Cone Generator

Ctrl + n	Measure→Auto Features→Cone Generator
Keyboard	Main Menu	Toolbar

The Cone Generator will build and tolerance Cone features. This allows building of offline features when not connected to a coordinate measuring machine or when the production part is not available. The Cone Generator also builds all motion paths and can execute on demand the measuring of the new cone.

The Cone Generator provides complete access to size, location, start / stop angles and motion path generators required to measure the feature. The tool has two functions. The first is to create a new feature. The second provides access to editing an existing feature whether created by the generator or manually taught.

figure 1, The Cone Generator

Using the Cone Generator to Create a New Feature

To create a new feature, activate the generator and follow these steps:

Step 1 - Feature Characteristics

Complete the selections in the Feature Characteristics Group

1. Choose the "anchor" Radius with is identified as Radius 1 / Radius 2
2. Select Inside or Outside feature type.
3. Choose reporting format, Radius or Diameter.
4. Choose probing direction, Clockwise or Counter-Clockwise.
    

Step 2 - Feature Parameters

Complete the values required in the Parameters Group

1. Enter the XYZ center point of the anchor radius.
2. Enter the Radius or Diameter nominal value of the anchor radius.
3. Enter the direction vector that starts at the anchor radius.
4. Enter the length of the cone.
5. Select the number of hits required.
6. Select the number of slices required.

NOTE: when entering the XYZ end points it is important that you establish a probing depth sufficient to clear chamfers and edges. You can enter the XYZ end points based on the total length of the cone, then use <Probe Adj.> which will reduce the end points along the axis vector 125% of one probe radius. This ensures the probe will have clearance at the ends for the probe.

Step 3 - Motion Path Adjustments

There are several tools available to build motion paths to ensure clear motion without collision into the inspection part, clamps and other obstacles. These include Clearance Coordinate Systems, offline IPs and Automatic IPs.

Slice Control

figure 2, Slice Control

The Cone Generator uses slices along the cone to capture data points. If the hit count is set to 10 and the slice count is at 5, then there are a total of 50 data points. The slices are created equally over the distance from end point one to end point two.

To change the slice count, use the Up/Down arrows in the slice control, or enter a new value. As you click on the arrows, the graphic will update showing the new slice count.

If the cone has a groove in it, a slice may pass over that groove which would create a poor fit. To prevent this, locate the slice in the list and press the <Delete>/Add button, or double click. The slice will highlight and be removed from the path generation.

Creating Offline IPs and Automatic IPs

Once the Clearance Coordinate System has been established and set active, Offline IPs can be generated to build a motion path for safe CMM travel, see Offline IP Generator.

Special Interim Point Commands

figure 3, Entry IP

In most applications, the use of the command <Add Entry IP> and <Add Exit IP> will ensure safe transition for your CMM into and out of features. The use of these commands requires that a Clearance CS is currently set active. For a cone, the Entry and Exit IPs will move parallel to the axis of the cone, see figure 3.

The Add Entry IP command will calculate an IP from the first SO along the axis of the cone into the Clearance CS XY base plane. Referring to the illustration at right, 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 opening and plunge to the first SO safely.

The Add Exit IP command creates a similar IP to Add Entry IP except it will use the last SO as the reference.

Miscellaneous Functions

<All Around>

This will recalculate the motion to measure all around the circle. When there are 4 data points, each data point will measure at:

• Data Point #1 - 0°
• Data Point #2 - 90°
• Data Point #3 - 180°
• Data Point #4 - 270°

The motion path generator will determine optimal path including the insertion of IPs between data points to prevent collision with the part. This is especially important when measuring outside diameters.

<Defaults>

This command is not available for the Cone Generator.

Interpreting the Graphical Display

A cone can be orientated in any direction within a 3D space. This makes it difficult to use a 2D display to properly represent it.

figure 4, As shown in Cone Generator
figure 5, Viewed from the top.	figure 6, Viewed from the side.

In figure 4, the top and side is shown in the Cone Generator. Figures 5 and 6 is the final solution shown in the inspection report showing the motion path also from the top and side. As you can see, there is one slice deleted and the path reverses direction between CW and CCW with each slice.

In the Cone Generator, the CMM axis directions are shown, here they are +X / +Z and the data points are captured on the top to allow clearance for the probe shank. With some practice, you will understand the intricacies of building an efficient and safe motion path.

XYZ versus IJK

A cone can be defined using the axis, known as the IJK or by using two XYZ end points. Which one you choose is determined by the cone characteristics. In most cases, using the IJK method will provide provide an easy method to build the cone.

figure 7, IJK Cone definition

The IJK starts at the center of the specified anchor radius and its direction determines the direction of the cone. Using the  example shown in figure 7, we have a cone with a 0.500" radius at the PCS of Z = 0.000". The cone opens upward top the top of the block which is Z=1.250".

To build this cone, start by choosing Radius 1 which moves the anchor of the IJK to the lower radius. Radius 1 is considered the smaller radius for all cone generations. Entered its XYZ location where Radius 1 exists in the PCS. Here we will use X:2.000", Y-2.000", Z:0.000"

Ensure you have selected both the "Inside (ID/IR)"  "Radius" bullets in Feature Characteristics. Next enter 0.500" in the Radius data field.

figure 8, Cone Generator Example

Our final cone opens upward and is perpendicular to the PCS XY base plane. The IJK values that should be entered are I:0.000, J:0.000, K:1.000. The height of the block is 1.25" which corresponds to the length of the cone. Enter 1.250" in the Length data field.

The final Parameter needed for the cone is the Included Angle. In this example, enter 30.0 in the Angle data field. 

As you change data fields, they highlight to shown changes made to parameters and they become applied when you press the <Update> button. Should any value be outside acceptable limits, the data field will highlight in a red color and a message will appear instructing you to correct the value.

In figure 8, we show the data fields all filled in. This cone is measured with a reduced start and stop angles. The start angle is 0.0° which is along the X axis when defined in the PCS XY base plane. The stop angle is 195°. The direction is controlled by the Clockwise (CW) or Counter-Clockwise (CCW) selection. By default the direction is CW but can be switch by placing a bullet next to CCW as we have done here.