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Multiple Find Nominals data sets from single scan?

For data analysis purposes, I need to discriminate between two alternating surfaces/materials along a single scan path. I would like to scan once in Master mode, then compare that master set of data against the CAD twice, each time referencing a different CAD surface. I know this could be done by scanning the part twice, but I am trying to save time by eliminating extraneous measurement.

The surfaces alternate quite a few times along the scan path, but there is a gap between them, so I am not concerned about misinterpreting data from one surface as the other.

I have attached an example cross section showing the single master scan in red and the individual data sets that I would like to generate in blue and yellow. For some reason, the forum is shrinking the size of the image to be all but invisible. Sorry for that.

  • It is possible but not automatically:

    A scan feature can only hold one set of nominal values. There is no way to have a single scan feature pull two sets of nominal values from two different surfaces. There is no way to change the target surface for FindNoms through automation so not possible to run a scan once, loop back, point to a different nominal surface and scan again. If you want to do this automatically you need two separate scan features, each pointing to its own nominal surface.

    If you are OK to do it manually you can run your scan as master, save the program, open the scan feature, select the target surface, and click "Get Nominals" in the Path Definition tab. This will run FindNoms on the newly selected surface but will not reset the measured values. You can then refresh the dimension that is associated with the scan and you will get the results relative to this surface. Open the scan again, clear the surface selection, select the other surface, click "Get Nominals" again, and refresh the dimension and you will have the results relative to the other surface.
  • Thanks for the detailed answer DaSalo. This does help me have a better idea for what does and does not clear a scan's data when editing it. Most importantly, I also know that I can stop searching for a way to do this. Based on how Point Clouds can work finding new nominals for points, I would have thought for sure that there would be a similar way to do this with Sets or another feature.

    Automation is key, as we will be measuring hundreds of parts over the next year and I will not be the only operator. Manual operations are chances for failure and variation. It still feels like there should be an automatic way to do this, but if there is not, then there is not.

    Thanks again.
  • There is. You just have to scan the surface twice.