## Creating Slot Edge Points

The Insert | Slot Edge Points menu item displays the Slot Edge Points dialog box.

Slot Edge Points dialog box

This dialog box lets you create edge points on section cuts that bisect supported features. Supported features include slots, circles, and ellipses.

This provides you with a way to create edge points along the slot at precise locations. A typical area where this method of point creation may come in useful includes creating three edge points along a "key-hole" shaped slot, like this:

Key-hole slot requiring two points (A) on the smaller side of the slot directly across from each other and one point (B) on the larger surface along the section cut between the other two points (A)

Dialog Box Items

The dialog box contains these items:

Select edge point 1 - This lets you define the first edge point. This check box is initially marked and deactivated when you first access the dialog box. After you click once on the CAD model, however, the check box clears and becomes active so that you can choose a different start location if needed.

Points list - The list contains the slot edge points as you click to define them in the Graphics Display window. The columns display each point's location (XYZ columns) and vector (IJK columns). You can use this list to delete existing points or flip their vectors. Use SHIFT and CTRL keys while clicking with the mouse to select multiple points. Once you have selected the desired points, right-click on the selection and a small popup menu appears with these options:

Flip Vector - This flips the vector of all the selected points.

Delete - This deletes all of the selected points.

Snap to grid - This check box snaps the slot edge point to the closest 3D grid line. You can display the 3D grid using the View Setup dialog box. However, note that Planner still snaps the point to the closest grid line even if the grid is invisible.

Create - This button creates any slot edge points you selected from the CAD model and adds them to the inspection plan. It becomes activated the moment you click on the CAD to select your first edge point.

Close - Closes the dialog box without adding any point features into the inspection plan.

Key-Hole Slot Example

To create the slot edge points similar to those shown in the key-hole slot above, follow this procedure:

1. Near one of the sides of the slot, click on the top surface of the part in the Graphics Display view. Do not click directly on the edge. Planner draws the first edge point on the edge nearest your mouse click on the CAD model and shows the point in the Slot Edge Points dialog box. Any time you click to add a point to the CAD model, that point is added into the dialog box. You can use the dialog box to delete selected points or flip their vectors.
   The point's two colored arrows (blue and purple) indicate the surface vectors making up the edge point. A section cut perpendicular to the side on which you just clicked also appears on the screen. The section cut will be drawn in two colors to show the portion of the section containing the first point and where you should click for the second point.

Example of the first point and the initial section cut

2. Click a point on the surface along the section cut on the other side of the slot. The second point appears drawn on the CAD model, and a second section cut, perpendicular to the first section cut, appears on the screen.

Example of the second point and the second section cut, perpendicular to the first

3. Along the second section cut, click on a surface near a slot edge. A third point appears on the CAD model on the edge.

Example of the third point

4. Click Create. Planner adds the points into the inspection plan.

Example of the three created points added to the plan