Offset Align

Coordinate System Secondary Datum

shift + K	PCS→Offset Align
Keyboard	Main Menu	Toolbar

figure 1, Offset Align Example

Offset align acts exclusively on the last measured or recalled pair of coplanar 2D features. Offset align requires that you are in an established PCS. Geomet will validate the last two features to determine if they are compatible for the Offset Align command. The offset align command will establish a new PCS by performing a re-alignment of the current PCS.

Step 1

figure 2, Enter Value for Offset Align

Establishing the offset align requires two co-planar 2D features with are measured or recalled, see table 1 for valid combinations. In the example shown in figure 1 we will use two XY circles identified as F1 and F2. The order in which they are reported in the part program will determine the re-alignment order. In this example F2 was measured or recalled after F1. To perform the offset align, press the keys <shift + K > and the Enter Values control will appear, see figure 2.

Enter the sign and magnitude of the nominal offset applied to feature F2, relative to an imaginary axis through the second feature, F1. In figure 1, the offset axis passes through F1 and is created -0.50" from F2. Should you want the Offset Align to be created above F2, you would enter +0.50" It is not mandatory for the first feature, F1, to be on a PCS axis, or a PCS component.

	1D Point	2D Point	3D Point	Circle	Ellipse	Line	Plane	Sphere	Cylinder	Cone
1D Point
2D Point		X		X	X				X	X
3D Point
Circle		X		X	X				X	X
Ellipse		X		X	X				X	X
Line
Plane
Sphere
Cylinder		1		1					1	1
Cone		1		1					1	1
NOTES: 1 - Based on projected 2D Pierce Point, not the axis.
table 1, Offset Align using 2 feature combinations

An Offset Alignment procedure once applied creates a new Part Coordinate System. To edit the existing offset value when there are features using the PCS created by an offset align is allowed, but a warning is provided to rebuild all coordinate systems by running the program from the beginning.

To edit the existing offset value, highlight that feature and bring up the sub menu by right clicking, see figure 3. The ability to edit a translated feature is only available when the translate feature has absolute entered values, not values derived from the last feature option.

figure 3, Sub Menu

 

figure 4, Offset Align Edit Dialog

 

Enter the new offset value in the space provided and press the <Ok> button. Geomet will display a warning that the features after translation step will no longer have valid positional data, see figure 5.

figure 5, Warning Statement

At this time, save the part inspection file and run the file to rebuild the Part Coordinate Changes.