Changing colours of custom probe builder imported CAD models.

Have you considered building the probe in notepad using the PROBE.dat info? I have done this so the colors can be changed.

Yes I have.

it works for geometry that you type in but not for imported CAD geometry which the can be referred to in the text file. Colours don’t seem to apply to the .draw lines in the file.

stupid question - what about the native CAD, can you change the color there before import?

Seems to always bring in imported CAD as a light blue colour. Even if I had a colour in the CAD model to begin with.

Do you Need the CAD due to the complexity of the probe? If not playing around with the pobe.dat will let you color things how you like. 
Or maybe just add some custom extensions and color those so everyone will know it's a custom probe. 

I am honestly surprised there's not a native way to help highlight/differentiate tips within PC-DMIS.

Can you share an example of how you change colors using the probe.dat file? I'd like to see how this works.

LOOK UP AN "RGB" COLOR WHEEL AND YOU CAN USE THE VALUES FOR WHATEVER COLOR YOU PICK. 

https://www.rapidtables.com/web/color/RGB_Color.html

PROBE.DAT file, definition of the PH9

[code]

ITEM:PROBEPH9 ARM
comment THE FOLLOWING 6 face CREATE THE BOX OF THE PH9
solid 6
color 30 30 30
face 4 -30 30 0 30 30 0 30 -30 0 -30 -30 0
face 4 30 30 0 30 30 -60 30 -30 -60 30 -30 0
face 4 -30 30 0 -30 -30 0 -30 -30 -60 -30 30 -60
face 4 30 30 -60 -30 30 -60 -30 -30 -60 30 -30 -60
face 4 -30 30 0 -30 30 -60 30 30 -60 30 30 0
face 4 -30 -30 0 30 -30 0 30 -30 -60 -30 -30 -60
comment THE FOLLOWING CREATE THE LED
ring 0 -30 -30 0 1 0 20 4
ribcount 10
color 255 0 0
cutsphere 0 -30 -30 0 1 0 4 0 -10000
comment THE FOLLOWING STARTS THE ROTATING SPHERE
autojoint 0 0 -77 0 0 1 0 7.5 -180 180 b angle
color 30 30 30
ribcount 10
cutsphere 0 0 0 0 0 1 50 18 -10000
autojoint 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 7.5 0 105 a angle
color 142 142 142
ribcount 10
cylinder -22 0 0 -25 0 0 13
connect -25 0 0 1 0 0 M8

[/code]

COLOR command is the RGB that the item will be.

PROBE.DAT file, definition of the PH9

[code]

ITEM:PROBEPH9 ARM
comment THE FOLLOWING 6 face CREATE THE BOX OF THE PH9
solid 6
color 30 30 30
face 4 -30 30 0 30 30 0 30 -30 0 -30 -30 0
face 4 30 30 0 30 30 -60 30 -30 -60 30 -30 0
face 4 -30 30 0 -30 -30 0 -30 -30 -60 -30 30 -60
face 4 30 30 -60 -30 30 -60 -30 -30 -60 30 -30 -60
face 4 -30 30 0 -30 30 -60 30 30 -60 30 30 0
face 4 -30 -30 0 30 -30 0 30 -30 -60 -30 -30 -60
comment THE FOLLOWING CREATE THE LED
ring 0 -30 -30 0 1 0 20 4
ribcount 10
color 255 0 0
cutsphere 0 -30 -30 0 1 0 4 0 -10000
comment THE FOLLOWING STARTS THE ROTATING SPHERE
autojoint 0 0 -77 0 0 1 0 7.5 -180 180 b angle
color 30 30 30
ribcount 10
cutsphere 0 0 0 0 0 1 50 18 -10000
autojoint 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 7.5 0 105 a angle
color 142 142 142
ribcount 10
cylinder -22 0 0 -25 0 0 13
connect -25 0 0 1 0 0 M8

[/code]

COLOR command is the RGB that the item will be.

It does not seem to work with the cadgeom/.draw lines

Or if your CAD model already has colours

I am making some training notes for our customers and I know I will be asked the question how to change the colour.

AS well as sometimes it is hard to determine what is the active tip.

Ok, I worked it out, not sure what I did wrong when initially trying this but I tried again and this time it worked.

Once the .draw file is made by the custom probe builder:

1. Import it as a CAD model into a measurement routine.

2. Using the Edit CAD Elements, select Change colour and select all the surfaces you want to change, pick the colour and select apply.

3. Copy this .CAD file to where to where the custome probe data files need to be (C:\ProgramData\Hexagon\PC-DMIS\[PC-DMIS Version] e.g. 2023.2\)

4. Rename the .CAD file to the original .draw file name.

Thats great!, does the color change now persist if you open a new program and rebuild this probe?

Awesome man. This is going to be fun to play around with.

Seems to be persistant