Construct Line dialog box
There are many methods PC-DMIS uses to construct a line. The following table lists the various types of constructed lines along with their necessary inputs. Some features may require no inputs while others may require three or more inputs. In the table, the term "Any" indicates that the construction can take any type of feature as input for construction. PC-DMIS allows the features to be selected in any order.
CONSTRUCT FEATURE TYPE |
SYMBOL IN EDIT WINDOW |
# OF INPUT FEATS |
FEAT #1: |
FEAT #2: |
COMMENTS |
Auto Line |
- |
- |
- |
- |
See "Auto Line Construction". |
Alignment Line |
ALIGN |
0 |
- |
- |
Constructs a line through the alignment origin. |
Best Fit Line |
BF |
At least 2 inputs are needed. |
- |
- |
Constructs a best fit line using the inputs. |
Best Fit with Recomp Line |
BFRE |
At least 2 inputs are needed. (1 must be a point) |
- |
- |
Constructs a best fit line using the inputs. |
Cast Line |
CAST |
1 |
Any |
- |
Constructs a line at the centroid of the input feature. |
Intersect Line |
INTOF |
2 |
Plane |
Plane |
Constructs a line at the intersection of two planes. |
Mid Line |
MID |
2 |
Line, Cone, Cylinder, Slot, Plane |
Line, Cone, Cylinder, Slot, Plane |
Constructs a mid line between the input features. |
Offset Line |
OFFSET |
At least 2 inputs are needed. |
Any |
Any |
Builds a line through the first feature and the offset from second feature by a specified amount. |
Parallel Line |
PLTO |
2 |
Any |
Any |
Constructs a line parallel to the first feature and passing through the second feature. |
Perpendicular Line |
PRTO |
2 |
Any |
Any |
Constructs a line perpendicular to the first feature and passing through the second feature. |
Project Line |
PROJ |
1 or 2 |
Any |
Plane |
Using one input feature will project the line to the workplane. |
Reverse Line |
REV |
1 |
Line |
- |
Constructs a line passing through the input with a reversed vector. |
Scan Segment Line |
SCAN_SEGMENT |
1 |
Scan |
- |
Constructs a line from a part of a Linear Open or Linear Close scan. |
Secondary Datum Line |
SECONDARY_DATUM |
1 |
Point, Plane, Line, Set of Points | (Additional Point features if first feature is a point) |
Constructs a line which simulates a secondary datum that is external to material. |
If you select inappropriate feature types, PC-DMIS displays "Cannot construct [feature]. Combination of input features not accepted." on the status bar.
To construct a line:
Select Insert | Feature | Constructed | Line to display the Construct Line dialog box.
Enter the desired features.
Select the method of construction:
Auto Line
Alignment Line
Best Fit or Best Fit Recompensate Line
Cast Line
Intersect Line
Mid Line
Offset Line
Parallel Line
Perpendicular Line
Projected Line
Reversed direction Line
Scan Segment Line
Offset Line
Secondary Datum
Click the Create button.
The Edit window command line for this option would read:
feature_name=FEAT/LINE,TOG1,TOG4
THEO/x_cord,y_cord,z_cord,i_vec,j_vec,k_vec,length
ACTL/x_cord,y_cord,z_cord,i_vec,j_vec,k_vec,length
CONSTR/TOG2,TOG3,...
If TOG2 = LINE and TOG3 = BF or BFRE then the command has the following format:
feature_name=FEAT/LINE,TOG1,TOG4
THEO/x_cord,y_cord,z_cord,i_vec,j_vec,k_vec,length
ACTL/x_cord,y_cord,z_cord,i_vec,j_vec,k_vec,length
CONSTR/LINE,TOG3
OUTLIER_REMOVAL/TOG5, stdDevMultiplier
FILTER/TOG5, WAVELENGTH=cutoffWavelength
The actual Edit report displays in all capital letters.
TOG1 = POLR or RECT
TOG2 = LINE
TOG3 = ALIGN / BF / BFRE / CAST / INTOF / MID / OFFSET / PLTO / PROJ / PRTO / REV / SCAN_SEGMENT / SECONDARY DATUM
TOG4 = BND / UNBND
TOG5 = OFF / ON
Length = This value represents the theoretical or actual length of the line.
stdDevMultiplier = This multiplier value determines whether or not a measured point is an outlier. If the point from the line is further than the standard deviation multiplied by this value, then it is an outlier and is removed if you selected the Remove Outlier option.
cutoffWavelength = This value controls the amount of data smoothing. The longer the wavelength, the more smoothing there is.
The first three lines that display in the Edit window are the same for constructed lines. The fourth line is slightly different, according to the type of feature being constructed. To switch between the different types of lines, place the cursor on TOG3 and press F7 or F8. (See "Command Mode Keyboard Functions" in the "Using the Edit Window" chapter.)
When two or more features are involved, PC-DMIS automatically determines the necessary order of the input features. This improves the accuracy of the measurement process.
AUTO is the default method of construction. See "Auto Line Construction"
The following topics describe the available options for constructing a line:
More:
Constructing an Alignment Line
Constructing a Best Fit or Best Fit Recompensate Line
Constructing an Intersect Line
Constructing a Perpendicular Line
Changing the Direction of a Line
Constructing a Line from Part of a Scan