Cad alignment just not working

[Underspec]

Ok I have a STP file that I"m trying to align my part with. The Axis is sitting different than my machine so I"m using the Machine/Part setup to align it with my machine axis.

When I go and do scans using find noms it's saying it can't find them. Something's wrong with my alignment. This is part by the way is shaped like a potatoe chip. No planes to work with.

[Matthew D. Hoedeman]

Ok I have a STP file that I"m trying to align my part with. The Axis is sitting different than my machine so I"m using the Machine/Part setup to align it with my machine axis.

When I go and do scans using find noms it's saying it can't find them. Something's wrong with my alignment. This is part by the way is shaped like a potatoe chip. No planes to work with.

Did you also do an alignment on the part? You can't just set the cad axis to mathc the machine axis, you DO have to align the part still, use an iterative alignment if there are no planes to use for level/rotation/origin.

There is also a setting for increasing the 'find' distance for the find noms function. What is yours set at?

[JamesMannes]

Ok I have a STP file that I"m trying to align my part with. The Axis is sitting different than my machine so I"m using the Machine/Part setup to align it with my machine axis.

When I go and do scans using find noms it's saying it can't find them. Something's wrong with my alignment. This is part by the way is shaped like a potatoe chip. No planes to work with.

In scans I have noticed the units for "find nominals" do not change from one system to the other (mm to inch). Check your values they may be too small or too big.

[Underspec]

My find noms is set to default which is .100". And I did set the cad axis to my machine axis. Aligned my part, cad=part, still can't get my find nominals to come in.

[JamesMannes]

I don't think it should matter but do you have it set to "curve" mode instead of "surface" mode?

[Cumofo]

Try using the offline alignment technique (manual) without using CAD=PART.

[Underspec]

Try using the offline alignment technique (manual) without using CAD=PART.

Same thing.

By the way I'm using two cylinders to align the part. The "potato chip" sits with it's flaps facing upward. One cylinder is running along the Z and one is running along the Y.

[BKulpa]

I've been using:
Operation
Graphics Display Window
Transform
to manipulate the origin of STP models with much better success than any of the previous methods. V4.1

[Cumofo]

The two cylinders is great!
Don't massage the stp before you bring it in.(transform)
Measure the z cylinder offline
level to it
establish the work plane for the second cylinder
measure the y cylinder offline
rotate to it
assign origins.
then run the manual mode part of the program and you should be killer.



G

[JamesMannes]

Or can you save as a .igs? try that.

[Underspec]

I will try both transforming the CAD model and aligning before measuring manual features.