Build the cone by selecting <Update>. Should any feature parameter fail the tests, the data field will highlight in red and a message will prompt you to correct it. For example, if the length component was longer than the distance between the selected radius location and the cone apex, a warning will appear as show here. The message will include the maximum allowable length.

All data fields that fail the tests will appear as shown. 

Here we have the created cone as looking from near the top. You will notice a uniform series of slices, each containing 9 hits. The motion path starts CCW and reverses its direction when it traverses the next slice. The path also shows the over travel distance as spikes extending beyond the surface of the cone.

Looking at the cone from the side, we see the motion path is created normal to the surface of the cone. This is done to ensure each data point is captured while the motion is perpendicular to the surface point of contact.

As the motion for an inside cone is being built, the generator calculates and adjusts the Stand Off length as the motion approaches the apex of the cone. This ensures you can reach down into a cone taking into account the stylus size and the reducing diameter of the slice.

There is one common problem with the way we built our cone. We used the XYZ location on the top of the GeoWidget. You generally do not want to attempt the capture of data points on an edge as defined by Z = 0.000. The Cone Generator offers two methods to correct this problem. The first is to enter a Z value below the surface, such as Z = -0.05. The other method is the use of automatic probe adjustment. This is activated by pressing the <Probe Adj> button. When it is active, there is a statement in the graphic are that states "Auto Probe Adjust: ON".

When the cone motion path is created, the two endpoints are adjusted inward by an amount equal to 125% of the current stylus radius. As you can see here, the motion path is moved inward from the end points.

Example #2 - Flat Cone

This example builds a cone that has an included angle of 178° and has only access to 180°, not all around, example shown here. The cone has its larger radius on the PCS XY Base Plane and is pointing upward.

To start, we will work with a cone that will be defined with the anchor on Radius 2 as the cone specifications has the cone intersecting the PCS XY base plane with a diameter of 6.000" and points upward. The location is at X: = 5.000, Y: = 5.000", Z: = 0.000".

The cone direction is determined by the IJK direction vector and is perpendicular to the PCS XY base plane. Therefore we use the IJK values of I: = 0.000, J: = 0.000, K:=1.000.

Enter the parameters according to the example shown at the right.

This cone will not have a motion path attached to it that covers 360° all around. The motion path will be limited to the right half. We refer to this as the Sweep Controls which are used to set the start and stop angles.

To see these controls in action, place a check next to Auto Recalc. When you use the sliders, the graphics will update immediately to show you the new start and stop angles.

Here we use a start angle of 270° and a stop angle of 90°. Since direction is set to CCW. 

One last look over the Feature Characteristics to ensure we have selected the correct cone type and reporting.

As you can see from the created cone, we now have a flat cone that is only measured on the right half.  Should the cone graphics not show what you are expecting, highlight the cone in the report area, right-click to activate the sub-menu and choose Edit the Auto Cone Parameters.

Additional Considerations

End Point Definitions 

In our examples we used an anchor position identified as Pt2 and a direction defined as an IJK direction vector. In some cases, there might be two end points available, one at the larger end and one at the smaller end. You can use these points by changing your choice in the Parameters group from XYZ/IJK to 2 End Pts.

Slice Controls 

When a cone does not have a continuous surface to capture data points on, such as a ring groove, the Cone Generator provides tools to remove slices from the final motion path that will encroach on the grooves or other surface deviations.

When the cone parameters and characteristics have been entered, set the slice count to a sufficient number of slices to cover the cone. Here we use 8 slices, see right.

In the Slice Control tool, click on the slice that you want removed. In our example we highlighted the slice with an elevation value of 1.4000 and pressed the <Delete / Add> button. This will toggle its remove state. We continued this slice control process by removing slices located at elevations 2.10000 and 2.80000.

The Slider control located to the right of the cone graphic can be moved up and down stopping at each slice. The slice location and size will be displayed next to the pointer on the slider. This will assist in determining the slice location when adding or removing slices.

The resulting cone shows the motion path with an area omitted to accommodate the ring groove. 

Motion Path Clearance Tools 

As with all Generators, optional motion path tools are available to provide a means to create and edit Interim Points and Auto-Interim Points. These tools are Clearance CS, Entry IP, Exit IP and Offline IPs.

In most applications, the use of the command <Add Entry IP> and <Add Exit IP> will ensure safe transition for your CMM. The use of these commands requires that a Clearance CS is currently set active.

The Add Entry IP command calculates an IP directly over the feature in the normal base plane. For example, in the XY cone example, the first Standoff Point is extracted and projected into the XY Base plane of the active Clearance CS. The motion will start directly over the cone and plunge to the first SO safely. The direction of the approach and withdrawal will be parallel to the axis of the cone. Care should be taken on external cones to ensure the full extend of the cone surface does not impede this process.

The Add Exit IP command creates a similar IP to the Add Entry IP except it will use the last SO. The combination of these two commands results in the CMM moving directly over the first SO, perform the measurement and exit the cone safely.