## About the Freeform Plane Command

You can use the Freeform Plane command to scan a plane by moving along a path defined by a set of points. The scan path appears on the Points List tab. The scan path can be:

- Continuous

- Contain a break

- Contain move points

Break and move points in the scan path can help to scan a face as one single plane even if the path is not continuous due to any reason.

The path of the scan can be dynamically read from a text file when you run the program. This can help to scan the plane on variants of the part where the shape of the face being scanned is changed between variants.

Following is an overview of the steps you need to follow to create a Freeform Plane command:

1. Specify the path of the scan. You can do this in one of three ways:

- Import the scan path from a text file using the buttons on the Points List tab. The imported points will appear in the window on the tab.

The format of the text file that defines the scan path for the Freeform Plane command is:

X,Y,Z,PointType

Where PointType is one of the following:

- SCAN – Indicates a point that will be added to the scan.

- BREAK – Indicates a move to the Retract, and then another scan will begin at the next SCAN point.

- MOVE – Indicates a move to the location specified.

Note: The default PointType is SCAN. If the PointType is not specified as SCAN, BREAK, or MOVE, then PC-DMIS will assign the PointType as SCAN.

Following is an example of a text file:

-32.23,14.067,-0.001,SCAN

-29.2,6.684,-0.006,SCAN

-24.389,1.846,-0.008,SCAN

-19.309,-3.982,-0.004,SCAN

-15.327,-8.125,-0.004,SCAN

-9.949,-9.576,-0.004,SCAN

-4.838,-11.112,-0.001,SCAN

6.786,-10.431,-0.005,SCAN

12.121,-4.769,-0.003,SCAN

17.941,1.332,-0.005,SCAN

21.889,7.432,-0.002,SCAN

26.623,10.02,-0.004,SCAN

0,0,0,BREAK

27,10,50,MOVE

30.361,9.192,-0.003,SCAN

32.15,4.583,-0.005,SCAN

34.502,-1.406,-0.002,SCAN

38.528,-5.963,-0.004,SCAN

43.763,-9.16,-0.005,SCAN

48.569,-12.159,-0.004,SCAN

54.235,-13.696,0.001,SCAN

63.951,-10.466,0.001,SCAN

69.156,-5.226,-0.003,SCAN

74.54,0.922,-0.004,SCAN

79.059,6.581,-0.003,SCAN

81.12,12.165,0,SCAN

- Generate the scan path by using the options on the Perimeter Paths tab. To learn more about how to generate points, see Perimeter Paths tab.

- Generate the scan path by using the options on the Free Form Paths tab. To learn more about how to generate points, see Free Form Paths tab.

2. Use the buttons on the Points List tab to insert a break or a move point in the path that appears on the tab. For more information, see Points List tab.

3. Set the property of the plane by completing the Properties tab. You can also use this tab to specify if you would like to read the scan path each time you run the program. This can help to scan the plane on variants of the part where the shape of the face being scanned is changed between variants. For more information, see Properties tab.