAS/CIRCLE
            
            ENDMEAS/
CIR17      =AUTO/CIRCLE,SHOWALLPARAMS = NO,SHOWHITS = YES
            THEO/0,CIR18.Y-1.15,CIR18.Z+.93,1,0,0,0.325
            ACTL/0,3.0334,-1.2974,1,0,0,0.3273
            TARG/0,CIR18.Y-1.15,CIR18.Z+.93,1,0,0
            MEAS/CIRCLE
            
            ENDMEAS/
            MOVE/POINT,NORMAL,0.2,CIR19.Y,CIR19.Z
CIR18      =AUTO/CIRCLE,SHOWALLPARAMS = NO,SHOWHITS = YES
            THEO/-0.05,4.1915,-2.2248,1,0,0,0.625
            ACTL/-0.05,4.1915,-2.2248,1,0,0,0.6256
            TARG/-0.05,4.1915,-2.2248,1,0,0
            MEAS/CIRCLE
            
            ENDMEAS/
CIR19      =AUTO/CIRCLE,SHOWALLPARAMS = NO,SHOWHITS = YES
            THEO/0,CIR18.Y-1.15,CIR18.Z+.93,1,0,0,0.325
            ACTL/0,3.0334,-1.2974,1,0,0,0.3273
            TARG/0,CIR18.Y-1.15,CIR18.Z+.93,1,0,0
            MEAS/CIRCLE
            
            ENDMEAS/
            MOVE/POINT,NORMAL,0.2,CIR19.Y,CIR19.Z

So, when you paste with pattern, everything you pasted turns out ok but the references in the stuff that was copied gets changed to the references for the pasted stuff.

I'm glad that didn't create an equipment destroying crash for me.

[kneislyd]

I would suggest that whatever variables you use define THEO are also used to define TARG. I also found that the vectors would change for some reason, so to lock them down I would calculate what the IJK vectors should be and store the values for each IJK in a variable (ie, IVAR,JVAR,KVAR). Then I use the variables in the IJK part of the THEO and TARG.