## Feature Control Frame Command Block

The following shows the syntax of a sample Feature Control Frame (FCF) command block using the Edit window's command mode:

FCF6 = TRUE POSITION OF CIR1,CIR2,CIR3,...

FEATCTRLFRAME/SHOWNOMS=YES,SHOWPARAMS=YES,SHOWEXPANDED=YES

CADGRAPH=BOTH REPORTGRAPH=OFF TEXT=BOTH MULT=10.00 OUTPUT=BOTH UNITS=IN

COMPOSITE=NO,FIT TO DATUMS=YES,OUTPUT ALIGNMENT=Datum Reference Frame

SIZE TOLERANCES/4,DIAMETER,0.375,0.01,0.01

PRIMARY DIMENSION/TRUE POSITION,DIAMETER,0.01,MMC,A,<MC>,B,MMC,C,<MC>

SECONDARY DIMENSION/TRUE POSITION,DIAMETER,0.005,MMC,<PZ>,<len>,A,<MC>,B,MMC,<dat>,<MC>

NOTE/FCF6

FEATURES/CIR1,CIR2,CIR3,CIR4,,

FEATURE SET

X:NOM=-1

Y:NOM=6.0235

Z:NOM=0

<NEW>

CIR1

X:NOM=-1

Y:NOM=5.07

Z:NOM=0

<NEW>

CIR2

X:NOM=-2

Y:NOM=6.008

Z:NOM=0

<NEW>

CIR3

X:NOM=-1

Y:NOM=7.008

Z:NOM=0

<NEW>

CIR4

X:NOM=0

Y:NOM=6.008

Z:NOM=0

<NEW>

DATUMS

D2:NOM=1,+TOL=0.01,-TOL=0.01

Feature Control Frame name = Feature Control Frame (FCF) type (Dimension type) OR feature list.

Feature List = List of features. If there are more than three features, then the list prints out a set of ellipses to ensure that the line will fit. For example, FEAT1, FEAT2, FEAT3, and so on. If there is more than one, it is treated as a pattern set, and all features must be the same feature type.

SHOWNOMS = YES/NO. When set to YES, the FCF types that have nominals will display them These include true position, distances, angle between, and angularity.

SHOWPARAMS = YES/NO. When set to YES, the following parameters will be displayed with the text: CADGRAPH, REPORTGRAPH, TEXT, MULT, OUTPUT, UNITS, COMPOSITE, FIT TO DATUMS, OUTPUT ALIGNMENT. When off, these same options will not be displayed.

SHOWEXPANDED = YES/NO. When set to YES, the feature control frame will display empty fields with a description inside brackets. When off, the empty fields will display as blank.

<MC> - Material condition

<D> - Diameter

<Dim> - Dimension or feature control frame type

<PZ> - Projected zone

<num> - Number of features

<nom> - Nominal of feature size

<+tol> - Plus tolerance

<-tol> - Minus tolerance

<tol> - Tolerance

<dat> - Datum

<sym> - Dimension symbol

<add notes here> - Note field – first line

<add optional design notes> - Optional design notes – last line

CADGRAPH = OFF/ON/POSITION/FORM/BOTH – Display the graphical analysis on the model in the Graphics Display window.

- True Position and Profile dimensions with datums use OFF/POSITION/FORM/BOTH.

- Profile dimensions without datums only use OFF/FORM.

- All other dimensions use OFF/ON

REPORTGRAPH = OFF/ON/POSITION/FORM/BOTH – Display the graphical analysis on report.

- True Position and Profile dimensions with datums use OFF/POSITION/FORM/BOTH.

- Profile dimensions without datums only use OFF/FORM.

- All other dimensions use OFF/ON

TEXT = OFF/ON/POSITION/FORM/BOTH – Display the textual analysis on report.

- True Position and Profile dimensions with datums use OFF/POSITION/FORM/BOTH.

- Profile dimensions without datums only use OFF/FORM.

- All other dimensions use OFF/ON

MULT = Positive numeric value that scales the graphical analysis in the main cad graphics.

OUTPUT = STATISTICS/REPORT/BOTH/NONE – Include the feature control frame calculations in the xstats11.tmp file, output report, both, or neither.

COMPOSITE = YES/NO. When set to YES, the feature control frame will display the primary and secondary dimension lines as a composite dimension. This is available for true position and profile dimensions.

FIT TO DATUMS = YES/NO. This option is only available for true position FCFs. When set to YES, the calculations will allow a best fit calculation on the datums to find an optimal best fit that minimizes the datum shift.

OUTPUT ALIGNMENT = Datum Reference Frame/Current Alignment. This option is only available for true position FCFs. When Datum Reference Frame is selected, the X, Y, Z positions will be displayed relative to the datum reference frame. When Current Alignment is selected, the X, Y, Z positions will be displayed relative to the current alignment.

UNITS = IN/MM. The units that the FCF will use to display its information.

SIZE TOLERANCES = Represents the top line of the feature control frame. For some FCF types this line is not shown. This line displays the number of features selected, whether or not the diameter symbol is used, nominal size of the feature(s), and size tolerances that will be applied to the nominal value.

PRIMARY DIMENSION or DIMENSION = Represents the second possible line of the FCF, which contains the primary type of FCF. Note that some of the fields are only valid for some FCF types. This line displays the FCF type, whether or not the diameter symbol is used, main tolerance value, material condition applied to the main tolerance, projected tolerance zone symbol, projected tolerance zone value, primary datum, primary datum material condition, secondary datum, secondary datum material condition, tertiary datum, and tertiary datum material condition. If a secondary dimension is not possible for the particular FCF type, then this line just uses the title DIMENSION.

SECONDARY DIMENSION = Represents the third possible line of the FCF, which contains the primary type of FCF. Many FCF types display nothing for the secondary dimension. In addition, some of the fields are only valid for some FCF types. This line displays the feature type, whether or not the diameter symbol is used, main tolerance value, material condition applied to the main tolerance, projected tolerance zone symbol, projected tolerance zone value, primary datum, primary datum material condition, secondary datum, secondary datum material condition, tertiary datum, and tertiary datum material condition. If a secondary dimension is valid, the secondary dimension must follow the rules of practice by the ASME Y14.5 1994 Dimensioning and Tolerancing standard.

NOTE = Represents the final line of the FCF. It displays text notes. For ease of identifying FCFs in the main graphics, this field defaults to display the FCF's ID.

NOMINAL LINES: These fields display the nominals of the dimensions internal to the FCF. First, it displays the nominal position of the resulting pattern feature set, if more than one feature was selected. Second, it displays the nominal positions of the individual features. Finally, it displays the nominal size and tolerances of the datums that have size. In each of these groups it will list the nominals that have been selected for display on the Advanced tab of the GD&T dialog box for the FCF, so each axis to be displayed can be turned on or off. To turn on the display of other nominals in the edit window, toggle the <NEW> line to see axes that are available but not currently displayed.

FEATURE SET

X:NOM=-1

Y:NOM=6.0235

Z:NOM=0

<NEW>

CIR1

X:NOM=-1

Y:NOM=5.07

Z:NOM=0

<NEW>

CIR2

X:NOM=-2

Y:NOM=6.008

Z:NOM=0

<NEW>

CIR3

X:NOM=-1

Y:NOM=7.008

Z:NOM=0

<NEW>

CIR4

X:NOM=0

Y:NOM=6.008

Z:NOM=0

<NEW>

DATUMS

D2:NOM=1,+TOL=0.01,-TOL=0.01