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

### To Specify Fixture Points

PC-DMIS lets you to specify locations on your part where the end effector of the fixture contacts with the part. These are called fixture contact points. You can either select a point location by clicking on a feature with your mouse, or you can manually type in the point's location.

These fixture points are treated as auto features, and the rules governing auto feature usage and creation apply here as well. For information on how to measure these feature types see the appropriate auto feature in the "Creating Auto Features" section of the core PC-DMIS help file. For example, if you are going to hold the fixture onto the part using a fixture's pin, select Circle from the Feature list, PC-DMIS will look for three clicks on the CAD model to define the circle to which your fixture element will be attached.

To create a new fixture contact point:

1. Type a name for the fixture point in the Name box.

2. Specify the feature type from the Feature list. This identifies the feature type to which you will connect the fixture. The available feature types include:

1. - Surface Point

   - Edge Point

   - Circle

   - Square Slot

   - Round Slot

   - Notch Slot

Note: If you don't specify a feature type, PC-DMIS assumes you will be selecting surface points.

3. Either click on the CAD model inside the Graphics Display window to generate a point location, or type the point's location (in part coordinates) in the first row of X, Y, and Z boxes.

4. Specify the vector of the connection point pointing away from the surface towards the module or fixture column by filling in the I, J, and K boxes.

5. If desired, select an existing module from the Module list. The module defines the type of geometry used on the fixture column to connect the column to the part. A display of the selected module appears in the Module Preview area. If you need to create a new module you must first create it on the Modules tab in the Fixturing Setup dialog box. See the "Fixture Properties - Modules" documentation.

Note: If you do not select a module from the Points area, PC-DMIS assumes that the part will be placed directly on the column sphere.

6. Type the measured offsets for the selected module in the second row of X, Y, and Z boxes.

7. If the connection point for the module is a sphere, then select the Sphere check box and type a value for the sphere's diameter in the Sphere box.

8. Select the orientation of the module from the Module Direction list. The available orientations include:
   Front X+
   Right Y+
   Back X-
   Left Y-
   This represents the orientation direction (not necessarily location) of the module in Machine Reference System. Remember that PC-DMIS uses part coordinates for the fixture, but modules must be specified in Machine Reference System. Therefore, if the axis correspondence in the lower portion of the dialog box changes of the fixture changes, you will need to change the module orientation as well.

9. Click the Add Points button. PC-DMIS adds the point with all its information to the points list and immediately clears the information in the Points area, allowing you to add additional points.

10. Continue repeating this procedure until you have defined all the desired fixture points.

More:

Examples of Fixture Points in Graphics Display Window