Free Position Alignment

Free Position Alignment

A Free Position Alignment is used in a part program to create rough origin point from which your program can create a determinant reference frame using DCC commands without any further operator input.  A Free Position Alignment can be created online or offline, with our without CAD.

Rather than taking an actual touch, a Free Position Alignment uses the current probe position as it's reference.

A Free Position Alignment requires a good physical part-to-machine alignment and increased approach and retract moves for the automated alignment steps.

Creating a Free Position Alignment
Optional:  You may add a CMM-Manager Operator Prompt by right clicking in the program window and selecting Add Prompt to Program.  This command has the ability to include a picture for clarity.  Since an Operator Prompt pauses the program, it should include a comment to "Press [OK] to continue...".  This is not required as the Free Position Alignment dialog includes the ability to add a note to the operator.
ONLINE
If you are going to use CAD to create the automated alignment and, in particular, if your reference point is not at the origin, you should do an Alignment | CAD [Alignment] before beginning.
  1. Enter Teach-On mode by clicking the  button in the Ribbon Tab Header
  2. Move the probe to the position to be used as the Free Position Alignment reference point.
  3. Select Alignment | Free Position from the Ribbon Bar.  The Free Position Alignment Dialog is displayed.

    1. Select the Projection Plane
      1. XY, YZ, or ZX Plane - CMM-Manager uses the projected point value for the rough alignment.
      2. 3D - the full 3D position of the Free Position point is used for the rough alignment. This is the default.
    2. Place a checkmark in the Set Origin checkbox to set the current probe position as the Part Reference Frame.  (ie: I'm using the part datum as my position point)
      1. The Update Position button is only available when editing the operation.
    3. Enter an optional prompt in the Note: box describing where to locate the probe.  This note will be visible to the operator at run-time.
    4. Click [OK].
  1. Continue by adding commands to create an automated alignment.
    1. If you are not using CAD:
      1. Use Features | Teach (blue buttons) in Joystick mode to teach the alignment features and create an alignment using the Alignment tools.  Be sure that you select "Program" while teaching so that the feature will be measured automatically when the program is run.
    2. If you are using CAD, and:
      1. You used Alignment | CAD [Alignment] to locate the part before beginning (The reference point can now by anywhere in relation to the origin);
        1. Use the Features | CAD Teach tools to inspect your alignment features and create an Alignment using the Alignment tools.
      2. You used the CAD origin as your reference point, and you selected Set Origin (The reference point must be at the origin):
        1. Import your CAD model if you have not already done so using Import/Export | CAD.
        2. Do an Import/Export | Sync CAD.
        3. Use the Features | CAD Teach tools to inspect your alignment features and create an Alignment using the Alignment tools.
OFFLINE
  1. Enter Teach-On mode by clicking the  button in the Ribbon Tab Header
If you are going to use CAD to teach the automated alignment, before beginning you should:
  1. load the CAD model using Import/Export | CAD
  2. use the Import/Export| Place CAD tools to orient the CAD model properly in the machine display
  3. add an Import/Export | Sync Part Ref Frame command
  1. Select Alignment | Free Position from the Ribbon Bar.  The Free Position Alignment Dialog is displayed.

  1. Select the Projection Plane
    1. XY, YZ, or ZX Plane - CMM-Manager uses the projected point value for the rough alignment.
    2. 3D - the full 3D position of the Free Position point is used for the rough alignment. This is the default.
  2. Teach the probe position by either:
    1. Enter the values for the desired probe location relative to the new reference frame origin.  This is useful when the values are know from a print, for instance.
    2. Click the Move Virtual Tip button.  This is useful if CAD has been loaded and you wish to visually place the probe in the desired position

      1. Use the buttons to move the virtual tip to the desired position.
  1. Place a checkmark in the Set Origin checkbox to set the current probe position as the Part Reference Frame.  (ie: I'm using the part datum as my position point)
  2. Enter an optional prompt in the Note: box describing where to locate the probe.  This note will be visible to the operator at run-time.
  3. Click [OK].
  1. Continue by adding commands to create an automated alignment.


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