CAD Aligment Issue

[[Ri...]]

Good morning all.
I am attempting to emulate the alignment procedure outlined on page 54 of the Calypso 2018 Basic Training Manual, as it is the closest example of an alignment to the part that I have.

I "appear" to be doing it correctly, but I am getting odd results which I have illustrated below.

I have no doubt its operator error and was hoping someone could look at my current procedure and point out where I am going off the rails.

The provided example:



The part in question


When the part is loaded in it is standing up on end.
I got to CAD--->Modification--->CAD Model Transformation...


I now translate the part about the Y-Axis to orient the part to sit flat on the surface plate.



Like so.


I now go to Define Select Geometry


I select the outside diameter of the model as my Cylinder1


I select the top of the model as my Plane


I now need features to construct a line for my Spatial.
I create a Cylinder from the outermost bolt circle,
3 o'clock position, Top Radii.


I now create a cylinder at the outermost bolt circle,
9 o'clock position, Top Radii


I now go to Features--->3D line [attachment=3]11.jpg[/attachment]

I recall the last two Cylinders [attachment=2]12.jpg[/attachment] [attachment=1]13.0.jpg[/attachment]

My line is created [attachment=0]13.1..jpg[/attachment]
Continued on next post ( image limit per post)

13.1..jpg13.0.jpg12.jpg11.jpg4.jpg3.jpg2.jpg1.jpg00.jpg

[[De...]]

If one of those kidney shaped slots is at Y zero I would do the following..

First scan a circle on the top face of the part - that will be your spatial alignment, and your Z origin.

Next, scan a circle on the id of the part, this gives you X and Y origin.

Now scan a half circle on either end of the kidney slot so you end up with to circle locations.

Using those two circles, create a symmetry construction.

Use the symmetry construction for your planar rotation and have it be X+.

This way you don't have to do any kind of weird alignment to get it to work.

[[Ri...]]

Constructed 3D line shown

Next I go to my Base/Start Alignment

I assign all my of my features to their correct place, tick Manual Alignment and initiate Execute Manual Run Now.

I am prompted to measure a cylinder on the ACTUAL part.

reduce points to make manageable
physically taking points, several high, several low on the cylinder.

I am now prompted measure the 3 o'clock high cylinder
It never asks for the second 9 o'clock high cylinder though and immediately returns to the base alignment page without error!!

I go to take 3 points off the table from the front left corner to generate the safety cube

hmmmmm


3 points off the table form the front left to close the safety cube


???? What the heck? [attachment=0]28.jpg[/attachment] color me confused.
If nothing else the XY and Z locations should have located in the safety cube correctly, even if the 3d line did fail.
I need a proper procedure, that works!

help! 🙂

28.jpg24.0.jpg23.jpg22.jpg19.jpg17.jpg15.jpg14.jpg13.2.jpg

[[Am...]]

You can use the create a clearance plane from cad if your using a model. I've had some odd things happen where it flips my pisitive and negative values but works fine when changed over.

Also I would just use your two top cylinders (closer to the ID) instead of those slots. And you can use a 2d line instead and use circles.

[[Me...]]

I wouldn't use that cylinder as a spatial. The length/diameter ratio isn't sufficient to act as a stable primary datum.

[[Da...]]

Richard, for base alignment do as Derek suggests you:
otherwise it could be that your 3d line is causing some problems in base alignment

[[No...]]

I wouldn't use cylinders to construct the 3D line. Better use circles. And I agree that the spatial cylinder is too short for a part of this size to make a spatial, especially when you use the top plane as Z zero. A small tilt of the cylinder axis will lead to huge deviations at the outer edge of the top plane.

[[Te...]]

use the plane for spatial. the 3d line for planar and then OD for X and Y and Plane for Z,

Then recreate your clearance cube from the model.

I agree, just use circles for you 3d Line on the top or bottom arcs of the slots but it should work with the cylinders fine.

You spatial of the narrow cylinder is most likely the problem it is not stable enough to restrain the part fully. If you change spatial to the Plane I am guessing you will have better luck.

[[Ri...]]

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Derek,
Infinitely better!
It finally repeats, not flipping different ways every time I load a new part on.

Thank you greatly!

[[Da...]]

Great Richard! I'm also interested what datums are there on the drawing?