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equate alignment step by step

ewadora
Good Afternoon
1st time I'm trying to use equate alignment for a long part - I used to measure part in 2 separated stages so I have 2 separated independent programs. I combined them in one program remembering to change IDs in stage 2 to avoid duplicates etc, created features (that can be reached from both setups) in stage 1 for equate aln, copied them to stage 2 (with changed name) and everything runs great until I equate both alignments (i named them frog1 and frog 2). When I equate frog 2 to frog1 after moving part and do manual aln in stage2 and then DCC frog2 (up to here it's ok) then after equate probe for my regular ABC2 goes to wrong place like there is offset. BDW on CAD all points look ok only probe instead of going to the far end of the part starts somewhere in the middle. I read threads about this alignment but I need more details and it's why I list my steps, maybe someone can tell me what I do wrong.
  1. startup
  2. manual1 (for stage1)
  3. dcc1
  4. measuring and reporting features to dcc1
  5. frog1 (plane, line from 2 circles, origin in one of them) – which aln should I recall?
  6. moving part to setup stage 2
  7. startup
  8. manual2 (for stage 2)
  9. frog2 in dcc mode (copied features from frog1) – which alignment should I recall?
  10. equate frog2 to frog 1
  11. dcc2 (runs ok if I don’t equate)
  12. measuring and reporting features to dcc2

I read that I should create another alignment at the end of the program and equate it to dcc2 but I’m not sure why. The reason for this exercise is that I would like to use all datum points for alignment and reporting.
If someone can show me what steps I’m missing I would really appreciate
Thanks,
Ewa
​
  • Measure features for manual1.
    Align manual1.
    ---
    Measure stuff.
    ---
    Move the part.
    Measure the same features you measured for manual1 again.
    Align manual2 the exact same way you aligned manual1.
    Equate manual2 with manual1.
    Continue measurment.

    https://docs.hexagonmi.com/pcdmis/2023.2/en/helpcenter/index.htm#t=mergedProjects%2Fcore%2F18_alignment_topics%2FTo_Change_a_Part_s_Position_and_Orientation.htm&rhsearch=%20equate&rhsyns=%20
  • in reply to vpt.se

    I am at the same stage as ewadora!

    Done my frist program with FrogLeaping, and have excact the same steps as Ewadora.
    But when the program is through, and I save it, I have to do a new manual alignment - again.

    So the reply from vpt.se is also okay, but it seems as if the program doesn't get back to the "original" / manual alignment, but a moved with the FrogLeaping distance.
    I think I'm right, when I guess, that is the same issue as ewadora have.

    If not my question is the same.

    How do I get back to the manually taken alignment, and continuing measuring several parts WITHOUT doing the manual alignment everytime?

    In other programs the manual alignment is made one time, and is saved in the program, but that doesn't ssem to be the case when using FrogLeaping.
    Could someone provide me with a simple program print to clarify?

  • in reply to vpt.se

    I'm not sure I'm wrapping my head around this correctly. Can I measure the top of a part as Datam A in the Z plus axis, then I flip the part and measure the surface plate as Datum A in Z minus? I'm trying to take hits on the Z surface from both sides, but when I run the second side it tries to come at it backwards and wants to go through the part before coming back up and taking it's hit. Is there another step in there that I'm missing? 

  • in reply to bjgalbreath

    I have trouble with this as well. The help file reads that you must select the same features in the second alignment as you did in the first. That's great if your features are in a position where you can still access them when you move the part. In reality though, the reason one would have to use equate in the first place is because you can't reach the alignment features and the features needing evaluation at the same time, if you could, why would you need to move the part? I get it if it's a just a length or width issue and all your datums remain accessible. It becomes more difficult if you have to flip the part in Z. You can't hit the same plane (if it's in Z), and what do you do if your datums are blind holes that are now facing ZMINUS?

    Years ago we didn't bother with this. We super glued three steel balls to the part in positions where we could access them from any axis. We'd measure them, record their XYZ from print origin then move the part where we needed to. At that point we'd align on those three balls and rotate them in until their positions matched the original setup then translate to print origin. Somehow that seems less complicated than "equate". Of course it could just be that I don't understand it well enough.

  • in reply to bjgalbreath

    If you're able to just probe the surface plate as the datum A simulator once the part is flipped, why do you need to equate?  Can't you just run the second half of the program once the part is flipped and redefine datum A before calling out the next set of characteristics?

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