I am new to PC-DMIS and our machine was just installed. As I am constructing my manual alignment, I am asked "Do you want to make Y- or X+ the active workplane? I didn't notice this at the training center. Should I use the "don't ask me this again" in this case?
I would guess that you probably 'twitched' while measuring the plane, Pcdmis looks at the direction the machine is moving when the contact is made to try to figure out what you are measuring. Try moving in ONLY one axis to measure a plane, you do NOT need to try to measure it 'normal' to the surface.
Matthew D. Hoedeman does this apply to a circle also? If I have a cylinder on my table (Z+) from which an arc for example starting at 10DEGS (almost 3 o clock) and finishing at 80 Degs (12o clock) and want 5 points for a manual circle, is it ok if I just probe all points going -X direction? I am always trying to be somewhat normal to my probings but not usre if this is the best practice
yes, you should be OKAY as long as there is enough arc for the machine to see that it isn't a line, but is in fact an arc. Of course, AFTER the feature is created, it KNOWS it is an arc, and will comp correctly. You may have to do an X+ tounch to a Y+ touch to learn it, but once created, it's fine. NO probe comp is done until ALL touches are measured