## Using the Clearance Cube

The clearance cube is a three-dimensional box displayed in the Graphics Display window that represents a protective envelope that surrounds the CAD model. During part program execution, the probe moves to the offset distance of the clearance cube to avoid colliding with the part. By default, clearance cube motion is disabled.

Sample Clearance Cube Surrounding the CAD Model

Important: Clearance Cube only functions with single arm part programs. If your part program uses Multiple Arm Mode, it will not support both arms and will only work with arm 1.

Differences from Clearance Planes

While this may have some similarities with clearance planes, it actually behaves quite differently and offers some advantages not available to clearance planes.

- First, clearance planes are based on the part coordinate system, and if the part coordinate system changes, the clearance planes do not adjust accordingly. For example, if a Z+ clearance plane is set for 20 mm above the current Z=0 location, and you create a new part coordinate system by moving Z down by 30 mm, the clearance plane will not move, but will now be at Z=50. However, if you use a clearance cube, that box remains at the same relative distance from the CAD model, regardless of changes made to the part coordinate system.

- Second, clearance planes rely on MOVE/CLEARPLANE commands being placed between features to move the probe to the defined clearance plane. Forgetting one of these move commands could result in an unintended collision with the part. The clearance cube functionality doesn't use clearance planes and so doesn't require move commands between features. In its simplest form, once you enable the clearance cube functionality, newly created features will automatically cause the probe to move to the clearance cube before and after they are measured.

Using the Clearance Cube

Note: When running, if the probe starts inside the clearance cube, a message will be displayed stating "Probe is currently located inside clearance cube. Move probe outside clearance cube and press OK to continue".

To use the clearance cube,

1. Choose Edit | Preferences | Set Clearance Cube
   . This opens the Clearance Cube Definition dialog box. This dialog box initially opens with a simple interface. See "(Simple) Clearance Cube Definition" for detailed information.

Clearance Cube Definition dialog box

2. Mark Show Clearance Cube or click the Show Clearance Cube icon on the Clearance Cube toolbar. This shows the clearance cube on the screen.

3. Define an offset distance in the Offset value box. Alternately, you can mark Resize Clearance Cube or click the Resize Clearance Cube icon on the Clearance Cube toolbar to place the clearance cube in resize mode. When in resize mode and the clearance cube is visible, you can click and drag a face of the clearance cube and set offset distances per axis that way. A reddish highlight indicates the face to drag.

3. Mark Activate Clearance Cube motion or click the Activate Clearance Cube Motion icon on the Clearance Cube toolbar. This mode disables clearance planes and causes the part program to use the clearance cube motion instead. See the warning below.

4. If needed, set any advanced options by clicking Advanced and then use the desired tabs to customize the clearance cube to your liking (see the topics below).

5. Click OK.

6. Add features into the part program as usual.

Warning: If you activate clearance cube motion, it acts as a global setting to that part program. This means all clearance planes functionality for your part program will be disabled, even if individual features are specifically set to not use the clearance cube. Clearance cube motion and clearance planes cannot coexist in the same part program. Be sure to check for collisions before executing your program. See the "Detecting Collisions" topic.

More:

(Simple) Clearance Cube Definition

(Advanced) Clearance Cube Definition - Offsets tab

(Advanced) Clearance Cube Definition - Constraints tab

(Advanced) Clearance Cube Definition - Status tab