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Is it possible to pattern an alignment?


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I have a program I am trying to write that is a large disc (~13"), with oval shaped features around the outside of the disc. The length and width of those outside features has a callout, referencing the center of the part. Typically what I do is create a symmetry point between the 2 half circles which make up the oval shaped feature, and then connect that with a 2d line to the center of the part. I can then create a secondary alignment which clocks to that angle so I can accurately measure those features the way the customer wants.

Unfortunately this a very labor intensive process as there are ~60 features that need to be clocked in the same way. I am curious, does anyone have a better way of essentially placing a pattern on an alignment, and then using one of those alignments in the pattern to measure the feature? (IE - rotate the alignment (from center) a certain angle, a set number of times?) If anyone could help me out, it would save me an incredible amount of time. 

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Are those ~60 features on one part and one program? Or they are ~60 individual parts?

If they are individual parts, then use autorun and pallet.

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 Sounds like you are doing rotation pattern work - Look at the scallop option for patterns (help guide may be useful). Are you familiar with creating sections from CAD, and making a 3d curve from CAD elements?

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Yes you can pattern alignments. I've done it, but something weird happens where when you go to select them inside of the feature/characteristic it shows 9999 for the index value instead of the loop parameter, but upon testing it appears to be correct. 

To set it up, you would rely on the principle laid out in this topic. 

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 Richard is correct that you can pattern an alignment. I believe I understand what you are trying to measure, and there is a much easier and faster way. A quick digital section of the CAD, 3d curve from the segments of the oval (or is it a slot?), pattern the rotation using the scallop option (x) amount of times every (x) degrees in (x) axis, 3d line recalled from the center of the part and the 3d curve (also patterned), all of those 3d lines projected to the face (patterned), reporting the distance of each projected line (get rid of the projection angle in the Z? axis).

Either way you slice it, you are right that there is always a faster way to do something if it is repetitive.

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