The following example shows the syntax of a sample Feature Control Frame (FCF) command block using the Edit window in Command mode:
FCF6 = POSITION OF CIR1,CIR2,CIR3,...
FEATCTRLFRAME/SHOWNOMS=YES,SHOWPARAMS=YES,SHOWEXPANDED=YES
CADGRAPH=BOTH REPORTGRAPH=OFF TEXT=BOTH MULT=10.00 OUTPUT=BOTH UNITS=IN
COMPOSITE=NO,FIT TO DATUMS=YES,OUTPUT ALIGNMENT=Datum Reference Frame
SIZE TOLERANCES/4,DIAMETER,0.375,0.01,0.01
PRIMARY DIMENSION/POSITION,DIAMETER,0.01,MMC,A,<MC>,B,MMC,C,<MC>
SECONDARY DIMENSION/POSITION,DIAMETER,0.005,MMC,<PZ>,<len>,A,<MC>,B,MMC,<dat>,<MC>
NOTE/FCF6
FEATURES/CIR1,CIR2,CIR3,CIR4,,
FEATURE SET
X:NOM=-1
Y:NOM=6.0235
Z:NOM=0
<NEW>
CIR1
X:NOM=-1
Y:NOM=5.07
Z:NOM=0
<NEW>
CIR2
X:NOM=-2
Y:NOM=6.008
Z:NOM=0
<NEW>
CIR3
X:NOM=-1
Y:NOM=7.008
Z:NOM=0
<NEW>
CIR4
X:NOM=0
Y:NOM=6.008
Z:NOM=0
<NEW>
DATUMS
D2:NOM=1,+TOL=0.01,-TOL=0.01
Feature Control Frame name = FCF type (Dimension type) OR feature list.
Feature List = List of features. If there are more than three features, then the list prints out a set of ellipses to ensure that the line fits. For example, FEAT1, FEAT2, FEAT3, and so on. If there is more than one, it is treated as a pattern set, and all features must be the same feature type.
SHOWNOMS = YES/NO. When set to YES, the FCF types that have nominals display them. These include position, distances, angle between, and angularity.
SHOWPARAMS = YES/NO. When set to YES, the following parameters display with the text: CADGRAPH, REPORTGRAPH, TEXT, MULT, OUTPUT, UNITS, COMPOSITE, FIT TO DATUMS, OUTPUT ALIGNMENT. When off, these same options do not display.
SHOWEXPANDED = YES/NO. When set to YES, the FCF displays empty fields with a description inside brackets. When off, the empty fields display as blank.
<MC> - Material condition
<D> - Diameter
<Dim> - Dimension or FCF type
<PZ> - Projected zone
<num> - Number of features
<nom> - Nominal of feature size
<+tol> - Plus tolerance
<-tol> - Minus tolerance
<tol> - Tolerance
<dat> - Datum
<sym> - Dimension symbol
<add notes here> - Note field – first line
<add optional design notes> - Optional design notes – last line
CADGRAPH = OFF/ON/POSITION/FORM/BOTH – Display the graphical analysis on the model in the Graphic Display window.
Position and Profile dimensions with datums use OFF/POSITION/FORM/BOTH.
Profile dimensions without datums only use OFF/FORM.
All other dimensions use OFF/ON.
REPORTGRAPH = OFF/ON/POSITION/FORM/BOTH – Display the graphical analysis on the report.
Position and Profile dimensions with datums use OFF/POSITION/FORM/BOTH.
Profile dimensions without datums only use OFF/FORM.
All other dimensions use OFF/ON.
TEXT = OFF/ON/POSITION/FORM/BOTH – Display the textual analysis on the report.
Position and Profile dimensions with datums use OFF/POSITION/FORM/BOTH.
Profile dimensions without datums only use OFF/FORM.
All other dimensions use OFF/ON.
MULT = Positive numeric value that scales the graphical analysis in the main CAD graphics.
OUTPUT = STATISTICS/REPORT/BOTH/NONE – Include the FCF calculations in the xstats11.tmp file, output report, both, or neither.
For details on the locations of PC-DMIS files, see "Understanding File Locations".
COMPOSITE = YES/NO. When set to YES, the FCF displays the primary and secondary dimension lines as a composite dimension. This is available for position and profile dimensions.
FIT TO DATUMS = YES/NO. This option is only available for position FCFs. When set to YES, the calculations allow a best fit calculation on the datums to find an optimal best fit that minimizes the datum shift.
OUTPUT ALIGNMENT = Datum Reference Frame/Current Alignment. This option is only available for position FCFs. When Datum Reference Frame is selected, the X, Y, Z positions display relative to the datum reference frame. When Current Alignment is selected, the X, Y, Z positions display relative to the current alignment.
UNITS = IN/MM. The units that the FCF uses to display its information.
SIZE TOLERANCES = Represents the top line of the FCF. For some FCF types, this line is not shown. This line displays the following:
Number of features selected
Whether or not the diameter symbol is used
Nominal size of the feature(s)
Size tolerances that are applied to the nominal value
PRIMARY DIMENSION or DIMENSION = Represents the second possible line of the FCF, which contains the primary type of FCF. Note that some of the fields are only valid for some FCF types. This line displays the following:
FCF type
Whether or not the diameter symbol is used
Main tolerance value
Material condition applied to the main tolerance
Projected tolerance zone symbol
Projected tolerance zone value
Primary datum
Primary datum material condition
Secondary datum
Secondary datum material condition
Tertiary datum
Tertiary datum material condition
If a secondary dimension is not possible for the particular FCF type, then this line just uses the title DIMENSION.
SECONDARY DIMENSION = Represents the third possible line of the FCF, which contains the primary type of FCF. Many FCF types display nothing for the secondary dimension. In addition, some of the fields are only valid for some FCF types. This line displays the following:
Feature type
Whether or not the diameter symbol is used
Main tolerance value
Material condition applied to the main tolerance
Projected tolerance zone symbol
Projected tolerance zone value
Primary datum
Primary datum material condition
Secondary datum
Secondary datum material condition
Tertiary datum
Tertiary datum material condition
If a secondary dimension is valid, the secondary dimension must follow the rules of practice by the ASME Y14.5 2009 Dimensioning and Tolerancing standard.
NOTE = Represents the final line of the FCF. It displays text notes. For ease of identifying FCFs in the main graphics, this field defaults to display the FCF's ID.
NOMINAL LINES: These fields display the nominals of the dimensions internal to the FCF. First, it displays the nominal position of the resulting pattern feature set if more than one feature was selected. Second, it displays the nominal positions of the individual features. Finally, it displays the nominal size and tolerances of the datums that have size. In each of these groups, it lists the nominals that have been selected for display on the Nominals tab of the XactMeasure GD&T dialog box for the FCF, so each axis to be displayed can be turned on or off. To turn on the display of other nominals in the Edit window, toggle the <NEW> line to see axes that are available but not currently displayed.
FEATURE SET
X:NOM=-1
Y:NOM=6.0235
Z:NOM=0
<NEW>
CIR1
X:NOM=-1
Y:NOM=5.07
Z:NOM=0
<NEW>
CIR2
X:NOM=-2
Y:NOM=6.008
Z:NOM=0
<NEW>
CIR3
X:NOM=-1
Y:NOM=7.008
Z:NOM=0
<NEW>
CIR4
X:NOM=0
Y:NOM=6.008
Z:NOM=0
<NEW>
DATUMS
D2:NOM=1,+TOL=0.01,-TOL=0.01