## Creating an Auto Cone

The Cone measurement option allows you to define a cone measurement. This measurement type is particularly useful when equal spacing of the hits is necessary for partial cones. The minimum number of hits needed to measure an auto cone is six.

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

Auto Feature dialog box - Cone

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 cone using surface data:

1. Click on the Surface Mode icon .

2. Position the cursor (outside or inside the desired cone).

3. Click once on the cone's surface. PC-DMIS will highlight the selected cone. The dialog box will display the center point, angle, and diameter from the CAD data of the selected cone.

4. Make any other modifications to the dialog box as needed.

5. Click Create.

Note that an external cone (stud) from versions 3.6 and before may need to have its vectors and length negated to correctly measure.

Creating by Using Surface Data with the CMM

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.

To generate a cone using surface data with the CMM:

1. Take three hits in the hole or on the stud.

2. Move the probe to another depth.

3. Take three additional hits. PC-DMIS will pierce the CAD surface closest to where the probe touched.

The displayed X, Y, Z values reflect the closest CAD cone, not the actual hits. The I, J, K reflects the surface normal vector. If a CAD cone is not found, PC-DMIS will display the closest point and ask that additional hits be taken.

Note that an external cone (stud) from versions 3.6 and before may need to have its vectors and length negated to correctly measure.

Creating by Using Wire Frame Data on the Screen

Wire frame CAD data can also be used to generate a cone.

To generate the cone using wire frame data:

1. Click near the desired wire on the cone. PC-DMIS will highlight the selected wire. This will get the cone center, surface vector, and diameter.

2. Click on a second wire that represents the other end of the cone to calculate the angle.

The probe approach is always perpendicular to the feature, as well as perpendicular to the current probe centerline vector. The dialog box will display the value of the selected cone's center point and diameter once the wire has been indicated.

Note that an external cone (stud) from versions 3.6 and before may need to have its vectors and length negated to correctly measure.

Note: If the underlying CAD element is not a cone, circle, or arc, additional clicks may be necessary to identify the feature. If PC-DMIS doesn't highlight the correct feature, try clicking on at least two additional locations on the cone.

Creating without Using CAD Data

To generate the cone without using CAD data:

1. Take three hits on the surface to find the plane that the cone is lying in.

2. Take three hits in the hole (or on the stud) at the same level.

3. Take at least 1 hit at either a lower or higher level than the first three hits (take up to three hits to get an accurate definition of the cone).

Note that an external cone (stud) from versions 3.6 and before may need to have its vectors and length negated to correctly measure.

Creating by Keying in the Data

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

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.