DCC Alignment

[operator1]

What is the best way to set up your alignment for a bored hole in a cylindrical part?
And when you level to the bore, what is that telling the CMM?

[inspector212]

When you level to a bore, you are telling the software to align an axis, whether X, Y or Z, to the axis or centerline of that bore.

[operator1]

Is this the best way to align a program that checks the diameter of a bored hole?

[Matthew D. Hoedeman]

Is this the best way to align a program that checks the diameter of a bored hole?

YEP, get yourself as square as possible to the bore to check the features of the bore (roundness, size, etc.) because it will give you the best possible approach vectors (as long as it is programmed correctly).

[Underspec]

Lvel, origin to cylinder, basically makes x,y,z = 0 (Squares everything).

[operator1]

And would I still need a line for the x-rotate?

[kmcmm]

And would I still need a line for the x-rotate?

NO

[JamesMannes]

And would I still need a line for the x-rotate?

NO

kmcmm is correct.

But, this is only true for a cylindrical part.

If there are other instances of not needing to use a rotation to lock in the part I'm sure an example will be coming soon.

[Underspec]

Anything called out TP from this cylinder bore? If so you will need a rotation :P

[cmmguy]

Only one more thing, take a point on the end and set an origin on that. I dont trust axial origins on cylinders much like I dont trust setting parallel origins on planes

[Wingman]

You are asking potentially open ended questions here. To 'measure' the feature is one thing. To 'report' the feature is another.

Sometimes in temp alignments you need to lock in a rotation. Sometimes you do not need to lock in a rotation. When reporting you always follow the Datum Scheme on the print.

Whether or not you lock in a rotation is feature dependant. With ROUND features, unless you need to map the surface then there is no need to lock a rotation to determine the size of the feature.

[JamesMannes]

Only one more thing, take a point on the end and set an origin on that. I dont trust axial origins on cylinders much like I dont trust setting parallel origins on planes

Good point J.

[operator1]

Only one more thing, take a point on the end and set an origin on that. I dont trust axial origins on cylinders much like I dont trust setting parallel origins on planes

On the end of what? It's a cylindrical part with a hole in the middle. Would the end be the top plane? If so, I already have that. I have the top plane set as my z-zero.

[operator1]

You are asking potentially open ended questions here. To 'measure' the feature is one thing. To 'report' the feature is another.

Sometimes in temp alignments you need to lock in a rotation. Sometimes you do not need to lock in a rotation. When reporting you always follow the Datum Scheme on the print.

Whether or not you lock in a rotation is feature dependant. With ROUND features, unless you need to map the surface then there is no need to lock a rotation to determine the size of the feature.

Well, in this case, the whole part and the feature in question IS round, and I'm only checking the hole diameter. So according to what you're saying, I don't need to lock a rotation .?. So once I set the cylinder axis to my z-level axis, and x & y zero, it should be ok?

[cmmguy]

On the end of what? It's a cylindrical part with a hole in the middle. Would the end be the top plane? If so, I already have that. I have the top plane set as my z-zero.

Sorry... didnt see that in your original post on how to setup an alignment on a cylinder...