One point Alignment using CAD

[soapbox]

I do this all of the time. In fact it is the only way I write new programs, and whenever possible I rewrite the beginning of older programs. I prefer to start with the tip centered on a hole, but there are couple of programs where I start with the tip approximately .5" above and centered on a key or slot. I often take a photo of the tip positioned for the readpoint and store it in the folder with the program for future reference if needed. I also have a full screen user comment that states where the tip should be positioned and warns that DCC begins when the done button is pressed.

I begin with a large prehit/retract, (usually .3, double my goto .15"), and slowish move speed. I make that read point, X,Y,Z zero then measure the hole to refine two axis, (another alignment), then move out & take a 3 point plane around the hole to level and refine the other axis.(another alignment). Now I tighten the prehit/retract and bump up the speed. Depending on the part I either then measure that same hole again now that I have leveled to the surface, or in that last alignment I offset the X,Y,Z orgins to where I want them to be in relation to the hole & plane and then I begin what would be the first DCC alignment in a program that began with manual hits.

HTH It sounds complex, but after you do it 5 times, it is just as easy as a manual alignment and you save the time and hassle of manual hits every time you execute the program. I do not understand why they don't emphatically teach this method in the pc-demon classes. They touch on it, but only briefly.

[/soapbox]

[soapbox]

I do this all of the time. In fact it is the only way I write new programs, and whenever possible I rewrite the beginning of older programs. I prefer to start with the tip centered on a hole, but there are couple of programs where I start with the tip approximately .5" above and centered on a key or slot. I often take a photo of the tip positioned for the readpoint and store it in the folder with the program for future reference if needed. I also have a full screen user comment that states where the tip should be positioned and warns that DCC begins when the done button is pressed.

I begin with a large prehit/retract, (usually .3, double my goto .15"), and slowish move speed. I make that read point, X,Y,Z zero then measure the hole to refine two axis, (another alignment), then move out & take a 3 point plane around the hole to level and refine the other axis.(another alignment). Now I tighten the prehit/retract and bump up the speed. Depending on the part I either then measure that same hole again now that I have leveled to the surface, or in that last alignment I offset the X,Y,Z orgins to where I want them to be in relation to the hole & plane and then I begin what would be the first DCC alignment in a program that began with manual hits.

HTH It sounds complex, but after you do it 5 times, it is just as easy as a manual alignment and you save the time and hassle of manual hits every time you execute the program. I do not understand why they don't emphatically teach this method in the pc-demon classes. They touch on it, but only briefly.

[/soapbox]