Current Help System: PC-DMIS CMM (View Core Help)

## Creating an Auto High Point

The High Point auto option allows you to search a user-defined search region to locate the highest point in the current work plane. This samples the region itself for the highest point, it doesn't search existing points in your part program.

View High Point Creation Example:

View High Point Execution Example:

The result of the search is a single point defined by its X, Y, Z coordinates and approach vector.

To access the High Point option, access the Auto Feature dialog box for a High Point (Insert | Feature | Auto | Point | High).

Auto Feature dialog box - High Point

With the dialog box open, depending on your situation, use one of these methods to create the feature:

Creating by Using Surface Data on the Screen

To define the high point search area using surface data:

1. Position the cursor in the Graphics Display window to indicate the desired location of the start point (on the surface).

2. Click once to define the Center of the search region and the Start Point. PC-DMIS will highlight the selected surface.

3. Click again to define the Start Point. As long as the dialog box remains open, every odd-numbered click on the part model's surface will define the Center and the Start Point to be the same as the clicked location. Every even-numbered click will define a new Start Point location only.

4. Verify that the correct surface has been selected. PC-DMIS pierces the highlighted surface, displaying the location and vector of the selected point. The direction of the surface normal vector is determined by the side of the part that is accessible to the probe. If both sides of the part are equally accessible, the normal from the CAD data is used. The Flip Vector icon lets you change the direction of the approach.

5. Select the type of search zone to use by choosing either Circular or Box from the Mode list in the Measurement Properties area.

6. Define the size of the search zone by changing the values in the Width and Length boxes for a box type search zone or the Inner Radius and Outer Radius boxes for a circular type search zone. PC-DMIS displays the search zone in the highlight color.

7. Define the Increment and Tolerance values for the high point procedure to use.

8. Make any other changes as needed on the dialog box.

9. Click Create to insert the feature in to the part program. When you execute the part program, PC-DMIS will search for and then return the highest point within the defined search region.

Creating by Using Surface Data with the CMM

To define the search region for the high point with the CMM :

1. Touch once on the desired surface of the part using the probe. This will define both the center of the search area and the start point as being the same.

2. If a different search center is desired, touch the desired surface with the probe once more. This will define a new center for the search region. If another point is sampled with the probe, it will change the location of the start point and approach vector. Each consecutive sample taken will alternate between the search center and the start point. Each time that the probe samples the surface of the part, PC-DMIS will pierce the CAD surface closest to where the probe touched. This information gathered from the surface model will be used to define the start point and search center.

3. Select the type of search zone to use by choosing either Circular or Box from the Mode list in the Measurement Properties area.

4. Define the size of the search zone by changing the values in the Width and Length boxes for a box type search zone or the Inner Radius and Outer Radius boxes for a circular type search zone. PC-DMIS displays the search zone in the highlight color.

5. Define the Increment and Tolerance values for the high point procedure to use.

6. Make any other changes as needed on the dialog box.

7. Click Create to insert the feature in to the part program. When you execute the part program, PC-DMIS will search for and then return the highest point within the defined search region.

The Find Noms option should be selected from the Mode list for this measurement method. See the "Mode List" topic in the PC-DMIS Core documentation for additional information on nominals.

Creating without Using CAD Data

If the search region for the high point is to be generated without the use of CAD data, the first hit that is taken will indicate the X, Y, Z nominal for the start point and the search center. PC-DMIS also will display the I, J, K approach vector of that hit. This value indicates the opposite direction of the CMM approach vector (pointing away from the surface). To define a new starting point, sample the surface using the probe at the desired center point location. Consecutive samples will alternate between the start point and the search center.

1. Select the type of search zone to use by choosing either Circular or Box from the Mode list in the Measurement Properties area.

2. Define the size of the search zone by changing the values in the Width and Length boxes for a box type search zone or the Inner Radius and Outer Radius boxes for a circular type search zone. PC-DMIS displays the search zone in the highlight color.

3. Define the Increment and Tolerance values for the high point procedure to use.

4. Make any other changes as needed on the dialog box.

5. Click Create to insert the feature in to the part program. When you execute the part program, PC-DMIS will search for and then return the highest point within the defined search region.

Creating by Keying in the Data

This method allows you to key in the center of the high point's search region (i.e. the middle of the box or center of the circle(s)) by supplying the X, Y, and Z values. It also allows for the definition of the start point and associated approach vector by typing in the X, Y, Z, I, J, and K values.

1. Type in the desired X, Y, Z, I, J, K values for the feature into the dialog box.

2. Select the type of search zone to use by choosing either Circular or Box from the Mode list in the Measurement Properties area.

3. Define the size of the search zone by changing the values in the Width and Length boxes for a box type search zone or the Inner Radius and Outer Radius boxes for a circular type search zone. PC-DMIS displays the search zone in the highlight color.

4. Define the Increment and Tolerance values for the high point procedure to use.

5. Make any other changes as needed on the dialog box.

6. Click Create to insert the feature in to the part program. When you execute the part program, PC-DMIS will search for and then return the highest point within the defined search region.

See the "Mode List" topic in the PC-DMIS Core documentation for additional information on nominals.