Defining a Constructed Alignment

This procedure describes how to create a constructed alignment. This procedure can also be used to construct an alignment that functions as a teach point alignment.

To create an alignment, you must have a product loaded, and at least one feature defined and measured.

Select the parent process or preceding activity for the defining a constructed alignment activity.
On the Inspection Activities toolbar, click Alignment Constructed .

A Construct Alignment Definition dialog box appears.

In the Primary Datum field, a feature from the list upon which to base the alignment or select a measured feature on the geometry.

	The pull down menu of available features will not allow you to choose an inappropriate datum, such as a point feature.
	Selecting a button, e.g., `Primary Datum`, enables you to select the data on the geometry.

From the list under Axis, select an axis.
(Optional) Select a secondary datum and an associated axis.
(Optional) Select an additional measured feature, associated with the x, y, or z origin, and enter a translation value using the spinners.
(Optional) Select the Translate/Rotate to button and use the pulldown menu to select the axis desired for alignment. The available alignments include all V5 and V4 axes available in an assembly.

Select the OK button.

A constructed alignment activity appears in the process and a constructed alignment group appears under the tag list node in the resources list. The new alignment is represented by an x-y-z vector in purple.

Constructing an Alignment that Functions as a Teach Point Alignment

The single teach point is generally used to quickly establish the part position on the CMM bed during a program execution, and is generally collected in a manual mode. This method of quick alignment minimizes operator input to initiate a part program.

The teach point is manually probed by the operator. The teach point is defined as a point feature at a desired location in the CAD model. The point provides an origin for xyz translation, and the MCS (or current alignment) provides orientation. The teach point alignment is generally followed by a Direct Computer Control (DCC) driven alignment.

Users can create a teach point alignment by using the Define Constructed Alignment command, and leaving the Primary Datum, Secondary Datum, or X, Y, and Z Origin fields undefined. Any information that is not provided is extracted from the current alignment.

If you create this activity before you insert a CMM into the resource list of the PPR tree, you will be asked to confirm that you wish to create the activity without a CMM assigned to it. You can assign the CMM to all the activities within the process once you are ready to insert the CMM.

Once you create an alignment, it is not activated until you use the activate alignment command.