Table of Contents

Creating Generic Features .............................................................................................. 1

Creating Generic Features: Introduction ...................................................................... 1

Description of Generic Features............................................................................... 1

Purpose of Generic Features ................................................................................... 1

Generic Feature Command Format ............................................................................. 2

Creating a Generic Feature ......................................................................................... 2

To Add a Generic Feature........................................................................................ 3

Description of the Construct Generic Feature Dialog Box ........................................ 3

Creating a ReadPoint from the Probe's Position.......................................................... 7

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Creating Generic Features
Creating Generic Features: Introduction
This chapter covers the ability to add generic features into your measurement routine
and create point features at the probe's current position.

Generic features are often used to control the measured and theoretical values of a
specific feature in order to perform calculations that PC-DMIS's constructed features
don't currently support. For example, suppose you want to create the shortest line
between two lines (3D) that don't intersect. PC-DMIS doesn't have that construction
option. However, you can do the math yourself using the PC-DMIS Expression
language and then assign the theoretical and measured values of a generic line to the
appropriate values. In this way, you can create your own construction.

This section contains these major topics:

• Description of Generic Features

• Purpose of Generic Features

Description of Generic Features

Usually, when PC-DMIS measures features on your part, it guesses the correct feature
type depending on the number of hits taken and the inherent feature type available on
the imported CAD model itself.

PC-DMIS does not guess generic features. Instead, the user inserts and creates them.

Purpose of Generic Features

Generic features are used to hold and transform values. You can use these values to
create new constructed features or modify existing features via the CALCULATION
command.

For information on how to create new constructed features, see the "Constructing New
Features from Existing Features" chapter.

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 Creating Generic Features

Generic Feature Command Format

All generic features have XYZ and IJK values. They may have ANGLE, DIAMETER,
RADIUS, or DISTANCE values depending on the type assigned to the feature.

The Nominal / Measured Values toggle button indicates the values that are used in the
generic feature.

The command line in the Edit window (a cone is shown) is as follows:

feature_name=GENERIC/TOG1,TOG2, TOG3, TOG4

NOM/XYZ,x_cord,y_cord,z_cord
MEAS/XYZ,x_cord,y_cord,z_cord
NOM/IJK,i_cord,j_cord,k_cord
MEAS/IJK,i_cord,j_cord,k_cord
[RADIUS/radius] | [DIAMETER/diameter]
[ANGLE/ang]
[DISTANCE/dist]

TOG1 =POINT, PLANE, LINE, CIRCLE, SPHERE, CYLINDER, CONE, SLOT, or NONE

TOG2 = Indicates whether the generic feature is alignment dependent or independent.

TOG3 = Indicates whether the feature uses Polar or Rectangular coordinates.

TOG4 = Indicates whether the feature is an IN (hole) or OUT (stud) feature.

[ ] = The options shown in brackets are discretionary and are available based on the
type assigned to the feature by TOG1. RADIUS and DIAMETER are mutually exclusive
representations for the value represented as the radius or the diameter.

Creating a Generic Feature

While it is entirely possible to type the word GENERIC and press Tab in the Edit window
in Command mode to create a generic feature, PC-DMIS provides an easier way to
create new generic features. The Construct Generic Feature dialog box (Insert |
Feature | Generic) provides a more intuitive way to create new generic features.

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Creating a Generic Feature

To Add a Generic Feature

To add a generic feature:

1. Place your cursor in a new line of the Edit window.

2. Access the Construct Generic Feature dialog box by one of the following:

• Select Insert | Feature | Generic.

• Type GENERIC in the Edit window in Command mode.
• Select Generic Feature from the list that appears in Summary mode after
you select Add Command.

3. Make the changes you desire.

4. Click the OK button to create the feature. PC-DMIS saves the generic feature
and update the information for the feature in the Edit window and the Graphic
Display window.

Description of the Construct Generic Feature Dialog

Box

Construct Generic Feature dialog box

Use this dialog box to create new features. To open this dialog box, select Insert |
Feature | Generic.

The topics below describe the options that are available on this dialog box.

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 Creating Generic Features

Limited CAD Selection

With the Construct Generic Feature dialog box open, you do have some very limited
wireframe CAD selection capabilities. This is limited to selecting points and lines. For
more advanced CAD selection requirements, you would need to use PC-DMIS's Auto
Feature or Constructed Feature capability.

• If you select a point, PC-DMIS fills in both the nominal and measured values into
the dialog box for that feature.
• If you select a line, then the IJK information is inserted for both nominal values
and measured values.

PC-DMIS ignores any other type of wireframe entity that you select.

For example, in this top-down image of a circle feature seen below, you will notice a
white cross and line in the center of the circle. The cross and line are CAD elements of
a point and line, respectively, that are created within the CAD system and imported as
part of the CAD file into PC-DMIS. You would select either the line or the cross (not the
actual circle feature) to have its data input into the dialog box.

