hexagon logo

Locating Width/Midpoint of Two Planes

I am running a part we had programmed outside about a year ago before my time. There is TP of the mid-point of two planes. I have searched high and low (and maybe I am missing something a simple constructing/dimensioning move), but cannot find a reason why I cannot locate a Width between two planes. Instead, the programmer (whoever it was) made a note of it unable on "this" version, and instead made a plane out of two planes (?). That version at the time was 2011 - we are now running 2014.1.

197_NR_PLN =FEAT/PLANE,CARTESIAN,TRIANGLE,YES
            THEO/<0.14193,-0.09843,0.21497>,<0.3073008,-0.9516124,0>
            ACTL/<0.14918,-0.09808,0.21762>,<-0.0011746,-0.999998,-0.0016391>
            CONSTR/PLANE,BF,PNT20,PNT21,PNT22,PNT23,,
            OUTLIER_REMOVAL/OFF,3
            FILTER/OFF,WAVELENGTH=0
197_FAR_PLN=FEAT/PLANE,CARTESIAN,TRIANGLE,YES
            THEO/<-0.12702,0.09842,0.20558>,<-0.3073008,0.9516124,0>
            ACTL/<-0.12503,0.09869,0.20377>,<-0.010034,0.9999496,-0.0003128>
            CONSTR/PLANE,BF,PNT24,PNT25,PNT28,PNT29,,
            OUTLIER_REMOVAL/OFF,3
            FILTER/OFF,WAVELENGTH=0
PLN1       =FEAT/PLANE,CARTESIAN,TRIANGLE,NO
            THEO/<0.00746,-0.00001,0.21027>,<-0.3073008,0.9516124,0>
            ACTL/<0.011,0.00107,0.21064>,<-0.0044298,0.99999,0.0006631>
            CONSTR/PLANE,MID,197_FAR_PLN,197_NR_PLN
DIM DIST7= 2D DISTANCE FROM PLANE 197_NR_PLN TO PLANE 197_FAR_PLN PAR TO   YAXIS,NO_RADIUS  UNITS=IN,$
GRAPH=OFF  TEXT=OFF  MULT=500.00  OUTPUT=BOTH
AX       MEAS    NOMINAL       +TOL       -TOL        DEV     OUTTOL
M      0.19678    0.19700    0.00400    0.00400   -0.00022    0.00000 ---#----
$$ NO,
            The command below is not supported in this version.
            WIDTH_197  =FEAT/WIDTH,CARTESIAN,OUT,LEAST_SQR,YES
                        THEO/<0.00745,0,0.21027>,<0,1,0>,0.197
                        MEAS/<0.01139,0.00018,0.21071>,<-0.00217,1,-0.0013>,0.19784
                        CONSTR/WIDTH,BF,197_NR_PLN,197_FAR_PLN
            MOVE/POINT,NORMAL,<-0.07574,0.27873,1.00000>
            DATDEF/FEATURE=DATUM_A,A
            DATDEF/FEATURE=DATUM_B_CYL,B
            DATDEF/FEATURE=DATUM_C_PLN,C
WIDTH2     =FEAT/WIDTH,CARTESIAN,OUT,LEAST_SQR,NO
            THEO/<0.01135,-0.00012,0.21071>,<0.00478,0.99999,0.00169>,0.23419
            MEAS/<0.01133,0.00019,0.21069>,<0.00089,1,0.00159>,0.23519
            CONSTR/WIDTH,BFRE,197_NR_PLN,197_FAR_PLN
FCFLOC1 =POSITION : PLN1
            FEATCTRLFRAME/SHOWNOMS=YES,SHOWPARAMS=YES,SHOWEXPANDED=YES
            CADGRAPH=OFF,REPORTGRAPH=OFF,TEXT=OFF,MULT=500.00,ARROWDENSITY=100,OUTPUT=BOTH,UNITS=IN
            COMPOSITE=NO,FIT TO DATUMS=YES,DEV PERPEN CENTERLINE=ON,OUTPUT ALIGNMENT=Datum Reference Frame
            CUSTOMIZED DRF=NO
            STANDARDTYPE=ASME_Y14_5
              PRIMARY DIMENSION/POSITION,0.004,B,<MC>,<dat>,<dat>
              SECONDARY DIMENSION/<Dim>,<tol>,<dat>,<dat>,<dat>
              NOTE/FCFLOC1
            FEATURES/PLN1,,
            PLN1
             Y:NOM=-0.00001
            <NEW>
            DATUMS
            D1:NOM=0.16,+TOL=0.01,-TOL=0.01


As you can see I've tried to do it myself, but it still doesn't appear when I dimension a location. The existing way it's dimensioned throws it at about .006", whereas when measured with a indicator and Zeiss it stands around .0003. Am I overlooking something or is it truly unable to postion a width or midpoint in 2014.1? Any guidance is greatly appreciated. 14-520636-00-() Rev_B SHT_1 OF 3_Crop.pdf
  • AFAIK, 2011 did not have the option for a Constructed Width, so that's most likely the reason for the previous programmer's note.
    Also, for your Constructed Width "WIDTH2" try changing it from BFRE to BF
    I've used a CW feature in Xact before without much heartburn (but I remind XactMeas TWICE of my desired Planar Zone axis. sometimes one of us screws up Sunglasses )
  • I am running a part we had programmed outside about a year ago before my time. There is TP of the mid-point of two planes. I have searched high and low (and maybe I am missing something a simple constructing/dimensioning move), but cannot find a reason why I cannot locate a Width between two planes. Instead, the programmer (whoever it was) made a note of it unable on "this" version, and instead made a plane out of two planes (?). That version at the time was 2011 - we are now running 2014.1.

