### Boundary Points area

To define the boundary of a scan, PC-DMIS will allow points to be keyed in, measured, or CAD data to be used.

A sample Boundary Points area

This function is only available for DCC scans.

LINEAROPEN - These scans can also be measured without an End point. Delete the End point and PC-DMIS will keep measuring the scan until you manually stop the scan. The starting point and the direction point can not be deleted.

LINEARCLOSE - These scans need to have the start and direction points. You cannot delete or add boundary points.

PATCH - These scans need to have at least three boundary points to create a triangular patch to work with. Extra points can be added or deleted by using the Add and Delete buttons in the Boundary Point area. It adds a Closed Scan check box to this area.

Use the Closed Patch Scan check box to indicate that you would like to scan a closed feature like a cylinder, cone, slot etc. When this is check marked PC-DMIS reduces the number of boundary points needed to define the scan boundary. You would need to enter only the Start and Direction points and an End point. The End point is used to indicate how far down/up the feature the scan needs to execute. The Start and Direction points together with the Initial Vector define the Cut Plane vector. Usually the Cut Plane vector will be parallel to the axis of the feature being measured.

SECTION - Section scans use this area not only to set the boundary points for the SECTION scan, but also to find holes defined in the CAD data, and toggle between displaying data for holes or for boundary points. Section scans add the Cut Cad and Show Cut buttons to this area for this purpose:

After you define a boundary and click the Cut CAD button, PC-DMIS will automatically search through the CAD data for any hole features along the scan's path. Any hole edges along the scans path will be indicated with a integer for the point followed by a “H” (i.e. 2H, 3H etc.). The hole edge points will be set at a default distance of 0.0787 inches from the theoretical hole edge.

You can cut CAD with specific, user-selected surfaces. To do this, select the boundary points, select the Select check box, select the desired surfaces, and then click the Cut CAD button. PC-DMIS will then cut only the selected surfaces to find the hole(s).

You don't need to click the Cut CAD button if your CAD does not contain hole features. If you don't use this button, PC-DMIS will scan the part using the given Start and End Boundary points.

When cutting surfaces, PC-DMIS uses only the surfaces that are displayed in the first View (the Blue View).

See "Setting up the Screen View" in the "Editing the CAD Display" section. When you have a complex CAD drawing with multiple surfaces you can arrange groups of surfaces into CAD levels. (See "Working with CAD Levels" topic in the "Editing the CAD Display" section). Doing this helps you restrict Section CAD Cut operations to specific portions of the CAD model.

The Show Cut button allows you to switch between displaying boundary or hole data. After a boundary is defined and the Cut CAD button has been selected, click the Show Cut button to switch to the appropriate display.

PERIMETER - These scans works the same as the LINEAROPEN scan.

ROTARY - These scans require you to have at least a start point and a direction point (shown as 1 and D respectively in the Boundary Points list and on the CAD display).

- If you don't have an end point (shown as 2), PC-DMIS will continue measuring the scan along the specified direction until it returns to the start point.

- If you have a start point and an end point, PC-DMIS will scan along the specified direction until it reaches the end point.

PC-DMIS defaults to providing you with a start, direction, and end point in the Boundary Points area. While you can easily delete the end point, you cannot delete the start or direction point.

As you define each boundary point (by either clicking on the CAD or typing in the values), PC-DMIS will automatically snap each point to the radius distance from the center point unless you didn't define a radius. In this case, the first boundary point you define will also define the radius.

Note: The Boundary Type
area on the Execution tab replaces the Boundary button used in the Boundary Points area prior to version 4.0. The Boundary Type area is only available in DCC mode for Linear Open, Linear Close, Patch, Section, and Rotary scans.

More:

Setting Boundary Points Using the Keyin Method

Setting Boundary Points Using the Measured Point Method

Setting Boundary Points Using the CAD Data Method

Adding and Deleting Boundary Points

Editing Boundary Points

Clearing Boundary Points