Probing and Measuring Features Measurements can be performed on manual and CNC enabled systems using the simple crosshair, the manual optical edge probe or the auto optical edge probe. Features can be probed manually or automatically as part of a part program using optical edge detection in CNC enabled systems. Probed features are shown in the Part View and entered into the Feature List.
The following feature measurements are supported by the M2 system: • Points • Lines • Circles and arcs • Distances • Angles
Occasionally the system can misinterpret probed data points, particularly when there is not an even distribution of points collected along the entire feature edge. This can lead to feature identification errors. The Change Feature Type button can be used to change the type of a feature selected in the Feature List or Part View when identification errors occur. For example, a circle feature can be changed to an arc. The Change Feature button is not shown in the Measure toolbar when there are no alternative feature types for the selected feature. Detailed feature information including coefficients, geometric form, fit type and the data cloud of points probed is always available in the Feature Detail screen discussed in Section 5: Feature List, Feature Detail and Part View Functions. A graphic drawing of the feature and the data cloud of points probed is also available in the Feature Detail screen. Tolerances can be applied to measured features and are discussed in Section 7: Tolerancing. Probing Features Features are probed using the simple crosshair, manual optical edge crosshair or auto optical edge crosshair. Features are measured by probing one point at a time as the user aligns the probe on the feature edge until at least a minimum number of required points have been probed. The number of points required for point probing is discussed in detail in Points Required for Feature Measurements contained in Section 3: Probes. Feature measurements become more accurate as the number of points probed increases beyond the minimum number required. The process of probing a feature with a given probe is identical for all features. Since the use of probes has been discussed thoroughly in Section 3: Probes and in the beginning of this section, an example of probing a feature with each probe type is provided here and should be sufficient for a complete understanding of probing features. Probing Features with the Simple Crosshair Probe To probe features with the simple crosshair probe: 1 Select the simple crosshair from the probe menu. Measure toolbar > Probe button > Simple crosshair 2 Press any Measure Feature button in the Measure toolbar. Measure toolbar > Desired Measure Feature button 3 Position the center of the crosshair probe on an edge. 4 Press Enter or in the Measure Prompt screen to fire the probe and capture the point. Measure toolbar > Enter button/Measure prompt 5 Continue probing until the required number of points has been probed and then press the Done button to complete the measurement. The feature will be shown in the Part View window and added to the Feature List. Measure toolbar > Done button
34
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online