Dimension round slot from ends, not centers.

How are you measuring the slots? Are you measuring the slots with circles and planes?

Depending on the dimension controls on the OD, it may be as simple as doing a distance dimension by selecting the plane on your slot depth and your OD then ask use "add radius". I'm not on my normal computer so going from memory.

In the same way, depending on how you measured the slots, you can ask for a similar dimension for your slot lengths or locations.

Since you have CAD, use Auto Features, 2 circles then construct the slot. Distance Dimension circle to Z axis or Z feature with subtract radius on left circles, add on right circles. Set tolerances. DIM nominal should be per print.

How are you measuring the slots? Are you measuring the slots with circles and planes?

Depending on the dimension controls on the OD, it may be as simple as doing a distance dimension by selecting the plane on your slot depth and your OD then ask use "add radius". I'm not on my normal computer so going from memory.

In the same way, depending on how you measured the slots, you can ask for a similar dimension for your slot lengths or locations.

First I'm measuring the flat at the bottom of the slots as a plane and then the Round Slots in reference to that plane.

Just sat down, so I'll give your suggestions a shot and report back. Thanks for the help.

Wayne: Thanks for the tip on the Auto Features. I was looking for an Auto Round slot yesterday, but didn't see it. I'll try that too. To be perfectly honest, I need some more experience with the Auto features anyway.

How are you measuring the slots? Are you measuring the slots with circles and planes?

Depending on the dimension controls on the OD, it may be as simple as doing a distance dimension by selecting the plane on your slot depth and your OD then ask use "add radius". I'm not on my normal computer so going from memory.

In the same way, depending on how you measured the slots, you can ask for a similar dimension for your slot lengths or locations.

That worked for the slot depth, except using "subtract radius". Thanks again!

Unfortunately, that didn't work for the Z locations of the end of the slots. Thanks anyway.

Going to dig a little deeper into Wayne's suggestion on Auto features.

Thanks for the auto circle/constructed slot advice Wayne. Did the trick.

I'm going to ask what is probably a dumb question. What is the benefit of using auto circles over regular measured circles in programming mode?

Find hole
Lets you keep more of your hair when working with parts where a small hole wanders around.

Sample Hits
Lets you control how far down from the actual part surface your points are taken at. This is important in sheet metal where there is a sheared edge and a broken edge.

It's easier to modify start and stop angles when measuring arcs.

It sounds much cooler to say you have an auto circle instead of a measured circle

How much does that apply if I only use a Romer arm?

Ugh, that's a really poor drawing. The engineer has defined the size of the slot, but not necessarily the location of it. Blech.

Looks like WayneBending has already suggested a good course of action, but you've misunderstood him:

He says to create Auto Circles, activate the correct workplane, and Construct a Round Slot. Your comment about looking for Auto Slots indicates that you're not doing this.

Here's what I would do:

- shoot the bottom plane of a slot
- in the Settings Toolbar, choose that plane in the Projection Plane dropdown. Now all future 2d features will be flat to that plane.
- Force PCDMIS into circle mode.
- shoot a circle at each end of the slot. Due to the PP dropdown, the circle will be flat to the prev selected plane.
- construct a round slot from the pair of circles. same as above applies.
- you can capture the length of the slot with either a Location Dimension in the L-axis, or a Distance Dimension between the two circles with the Add Radius option.
- you should also dimension the Location of one of the circles for the slot -- preferable the one on the common end, so that you know both the slot's length and location.

Kingsld1's advice re: findhole / sample hits is not applicable here. You can read the Help menu to find out why.

Thanks Colin, agreed, poor drawing, certainly not the only feature poorly defined on this print. In their defense, they did define the location of the slot from the end of the slot to the end of the part, you just can't see it in the snippet I uploaded.

Here's what I ended up doing before getting back here.
-Hit the plane
-Measured circles at each end of the slot with that plane as the reference feature... Am I correct in thinking this is akin to the Projection plane in the dropdown menu? Does it matter if I'm using Auto vs Measured Circle for this?
-Construct round slot with those circles
-Dimensioned accordingly
-Deleted sample hits

I have another question about measuring a wrapped pocket, also happens to be a round slot... I'll start a new thread for it

Am I correct in thinking this is akin to the Projection plane in the dropdown menu? Does it matter if I'm using Auto vs Measured Circle for this?

Yup, same functionality. Measured Circles need the workplane / projection plane set. Auto Circles use the IJK from their window, and disregard the active workplane / projection plane. If you don't have a CAD model, I think Measured Circles are easier to use. Since you do, the Auto Circles grab the IJK right from the model, probably easier with that.