Sample wireframe point and line element at the center of a Circle feature

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Creating a Generic Feature

Feature Type
The Feature type area in the Construct Generic Feature dialog box (Insert | Feature
| Generic) enables you to create these generic feature types:

• Point
• Plane
• Line
• Circle
• Sphere
• Cylinder
• Round Slot
• Square Slot
• Cone
• None

PC-DMIS disables or enables other areas and options in this dialog box based on the
type of feature that you select.

Data Type
The Data type area in the Construct Generic Feature dialog box (Insert | Feature |
Generic) enables you to determine the values of the generic feature that are affected by
the changes you make in the dialog box. The choices include Measured values and
Nominal values.

XYZ Boxes
The X, Y, and Z boxes in the Construct Generic Feature dialog box (Insert | Feature |
Generic) enable you to determine the X, Y, and Z positions for the generic feature.

IJK Boxes
The I, J, and K boxes in the Construct Generic Feature dialog box (Insert | Feature |
Generic) enable you to determine the vector for the generic feature.

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 Creating Generic Features

Alignment Dependent Generic Feature

Alignment dependent generic features (Insert | Feature | Generic) have values that
depend on the alignment from which they are referenced. They change so that they are
always relative to the current alignment. Their location is constant in 3D space.

For an example in 2D, suppose 0,0 is your machine origin. An alignment is set
up that locates the origin at 5,5. Now, an alignment dependent feature is defined after
the alignment with the values of 2 for x and 2 for y. Relative to the alignment, its values
are 2 and 2. Relative to the origin, its values are 7 and 7. No matter what alignment the
numbers are given relative to, the point will always be located at 7,7 relative to the true
origin.

Alignment Independent Generic Feature

Independent generic features (Insert | Feature | Generic) have values that remain the
same, regardless of which alignment they are referenced from (therefore considered
"independent"). Their location in 3D space changes as the alignment changes.

For an example in 2D, consider the same example of 2,2 (as shown in the
Alignment Dependent example above) but this time with an alignment independent
generic feature. If you ask for the x and y values relative to the alignment, the object will
report 2,2. If you ask for its values relative to the origin, the object will still report 2,2.
The set 2,2 relative to the alignment is located at 7,7 relative to the true origin. The set
2,2 relative to the origin is exactly that: 2,2. Thus, the point seems to move in 2D space.

The independent option was added so that a generic feature named XAXIS, for
example, could always be used as an input feature to a construction or a datum to a
dimension, and it would always have the values of 1,0,0 independent of the current
alignment.

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Creating a ReadPoint from the Probe's Position

Polar/Rect
The Polar/Rect list in the Construct Generic Feature dialog box (Insert | Feature |
Generic) enables you to pick the type of coordinate system that is used in the generic
feature. You can select either POLAR or RECT.

Feature Name
The Feature name box in the Construct Generic Feature dialog box (Insert | Feature
| Generic) enables you to name your feature. This is the ID that appears on the Feature
ID label and inside the Edit window.

Radius and Diameter

The Radius and Diameter options in the Construct Generic Feature dialog box
(Insert | Feature | Generic) enable you to define either a radius or a diameter for a
circular feature. Select either Radius or Diameter and then type a value in the box.

Angle
The Angle box in the Construct Generic Feature dialog box (Insert | Feature |
Generic) enables you to define the angle of a Cone. This box also becomes available if
you selected None in the Feature type area.

Distance
The Distance box in the Construct Generic Feature dialog box (Insert | Feature |
Generic) enables you to define the height or length of any generic features that have a
length or height.

Creating a ReadPoint from the Probe's

Position
The Read Point menu option (Insert | Feature | Read Point) tells PC-DMIS to read the
probe's current position and to insert a point in the Edit window at the read in position.

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 Creating Generic Features

The following syntax illustrates what's inserted into the Edit window.

F_ID= FEAT/ POINT, TOG1

THEO / x, y, z, i, j, k
ACTL / x, y, z, i, j, k
READPOINT

F_ID - This is the Feature ID.

TOG1 - This toggle field that allows you to switch between the POLR and RECT
coordinate systems.

X, Y, Z - This is the X, Y, Z location for the constructed point.

I, J, K - This is the I, J, K approach vector of the probe.

READPOINT - Identifies this feature as a read point created from the probe's position.

Below is an example of a Read Point feature:

F7=FEAT/POINT,RECT
THEO/7.4982,2.0111,0.95,0,0,1
ACTL/7.4982,2.0111,0.95,0,0,1
READPOINT/

If you execute this type of point feature in Offline mode, and the feature
follows a MODE/MANUAL command, the software copies the theoretical vector and
position to the measured vector and position; otherwise, the value comes from the
current probe position.