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

## Creating an Auto Vector Point

The Vector Point measurement option allows you to define a nominal point location as well as the nominal approach direction that the CMM will use to measure the point defined.

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

Auto Feature dialog box - Vector 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 generate a vector point using surface data:

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

2. Click on the surface. PC-DMIS will highlight the selected surface.

3. Verify that the correct surface has been selected. PC-DMIS pierces the highlighted surface and displays 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.

4. Click Create to insert the feature into your part program. If additional mouse clicks are detected before you select the Create button, PC-DMIS will overwrite the previously displayed information with the new data.

Creating by Using Surface Data with the CMM

To generate a vector point using surface data with the CMM, touch on the desired surface of the part using the probe. PC-DMIS will pierce the CAD surface closest to the probe contact point.

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.

- If the touch point is actually near the surface data, the Measure Now Toggle icon is not selected, and the Done button on the jog box is pressed, the point feature will be created and added to the Edit window immediately. If the touch point is near the surface data, but the Measure Now Toggle icon is selected, the surface data will still be used, but the feature will not be created until the Create button is clicked.

- If the touch point is not near the surface data, PC-DMIS will treat the touch as an actual hit, displaying the hit location and approach vector.

- If a second hit is taken prior to selecting the Create button, the location data of the second hit will be used.

- If a third hit is taken, the three hits will be used to determine an approach vector, and the last hit will be used for the location.

- If more than three hits are taken, all but the last hit will be used to determine the approach vector. The last hit will always be used to determine the location.

Creating by Using Wire Frame Data on the Screen

To use wire frame CAD data to generate a vector point:

1. Select two edges (wires) of the surface where the target point will be by clicking on the desired wires with the left mouse button. (These wires should be on the same surface.) PC-DMIS will highlight the selected wires.

2. Verify that the correct wires have been selected.

3. Select the target point on the created surface. This final selection will be projected into the plane that is formed by the two wire vectors and the first wire's height.

Creating by Using Wire Frame Data with the CMM

To generate a vector point using wire frame data:

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.

- The first hit that is taken will indicate the X, Y, Z nominal. PC-DMIS will also display the I, J, K vector. This value indicates the opposite direction of the CMM approach vector (pointing away from the surface). This data can be accepted, or you can follow the messages displayed in the message box requesting additional hits.

- A second hit will update the hit location and approach vector using the most recent hit.

- The third hit on the surface will change the displayed X, Y, Z nominal to the current hit location. PC-DMIS will make a plane out of the three hits to find the I, J, K approach vector.

- Any additional hits will update the location of the hit using the most current hit information. The approach vector will also be updated to reflect an average of all previous hits (does not include the most recent hit) for the vector point.

The displayed data can be accepted at any time after the first, second or third hit is taken. Even if the third hit was not accepted, PC-DMIS internally resets the system, causing the next hit (hit #4) to become the first hit in the series.

Creating without Using CAD Data

If the vector point is to be generated without the use of CAD data:

- The first hit that is taken will indicate the X, Y, Z nominal. 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). This data can be accepted, or you can follow the messages displayed in the message box requesting additional hits.

- A second hit will update the hit location and approach vector using the most recent hit.

- The third hit on the surface will change the displayed X, Y, Z nominal to the current hit location. PC-DMIS will make a plane out of the three hits to find the I, J, K approach vector.

- Any additional hits will update the location of the hit using the most current hit information. The approach vector also will be updated to reflect an average of all previous hits (does not include the most recent hit) for the vector point.

Creating by Keying in the Data

This method allows you to key in the desired X, Y, Z, I, J, K values for the vector point.

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

2. Click Create to insert the feature into your part program.

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