    197_NR_PLN =FEAT/PLANE,CARTESIAN,TRIANGLE,YES
                THEO/<0.14193,-0.09843,0.21497>,<0.3073008,-0.9516124,0>
                ACTL/<0.14918,-0.09808,0.21762>,<-0.0011746,-0.999998,-0.0016391>
                CONSTR/PLANE,BF,PNT20,PNT21,PNT22,PNT23,,
                OUTLIER_REMOVAL/OFF,3
                FILTER/OFF,WAVELENGTH=0
    197_FAR_PLN=FEAT/PLANE,CARTESIAN,TRIANGLE,YES
                THEO/<-0.12702,0.09842,0.20558>,<-0.3073008,0.9516124,0>
                ACTL/<-0.12503,0.09869,0.20377>,<-0.010034,0.9999496,-0.0003128>
                CONSTR/PLANE,BF,PNT24,PNT25,PNT28,PNT29,,
                OUTLIER_REMOVAL/OFF,3
                FILTER/OFF,WAVELENGTH=0
    PLN1       =FEAT/PLANE,CARTESIAN,TRIANGLE,NO
                THEO/<0.00746,-0.00001,0.21027>,<-0.3073008,0.9516124,0>
                ACTL/<0.011,0.00107,0.21064>,<-0.0044298,0.99999,0.0006631>
                CONSTR/PLANE,MID,197_FAR_PLN,197_NR_PLN
    DIM DIST7= 2D DISTANCE FROM PLANE 197_NR_PLN TO PLANE 197_FAR_PLN PAR TO   YAXIS,NO_RADIUS  UNITS=IN,$
    GRAPH=OFF  TEXT=OFF  MULT=500.00  OUTPUT=BOTH
    AX       MEAS    NOMINAL       +TOL       -TOL        DEV     OUTTOL
    M      0.19678    0.19700    0.00400    0.00400   -0.00022    0.00000 ---#----
    [COLOR=#ff0000]$$ NO,
                The command below is not supported in this version.[/COLOR]
                WIDTH_197  =FEAT/WIDTH,CARTESIAN,OUT,LEAST_SQR,YES
                            THEO/<0.00745,0,0.21027>,<0,1,0>,0.197
                            MEAS/<0.01139,0.00018,0.21071>,<-0.00217,1,-0.0013>,0.19784
                            CONSTR/WIDTH,BF,197_NR_PLN,197_FAR_PLN
                MOVE/POINT,NORMAL,<-0.07574,0.27873,1.00000>
                DATDEF/FEATURE=DATUM_A,A
                DATDEF/FEATURE=DATUM_B_CYL,B
                DATDEF/FEATURE=DATUM_C_PLN,C
    WIDTH2     =FEAT/WIDTH,CARTESIAN,OUT,LEAST_SQR,NO
                THEO/<0.01135,-0.00012,0.21071>,<0.00478,0.99999,0.00169>,0.23419
                MEAS/<0.01133,0.00019,0.21069>,<0.00089,1,0.00159>,0.23519
                CONSTR/WIDTH,BFRE,197_NR_PLN,197_FAR_PLN
    FCFLOC1 =POSITION : PLN1
                FEATCTRLFRAME/SHOWNOMS=YES,SHOWPARAMS=YES,SHOWEXPANDED=YES
                CADGRAPH=OFF,REPORTGRAPH=OFF,TEXT=OFF,MULT=500.00,ARROWDENSITY=100,OUTPUT=BOTH,UNITS=IN
                COMPOSITE=NO,FIT TO DATUMS=YES,DEV PERPEN CENTERLINE=ON,OUTPUT ALIGNMENT=Datum Reference Frame
                CUSTOMIZED DRF=NO
                STANDARDTYPE=ASME_Y14_5
                  PRIMARY DIMENSION/POSITION,0.004,B,<MC>,<dat>,<dat>
                  SECONDARY DIMENSION/<Dim>,<tol>,<dat>,<dat>,<dat>
                  NOTE/FCFLOC1
                FEATURES/PLN1,,
                PLN1
                 Y:NOM=-0.00001
                <NEW>
                DATUMS
                D1:NOM=0.16,+TOL=0.01,-TOL=0.01


    As you can see I've tried to do it myself, but it still doesn't appear when I dimension a location. The existing way it's dimensioned throws it at about .006", whereas when measured with a indicator and Zeiss it stands around .0003. Am I overlooking something or is it truly unable to postion a width or midpoint in 2014.1? Any guidance is greatly appreciated.


    $$ NO,
    The command below is not supported in this version.

    Actually that is a Document Comment automatically place into the program by PC-DMIS for a program feature that's not available. This is when a newer version program Ex.(2014.1) is back saved to a previous version Ex.(2011) and this feature will be turn off with the text format color in red. But, that doesn't mean that a programmer didn't place this comment into the program. Also, after PC-DMIS places this comment into the program and is open with a version of PC-DMIS that can use this feature the comment is not removed and the feature is turned on with the standard text format color.
  • $$ NO,
    The command below is not supported in this version.

    Actually that is a Document Comment automatically place into the program by PC-DMIS for a program feature that's not available....


    absolutely correct Dave. thanx for the catch!
  • +1 for everyone! Wink

    All of these were valid points that I was working through.

    Constructing the width and locating were not a problem once I brought the program to the 2014.1, and unselected the plane already in place.

    I also ran into an issue with odd numbers once created, but found relief once BFRE was changed to BF.

    The reports look clean, and I can delete the annoying note about the invalid command. Thanks all.