Importing alignments?

[dfiola66]

Morning all,

I see the option but not sure how or why it might be useful. Any examples?

Thanks.

[Matthew D. Hoedeman]

I use them ALL the time. I use seperate alignment programs. I align the fixture, save the alignment to an external file, then call it up in the check program. There are a couple reasons I do this:

1) When you make a change to the alignment, it will NOT mess up your measurements (what with the UPDATE command).
2) You can align the fixture ONCE, then use several different programs to check the part WITHOUT running an alignment for each program.

There are probably many other reasons, these are the main 2 I have for doing it this way.

[dfiola66]

I use them ALL the time. I use seperate alignment programs. I align the fixture, save the alignment to an external file, then call it up in the check program. There are a couple reasons I do this:

1) When you make a change to the alignment, it will NOT mess up your measurements (what with the UPDATE command).
2) You can align the fixture ONCE, then use several different programs to check the part WITHOUT running an alignment for each program.

There are probably many other reasons, these are the main 2 I have for doing it this way.

Gotcha! I see the value in this, especially in what we do (make stamping dies). So often, we need a to-print layout. But we also need several programs run to measure in-development parts as well.

[cmmguy]

To add to what Matt said.

Same program, different fixture locations. recall the alignment based on a loop or operator input....

[John Kingston]

I have a couple of holding fixtures that stay on the machine 98% of the time. I can use them for about 100/300 different part numbers. I aligne to the fixture in a program strictly for that. Then recall the alignment in my part program, no manual alignment needed for a lot of parts. Very cool.
People here are baffled when I actually need a manual alignment for some parts.
They think I'm a god when I program. I'm letting it stay that way.

[dfiola66]

I have a couple of holding fixtures that stay on the machine 98% of the time. I can use them for about 100/300 different part numbers. I aligne to the fixture in a program strictly for that. Then recall the alignment in my part program, no manual alignment needed for a lot of parts. Very cool.
People here are baffled when I actually need a manual alignment for some parts.
They think I'm a god when I program. I'm letting it stay that way.

I've heard that your feet don't even touch the ground.

[John Kingston]

I've heard that your feet don't even touch the ground.

You're in Cleveland, didn't you see me on the news??