Slot probing

[[Me...]]

Can anyone run me through or point me in the right direction for an efficient way to probe a slot all as one?

[[Ca...]]

I'm not sure what you mean. Are you just trying to measure the width or location of the slot?

[[Me...]]

yes, i need the location, width, and radius of the ends.

[[Mi...]]

It's been a while since I had to do any slots but start with extracting on the model or probing 3 points on each of the radius and then two points on each flat. This should auto recognize as a Slot. Open up the strategy and select the step width (scanning) or number of points (single points). Note that the default is single points so uncheck that box if you want to scan.
For some reason though this does not always work on blind slots. In that case you have to measure each of the radius and the sides separately and calculate distances and center points.

[[Me...]]

If you need all of those characteristics, you are probably better off using several features instead of the slot. I'd just use two 2d lines for the planes, and then measure the 2 radii as 2 separate circles.

-For width, just use symmetry of the 2d lines.

-For length, I use the result element with a formula. Before you start the formula, create a simple distance between the two circles, then mask it. Then create the result element. This formula can get you started:

getActual("Circle1").radius + getActual("Circle2").radius + getActual("Distance1_Y").actual

You're essentially just adding the length between the centers of the circles, then adding the radius of those circles to get the full distance. (This is all pointless if you have the latest version of Calypso. I believe it has a new distance called "caliper distance". Use that instead.)

True position(s) shouldn't be too hard to figure out.

[[Me...]]

The previous method stated will work good without a CAD model. If you have a CAD model you can approach this in a couple ways.
1) Change view to wireframe and deselect view surfaces-->On the toolbar select CAD>Creating Features-->Select all edges of the slot-->You can then type in an offset value for the height you want to measure at-->Click the button next to Slot-->Close Creating Features window-->Open up the Slot in the Feature tab-->Click on the Strategy button-->Click on the button that looks like a Slot (top row, third from left)-->Double-click Slot (under the Clearance Data)-->If you want to scan uncheck the single points box-->Set your speed, step width, and stylus

2)Make sure view surfaces is selected-->CAD-->Creating Features-->Select the Section tab-->Click on the model to create the section plane-->Use the boxes under Center, Normal Vector, and Expansion to adjust your section plane-->Click Section-->Select the Creation tab-->Change view to wireframe and deselect view surfaces-->Select all edges of the slot section just created-->Click the button next to Slot-->Then setup the strategy for the Slot

[[Me...]]

Hey Carson,

With that method, can you still get the radii of both ends with only measuring the slot once? I'm under the impression you'd have to go back and measure them again as circles.

[[Ri...]]

You won't need to measure it twice. Measure the entire slot. Once you have that, go to CAD/Creating Features and turn your model into a wire frame. Select the spline for one of the radius'd ends of the slot so that it turns magenta. On the Creating Features field, toward the top, you'll see a button for Circle. On that line, you will also see a green check in the box for "Full Circle". Remove that check mark and click on the Circle button. Now go to your features list and open the Circle you just created. Pull down the "Options" menu and select "Recall Feature Points". When you do that, another field opens up with all the possible features that you could use for this. Pick the Slot feature you just measured and right click that highlighted line. Another field opens up and you will pick "Add Range Limits". A couple other buttons will appear that are very useful here. It's easy to miss these as they are up on the toolbar, next to the "?". If you click on the left button of this pair, all the measured points on the slot will appear on the model. Now click on the right button of this pair and you can create a "box" encompassing all the points you need for a radius measurement. There's a lot of "clicking" here but it's not bad once you get used to using it. It's been a couple of versions since I've measured a slot and if I remember correctly, the circle path strategy choice only uses single points. If you want to scan and collect hundreds of points, you can use the Unknown Contour strategy.

[img][/img]

Add Range limits.GIFRecall Feature Points.pngCAD Creating Features.GIF

[[Me...]]

I am unable to create a feature from that menu. It wont let me select any of the feature buttons.

[[Ri...]]

With the Creating Features field open and the CAD model as wire frame, can you select a spline and does that spline change color to magenta?

[[Te...]]

Alex,

Call me and I will walk you through it.

Ted

[[Me...]]

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This is awesome. Thank you.

[[Ja...]]

When recalling points for a circle make sure to toggle the OD/ID to the appropriate setting to match your feature. If you select the wrong one your size will be off the diameter of your stylus.

[[Me...]]

Ironically, I'm creating a program for a part with slot features. I used the "Create a feature" to make the slots. However, there isn't an option for MMC/LMC, even when I change the tolerance zone to only Y. I'm reporting both length and width. Do I have to make a formula to calculate the conditions, or am I missing something?

[[Me...]]

I tried measuring a slot today. Calypso recognized it as a slot but when I went to run the PGM it crashed into the top off the part about 5mm from the slot. Any suggestions?

[[To...]]

2 things. Open the slot and check the icon at the top that show whether it is and ID or OD feature.
2nd, Reduce your Clearance distance to 0.00 and your retract distance to (Slot width - Probe diameter)/2.

[[To...]]

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You'll need to create theoretical circles and use formulas to define the location and size from the slot info.

[[To...]]

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Here's a video I made that includes the topic of recalling a certain area of points

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDnvcBvC970&t=241s

[[Ri...]]

Ian, you can skip the theoretical circle step and just put a formula into the tolerance field for position. Actual width or length of slot minus low limit width or length, then add that value to the position tolerance should get you there.

[[Me...]]

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Thanks Tom !

[[Gr...]]

Here is a pdf from zeiss which has worked really well for us for parts with slots even when MMC is not needed.

Greg Kozera

True_Position_of_Slot_with_MMC_1_.pdf