## Defining Master Flank Data

Measurement of the bevel gear topography requires master flank data. You can import master flank data from a file or create it by measuring the master flank or a known gear.

Master flank data must be in Gleason format in order to import it from a file. For an example of this format, see "Example of Gleason Format".

If you do not have master flank data in Gleason format, you need to measure the master flank. The calculation of the master flank uses an average from all measured flanks. For more information about measuring the master flank, see "Step 8: Measure the Master Flank" and "Master Flank Measurement".

Use the Measure master flank data dialog box to set the parameters to measure the master flank. To open this dialog box, select the Operation | Create Master Flank Data… menu option.

Measure master flank data dialog box for bevel gear

If you select the Operation | Measure Gear… menu option and no master flank data is available, PC-DMIS Gear will inform you that there is no nominal master flank data input. It will ask if you are going to create master flank data now:

If you click Yes, the Measure master flank data dialog box appears.

Alignment Area

Align file: Type the path and file name to the alignment file to be recalled and used in the gear measurement program. By default, PC-DMIS Gear automatically selects the alignment you performed using the Operation | A lign Gear… menu option. You can also specify the path and filename by clicking the browse button to navigate to and select the alignment file (a file with an .aln extension). The path to this file appears in the box. For more information on aligning files, see the documentation on saving and recalling alignment files in the main PC-DMIS documentation.

Probe Area

Probe file: Type the name of the probe file along with its full path that you want to use for measuring the gear. You may click the browse button and select the probe file name. The probe file name will appear in the box.

Use multiple tips: To specify that PC-DMIS Gear should use multiple tips to measure the master flank, select this check box. If you have an indexing probe and you want to use more than one probe tip, you should select this option.

"A" angle: This input is enabled when Use multiple tips box is checked. Type the “A” angle that will be used for the measurements. The “A” angle of the probe remains constant. If you use a star probe and you don’t want any probe head rotation, type zero in this box.

Probe has wrist: Select this check box if your probe configuration is using a wrist. In PC-DMIS, a probe configuration with a wrist uses the tip naming format “T1AXBY”, where X and Y are the angles of the wrist (for example: T1A90B180). For a fixed-head probe configuration, PC-DMIS uses tip naming format “TIPX”, where X is the TIP #.

Save To Area

File name: Click the browse button to specify the location to which the Gleason-formatted file will be saved. This button opens a Save As dialog box; type the name of the file in the File name box. You can also type the path and file name in the File name box.

CV Flank and CC Flank Tabs
or
Left Flank and Right Flank Tabs

Note: If you selected the Spiral option in the Flank Type list on the Parameters tab, the tabs are named CV Flank and CC Flank. If you selected the Straight option in the Flank Type list, the tabs are named Left Flank and Right Flank. The same options appear on both sets of tabs.

Number of lines (parallel to pitch cone): Type the number of lines parallel to the generating line of the pitch cone. A minimum of 4 is required for this value. See C in the example below (the solid black horizontal lines).

Number of columns (rectangular to pitch cone): Type the number of columns vertical to the generating line of the pitch cone. A minimum of 4 is required for this value. See B in the example below (the solid black vertical lines).

Line index of reference point: Type the line at which the reference point is located where it intersects the column index. See A in the example below.

Column index of reference point: Type the column at which the reference point is located where it intersects the line index. See A in the example below.

Example showing how points are to be measured on the master flank:
A - Reference point (line index=5, column index=3)
B - Columns parallel to the tooth profile
C - Lines parallel to the tip of the tooth
D - XY plane
E - Positive Z axis

Measurement Area

Teeth List to be measured: The box to the right of the list specifies the tooth numbers for which the topography will be measured based on the Number of Teeth value on the Parameters tab. The list defines for how many teeth the topography will be measured. By default, the profile will be measured on four teeth. The following options are available in the list:

- All: Measures all of the teeth. When you select this option, the teeth range automatically appears in the box, and you cannot change the value.

- Custom: Measures only the teeth that you type in the box. Separate the teeth with commas. For example: 1,8,14,20. An out-of-range error symbol will flash to the right of the box if the value that you enter in the box is out of range based on the Number of Teeth value on the Parameters tab.

- 1, 2, 4, and 8: Enables PC-DMIS Gear to automatically calculate the teeth to measure. The teeth automatically appear in the box, and you cannot change the value.

Flank selection: Select whether to measure the concave flank (CC Flank), convex flank (CV Flank), or Both Flanks.

Prehit distance: Type the distance from the theoretical point at which the motion speed changes from Move Speed to the slower Touch Speed. Distance is specified in current part units (inches or millimeters).

Retract distance: Typ e the distance the probe retracts from the surface after taking a hit. The distance is specified in current part units (inches or millimeters).

Check distance: Type the distance past the theoretical hit location that the machine will continue to search for the surface of the part until it determines that the surface is not there.

Clearance distance: Sets the distance the probe will retract in the XY direction. The distance is given in current part units (inches or millimeters).

Clearance height: Sets the distance the probe will retract in the Z direction. The distance is given in current part units (inches or millimeters).

Touch speed: Type the speed at which the CMM takes hits. The value entered is the percentage of the machine’s defined top speed.

Move speed: Type the point-to-point positioning speed of the CMM. The value entered is the percentage of the machine’s defined top speed.

Move out after each row of points measured: Select this check box to move the probe to the specified clearance distance from the gear after measuring each row.

Fly on: The Fly mode provides a way to move the probe around the part in a smooth, non-stopping motion. Select this check box to select the fly. This option depends on the capability of the controller to execute circular moves.

Fly radius: Type the radial distance of the arc path along which the probe will travel between move points.

The following buttons are available in this dialog box:

| This button launches PC-DMIS in the background to execute measurement.
| This button applies any changes you have made and leaves the dialog box open.
| This button cancels your changes and closes the dialog box.